, 1874-01-20
Tho Difference Between the Town and
Illinois Ieniirouti Laws.
IA the EfIiEur NJ IIk Ehc11a Tfiitti,t.

OTTuMwA, H., Jan. IA, 1874.
SIR: think q false impi ession concerning
the Int United States Supreme Court decision
In the case of the Chicago & Northwestern 1lail-
road w. Darius Fuller, has obtained, IN part at
loast. from your romarks Of the 9th inatant on
the same. Permit mo, pleaso, to correct it.
You stated TINT tho buplemo Court bud sus-
tanned tho Railroad Law in Iowa. That is truo,
but, as tho Railroad law of Illinois IL about tile
only Railroad law which ia at all known abroad,
tho statement by the leading journal of Illinois,
that tho Court had sustained tho Railroad law
in Iowa nwakens the Inference that tho Railroad
law Of this State is Btmilar to that OF your
State. But the two laws
DlFFEN As SucM
AZ jewaharps aud horso-hdd'es.
Our law Ia simply that each railroad company
shall, each September, fix its transportation.
rates Ito suit itselg for the following year
shall post up, and keep up, a copy of such ratet
ln all stations and that charging more than i
thus Informs the public 1t deems enough, or fail
ing to keep the schedule Of rates posted up
shall bo punished by fluo. That il ali. Noltho
tho Inv nor the court DECISION eays anytliut
about what these rites shall be, or the power O
tho Legislature to Tx them.
Now, there seems to be broad difference be-.
tween compelling companies TO open1v tix aut
adhero 10 rntes to suit themselves. mud the fix.
ing Of those sates by law for the companies
aud against their will. Our lnw looks simply I'd
the prevention of that public Inconvenience
chango IN tho charges Of quasi public corpora
tons. It does not commit
THE rno-nATA FOLLY,
and cone9Went Tobbeyy Of conn.unities by the
ishment upon rieh road for the aonatiun Of d
60-cent rida to tho Governor or soldior's
widow. but your Inv strikes at the very root OF
tho "Golden hule,"-at Tint sparkling prince
ple which Inns bocxoncd hither the Smuggling
ones, OF earth and mado this conn
the home OF tho bravo "--the right Of pripate
control ouet priua!e property.
When your State law saya That froights be-
tween ccrtain points shall not bo less than tho
possible opportunities OF prigato.o,sizvn snip
pera to profit by private Contract {co,npntition)
with tho companies, juHt ns smnnfcntiy Rn 1t
does with the compantaB' opportunities for profit
when 1t snys the freights betweon cet thin pointa
shall not 10 higher tllan the arbitrary Agura? I
am firmly impressed that tho Illinois 1tailroad
law ih
MORE CALAMITY TO THE PEOPLE
thnn to the lairoads that for every Il 900 1t
curta's the profits Of some roads, It curl hls the
protita Of l,003 pro1uceiB ut aoaHt $5 por head.
We want no pro 1ata tariff In thln State. Such
law would advance ratoa at th1s point tuliy 10
per cant. For cheap ratios We have paid iu town
and county boudH for competing roaus, and hold
it no loIbcry to ship ohoappr md 60 fnrthor
tllan towns that have dono nothing to benosit
themselves. Tho only demand for suoi iuw
comes from localities that have received what
benefits they hive In spite Of their penurious-
moss and hostility to railroads.
We tasted pro rata, and found it bitter, when
your luw was lrst enforced 10 Az to make ILL pny
tho rates 1t oxactcd OF your own oi.izchs. but
VIC soon took down our maps and looked for nll-
utl,er place to trade with. Wo found st. Louis,
and usoti 1t until your Na!tgoad Commissioners
roytsel your law and made Ill
DErTER THAN Youn OWN FbLHs,
II our new Farmers Legislature attempts tho
Illinois inhanity, sts funeral will hs about III i'm.
promptu as was its birth. Very truly yours, for
lowa. A. Y. 11Lp1N