Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-19
RAILROAD DETERMINATIONS.
Does tho Pending Bill go Far EnOurh .

Does the Pending Bill 90 Far Enough ?
| To the Union and American:
NASHVILLE, Feb 1S.-In your issue of
this morning you publish an article upon
the subject Of Hon. L. II. East S bill now
before the House of Representatives to pro-
hibit improper railroad Determinations.
This IS a subject in which the people of
Tennessee are deeply interested, and
Judge lasts bill is a move in the right
/ direction, but does it cover the whole
ground needing legislating upon. l fear it
! does not. II is perfectly plain that the
mOUiRg cause to the bill is the refusal of
the Nashville and Chattanooga and the
Louisville, Nashville and Great Southern
road TO prOrata with the st.
Louis and Southeastern road, and l do not
| doubt but that had those roads prOTated on
equal terms with the st. Louis and South
eastern road, this bill would not have been
heard Of, and nearly the whole force Of the
same IS TO protect some railroad as against
others, aud the protection Of the people Of
Tennessee, who built the roads within her
borders, if such protection be really en-
braced in the bill, is, fear, rather too OBJ
scure to amount to much. The tendency
Of Tailruading, or its MANAGEMENT. is to mo
nOpoly and oppression of the people along
the lines thereof, and so far as the people
Of Tennessee are concerned, they would be
much better of without the passage of
such a law as the one before the House
is, unless their interests are D rite
Ulariy and carefully guarded. Pass this
law, and without adequate protection,
Enthusiastically and plainly given the peo-
pie, and the railroad monopoly will then
be complete. do no. want to be under
stood as opposed to the bill, provided il in
plain, express terms places all on the same
footing. We in TCnnesse do not want any
law forcing al railroads TO receive from al
other railroads freight brought from other
States and passed South at less than our
own products of like kind and quantity can
reach such Southern points. The law
should force railroads 10 receive from each
other, from steamboats, or citizens all upon
a perfect equality, similar kin s and GUAM
titles Of freight going to similar points.
Nothing less than this will DO Justice to
our people.
1 would suggest to Judge East to look
closely into the construction of his bill and
see if it viii give our own citizens all the
protection tEey, as individuals, absolutely
need as against railroad corporations.
There is certainly no Justice or equity in
cur people paying, say twenty-five to thirty
per cent more freight on their products
from Nashville and other points along the
Nashville and Chattanooga and Nashville
and Decatur roads to points South, than
the same roads charge on Illinois, Indiana,
or other foreign grain OF products passing
over the same ground. ! would suggest
that the following points be looked to and
provisions made by law to meet thin:
l. The Legislature should require all
railroads running in Tennessee to at once
make and publish freight tariffs, both
through and local.
2. Declare that all freights passing over
the entire original chartered length Of a
road should be termed through. All pas
sing less than the entire length local.
3. All through freights passing over the
road of similar kind and quality to 60 at
same rate Of freight regardless of original
points Of shipment or ultimate destination.
4. All local freights to pass at same rate
of through, mile for mile, plus a fair COM
pensatiOn to road for loading and unload
ing extra on short haul.
3. No road to be allowed to charge more
in amount for a shorter haul than a longer
one.
6. Prohibit roads from entering into any
contracts whereby it appears they are
charging one price, when in fact a less
amount is to be charged, the practice of
in any shape to be prohibited.
Now, Mr.. Editor, with something like
the above suggestions incorporated in the |
bill under consideration for the protection
Of our interests, agricultural, mechanical |
and commercial, l think the whole would !
be an excellent law, but l am afraid that |
without something Of the sort, the ground |
will be but half covered, and that in fact |
the wrong half. Allow me TO say in con-
clusiOn that have the highest respect for |
the honesty, integrity and ability of my |
friend East, and know his intentions are |
the best. Yours, etc, B. S. r.