Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-12-30
The National Cheap Transportation
Convention.

yeuti0n. recently held IN SnEago, was
largely attended, and the proceedings oc-
cupied three full days Of time. The reso-
luflons adopted read as follows:
R1so.sed. That the great and pressing need OF
this country is system o. w. IN -
which we live: that the absence o. sucn system =
In great measure the cause Of the present nn-ats-
factory state Of trade and comiasses. 'ns teasSu
| why our mills and manufactures are IDLE. why
/ our agricultural interests are unrsmEhefauVe,
| and why Thousands Of willing hands lack employ
/ ment-
| reucy Il the result Of commercial prosperity and
nos the eanse Of that prosperity; 10 restore THIS CIR
cuistioB il IL only necessary Tor as 70 supply Ihe
ueens Of exporting grain -four. bacon. Tobacco;
cotton oil aud other products az prices Wien VIII
enaiie ~ 70 sell those products 70 other e0untres
this win give commercial prosperity, sno lts eva.
denes will be gold circulation. with the return OF
commercial prosperity all questions relating 10 one
yaue Of different kinds Of currency VIII disappear.
/ ResDtssd, That THE consaInma,on can De
reached by providing adequate system oil trans
/ portatiou and that the only way such system can
/ be provided Ii by the corporation Of the people,
| through the machinery OF Government INA. VIC
| boundaries of commerce have become 80 extended
III rough the agencies OF steam and electricity tat
/ a new aud more extensive class OF transportation
facilities are needed that the present system has
becagne not only inadequate 70 the necessities OF
the Zines but IL f. nlled with defects aud abuses
/ that IL dwaris production. STILES commerce sno
prevents US from successfully competing In ns
| markets of the world.
| Resolrsd. That the corporate power embodied In
our transportation lines has become 80 organized
1 consolidated and combined thAt II Is now able 10
dictate yaues 10 the producers prices to the con-
s;s,srs aud profits 10 the manufactures and trades,
and to build up privileged class, contrary 10 the
I split OF the Constitution Of the United states.
Res0tred, That the further extension OF this pow
| er must be opposed by the mass OF the people by
creating fast possible new system OF tFahs.
/ porsation lines which will Insure competition, and
! thus protect the public interests:
< A
tioi,a Government should, ~ speedily az possible,
/ undertake the construction OF lines OF Trans
| portation recommended b. the United States sea
ate Committee on Trans portation Routes. or such
| OF them az after survey prodacc The most iaVofa-
/ Bile results
| Rss0loed. That a national railway. exclusively
for freight should be constructed from the gram
growing sections Of the West TO the Atlantic sea-
board to the end that this great territory with It's
| dense population, and the principal distributing
1 elite. both Of the East and The Wet, may not be
| wholly at the mercy OF existing railroads when
water routes are closed by ice.
| Res0iged That, II ii be deemed inexpedient 10
| have this road constructed aud owned by the Ma
| tIonal Government. the object may be reached by
granting national sid 10 such road, aud assuming
Ia confederation thereof such supervision and con-
troll will insure reasonable rates OF frelght Tor
| ever prevent combination and consolidation with
existing lines, and the abuses In construction ana
! management which persade our present railway
| system. and so heavily tax the commercial and
| consuming public AZ this time.
Res0tged, That, whenever national aid IL extend
ed 20 any project IN the way OF internal improve
meut. OF whenever the construction OF any work
| II undertaken by Government, the work should
be done by contract. in small sections, 10 the low
! est responsible bidder.
| Resofced, That a committee consisting OF seven
persons familiar with and interested In water trans
| pOrtation aud a COMMITTEES Of equal number who
nre dependent upon improved railway facilities for
cheap transportation be appointed TO present copies
Of these resolutions 20 the Congress OF the United
| states and 20 take such other steps to forward
| the objects therein advocated may be in their
| power.
Resokpea That the internal commerce Of the
United States has not In the past received that con-
| siderati0x at the hands OF our National Govern
! mcnt that its importance merits; that exceeding
| ia magnitude as IL does our foreign commerce in
the ratio OF than ten 10 one, II Il entitled TO
the most careful consideration and fostering care.
Res0tped That. In pursuance OF this policy,
memorial TO Congress from this convention be
| prepared, asking that Joint committee from both
| houses Of Congress be appointed TO consider the
| Suitability OF forming new department OF our
| National Government, to be called the Depart
| ment OF Internal Commerce, said department. 70
be specially charged with the collection. preserVa-
ton aud dissemination of information bearing up
on transportation, and with all other matters per
| mittee before mentioned 10 Investigate the sub
| ject aud report at the next session OF Congress
| Res0teed, That we recommend the seveTni States
| ~ enact the following laws for the regulation OF
| railways chartered by them:
! I. A law providing u Board OF Railroad Com
| missioners to obtain. preserve and circulate IN
formation bearing upon transportation. with power
| ~ prescribe uniform system OF keeping railway
accounts. and with other powers aud duties simt-
| lar To those possessed ny the Halfway CoinmlS
soners Of Massachusetts
| q A law 70 prevent stock imitation.
| 3. law prohibiting representatives OF the people
| from being retained or employed agents. attor-
neys or counsel IN any case where the public inter
T. A law providing that all common carriers
shn reception quantity. whether Il be OF grain
other commodities, and to deliver the same at It's
| destination.
5. A law providing a uniform Classification OF
merchandise aud prohibiting the printing OF condi-
lions on bills OF ading issued by common carriers
which designed TO eyade the Just responsibility
OF such carriers.
g. A general law. or constitutional prohibition
against the consolidation Of railroads by which the
power OF these great corporations IL often greatly
increased and their proper control and regulation
| prevented.
Resolped, That we have no warfare 10 make upon
any OF the great industries OF the country, but
the contrary the very object OF the convention is
| TO promote peace and harmony among them by
securing an equitable distribution of the benefits.
aud burdens OF life. without which there can be no
permanent harmony OF interests. As the Offices OF
| all the members Of the human body essential
Ia It's perfect vitality and vigor all these in
teIests essential 10 country that would be great
and prosperous. IL IL the true interest Of all TO
promote the interest OF each other, aud our best
policy viii be found In the union OF all the great
Industries o. the land for the sake OF national
peace and national prosperity.
Resoired, That for the purpose OF efecting
more perfect organization an Executive Commit
tee be appointed for each state, consisting OF =
| number equal to the representation OF said State
| In the Federal Congress.
| Rssoioed, That the said Executive Committee
shall have power To appoint subcommittee in
| each Congressional district In their respective
States.
Resolr<d. That II shall be the duties OF these
several committees TO collect and seminate such
information In their several States and districts as
may aid In procuring proper legislation upon this
sll-important matter OF transportation, and that
their efforts and aims shall be 10 procure for
| people the cheapest means possible,
| Resoiped. That IL shall be the duty Of the sub
| committee TO correspond with the Executive Com
mittees Of the States, and the State Executive
tee Of this body that there may be uniformity OF
| purpose and action between the whole.
/ Rssotced, That when this convention adjourn IL
| be To meet In October 1875. at such place may
| be Designated by the Executive Committee.
| kss0fUsd. That your committee further recon-
mend the adoption Of the resolutions introduced
| by the Hon. VIM Bross In this convention re-
| lating to deep water communication between the
great Western lakes, Montreal and New York city,
1 by the way OF Lake Champlain and the Csaghna-
| wags Ship-Canal
hesottsd. That we are In favor OF completing
both the Northern and Southern Pacific Railways
| ~ soon ~ the means for the completion Of the
| same can be properly made available.
Resoired That the attention OF the State OF New
York 10 called 10 the absolute necessity OF clean
Ing and bottomng out the Erie Canal to the maxi.
mum depth provided by law, and that Improved
| lock gates, now In common use elsewhere. be APP
piled 10 the locks, 10 the end that Its present ca
| pacty may be Increased.
Resolved, further. That the authorities Of that
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