, 1874-03-05

memorial OF tho b0nE4 OF Trade
Directors Praying Its Repeal.
Tho following memorial was yesterday adopted
by tho Board OF Directors Of tho Board Of
Trade, aud wil1 DO forwarded to Springfield to-
day:
flues qf the STATE a ItttnoH:
Tho undoreenoas by virtue Of unanimous
vote, and In behalf OF the Board Of Directors
Of tho Board Of Trade Of tho City Of Chicago
your honorable bodies to tho fact, Is impressed
on tho minds Of your nemorialiHts, that the op~
orationa and Objects (ao far o. tho aame havo
boon deyoloped) OF tic law Of this State enstlod
elimination in Tho rates. charged for tho trans-
railroads in tLia Btaso," otc., spprovod
May ., 1873. has fsilod OF scnsbly
Following any portion Of tho State from unjust
or excessive charges in railway transportation /;
but, on tho contrary, hae In many instances re-
sulted in imposing additional burdens on tho
pooplo. Especially is this true ct points whore
competition has heretofore oxiHtod, which COM
petition, by the requirements Of tho law in quoa-
tiol,, Inns been substantially destroyed.
Tho ofloot ot this law has boon. as your momo-
rinlists bolieye to impair confidence III tho rail-
road Boouritios Of this State to an extent TINT
has seriously crippled enterprises In progresa or
In contemplation. md is thus preventing tho
construction Of limos greatly needed for tie &C.
commodation Of tho pooplo aud buRineBs OF tho
State.
Iu yiow Of those suggestions, which your me-
norfaBss aro persuaded aro largely recognized
by your honorable bodloB a. established factB
or, II not. are oas1y capable Of being domon-
etrated as sucl,, your memorialeta would re-
Bpcctful1y pray for such q modification Of tho
act rotorred to as will produce tho following re-
FYrsl-Afrording tho people of this State and
Of other Btato8 patronlzing our railways the
full benefit of all competition between existing
or prospective llnea Of transportation. aubjoot
In this respect only to tho ro4uit omont that no
discrimination shall DO permitted In fayor Of OF
against individuals between tho Bamo points Of
transit.
8econd-That all railway companion bo re-
quirod to publish their tntiffs OF charges for
passengers aud froiehts between any aud Ill
points on their lines, which tar1ifa shall in al
dividuals under tho earne circumstances; that all
such tnrifT4 shall bo submitted to tlle Board Of
Railroad Commissioners at loast twenty {20)
days before going into offoct. and shall be cub
in case tho rates Of charges proposed to 10
established Bhall By thom, under all the ciroum-
stances of the caBe, bo deemed unreasonable or
excessive; and such revision may bo nado
eithor before such tlriH shall tako effect Or At
any tino during which 1t shall DO in forco. In
tho wLolo or any portion OF said tariff EXCESSIVE
III its rates Of charges, thoy shnll 30
notify tho railway company iaauing the
same md Blall indicate IN nhid notice In
what respect and to what extent said tariff is in
their Judgment, unreasonable or excessive, aud
in case the railway company shall fail to mod
lily such tariff as so indicated, within ton (1o)
days after receiving Buc1 notice, 1t shall then be
tho Immediate duty Of said Hoarl Of Commits
aionors., in the name md in behalf Of the peo'
plo Of this State to prosecute said railway COM
pany for imposing unjust and excessive charges.
and that the General Assembly shall provide q
summary form Of proceedings for such proae.
cutlon against railway companies, aud prescribe
Bucl, sufficient penalties to bo imposed in case
of conviction as will insure the observance, on
the part OF railway companies, Of fair dsiling
with their patrons.
Respectfully submitted In bohalf OF tho Board
Of Trado OF the City Of Chicago.
GEORGE II. How, President.
CHARLES RANDOLPH. Secretary.
CHICAGO, March 1. 1874.