The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-11-01


The WEST VIRGINIA GRANdERs.-A
convention Of representatives from the
various Oranges Of West Virginia will
meet on Wednesday, the 90, at Anderson,
astution on the Chesapeake & Ohio rail.
road between Charleston and White Sui.
phur Springs, What the special object
Of this meeting may be is only known, Of
course, to the initiated, Up to this time
wehave not seen any statement that pre-.
tended to ioreshadOW the work likely
to be done. As we all know, how.
ever, one Of tho special features Of the
Grange organization has been to try to
cheaper transportation, with n view OF
making agriculture more remuneratiye
thanit has ever been in the past. The
organization, therefore, looks with more
or less hostility on the present rates for
freight on farm products that prevail on
most railroads. II would not be strange,
therefore, II the Anderson Convention
should undertake, with reference 10 the
Baltimore X Ohio and The Chesapeake 4
Ohio Roads, in this State, what the Iowa
and Wisconsin Grangers undertook (and
accomplished) with reference to the
Chicago and Northwestern and the
Milwaukee and 81. Paul Roads in
those States, viz: compulsory rednc.
tion Of ireights. Already we sec the
BnckhOnnon (upshur county, Delta lift.
ing up its voice in favor Of some remedy
atthe hands Of the Legislature, and we
know not how many other papers have
expressed themselves 10 the same effect.
No doubt what has been said on the sub.
ieCt by the papers that have spoken upon
1t, represents tile feeling that prevails
among the West Virginia Grangers. But
the question at issue Ia not new one.
Ills, on the contrary, a very old one. II
has been discussed, we may say, ever
since the Baltimore 4 Ohio road was
completed, We scarcely remember year
in which thc question has not come up, in
same iotm, for public discussion. And
the question, like that Of belling the cat,
h'till an uniolved problem. The West
eFn States have solved Tie matter to
certain extent, and have compelled the
roads to reduce their freightS, and
!c'' eScnin their case, a Gnality has not
been reNChed. The two roads named have
appealed from the decision Of the Supreme
Conttoi Wisconsin to that Of the United
States, and dCmnent counsel have been re.
sained on both sides. A hearing will be
had at Washington City this winter. The
railroads claim that the Wisconsin and
loWhac Of Legislation are unconStitu.
NohaI becau'ethey impuirth obligation
oil contracts, and because said acts al.
tempt 10 regulate commerce between the
States, and also because they attempt 10
e'n6scnte private property without just
compensation.
The Wisconsin cases, as they arc called
present different case from any that
could arise in West Virginia in regard to
lAe Baltimore 4 Ohio. Il seems that the
Constitution Of that State authorizes The
altering, amending or repeating Of char.
@n, while our Constitution does not, et.
sept negatively. A charter granted as
"" the charter Of the Baltimore 4
oa'o Company without containing in
'"elt reservation Of rights Of repeal
VI alteration on the part Of the State Of
virginia hn, protection that can hard.
y be successfully assailed. That com.
Pany Is authorized BY its charter to make
certain charges for passengers and
Nelghh, and aslong as II does not trans.
"Od the limits thus allowed it is mot an.