Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-03-04
Railroad Legislation.

Legislature, and some of the most
influential newspapers in the State,
and two of the Railroad commission
ers, are holding special, and, as we
think, an unnecessary session OF the
Legislature, in order TO tear down
the Potter law, leaving only "the
principle" sailed down in resolution.
The arguments used in favor of
amending the law are about the same
that were pointed out by the HERALD
to show that such legislation was in :
opportune and untavorable to the
best interests of our State at the
present time.
Many of our readers see now that
what was stigmatized as unjust dis
elimination was legitimate and laud-
able competition, the benefits of which
were spread over large districts in
Grant county. When the railroad
was constructed along the west bank
of the Mississippi river, opposite to oar
county, an exciting struggle began
between this road and the Milwaukee
4 st. Paul ROAD for the trade and
freights for the western, central and
southern parts of this county. The
Potter Law was enacted. The NJ.
& st. Paul Co., compelled to charge
for freight in proportion to distance,
was forced to abandon competition,
both with the river and railroad
along it. The effect has been to
largely increase freights to and from
Bloomington and Lancaster and adj
Joining towns at q distance from
railroad depots. For instance the
merchants, and farmers too, in Bloom
ington are now paying 20 to 90 per
cent. higher for freights on the st.
Paul road than before the war against
| railroads.
1t is now said that the Potter Law
is not flexible enough; that this SO
called unjust discrimination is the
very lifo of trade and the salvation
of the farming community. 1t is GER
talnly very late now to commence
| the discussion of these laws of trade
The Potter Law has repudiated all
of them, and we certainly ought to
give it such a trial as will discover
| whether these laws are valuable and
indispensable or whether they car
be abandoned with impunity and
profit.
We read in the State journal Of
Saturday last a long and strong arti.
Gle endeavoribg to prove that there
ought to be discrimination in favor Of
freights carried at long distance to
market over those carried at short
distance, otherwise our heavy pro-
ducts in the far West could not reach
the East at all. This sensible essay
| might have been Of some service oil
one time, but it is out of place now
We do not see that the proposed
amendments improve the Potter Law
in the least. As long as the Legisla.
ture runs the transportation business
| there will be continual fric ion be-
tween it and the companies.
No railroad law that Legislative
body can possibly enact will be bet
ter adapted to the thousand exigen.
cies of trade than the present Potter
Law. The idea of limiting the earn
ings of railroad stock to 20 per cent.
for this ia effect is what the commits
sioners' bill proposes to do, will
| frighten as much capital away from
railroad investment as anything in
The Potter Law. Men that have
money can loan it anywhere at ten
PEI cent. without any hazard. Sc
we say. let the Potter Law stand
Fit can work out Tor US che ap trans.
portation in any other way than by
full and free competition, we shall bt
the first to extol its wisdom.
| Free competition east Of Chicago
has reduced freights between tha
city and tho East without any Poe
ter Law. The recent advent of Bal.
tmore 4 OHIO road has made still
greater reductions. We saw that
the railroad systems were rapidly
devel ping add would certainly have
produced the same results in Wiscon.
sin at an early day. The people Of
this State have attempted TO reach
the same desirable end by legislation
and to repeal the law now would be
mere child's play. So we say, let il
stand.
He UNDERSTANDS IT.-This is the
way a Frenchman reported the
| R~noyIrp Scandal. HV0n f+rnaf