Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-03-31
Ia is but a few years since the order

Ii is but a few years since the order
of the Patrons Of Ilusbandry origniat-
ed. The most prominent cause of
their rapid growth was the cry, ''away
with tae middle menu Combined with |
this, was social improvement IN their
oft repeated gatherings. In the West
it takes quite a little property to buy
the necessary farm machinery, and
some years ago the farmers of that
section fouad out that they were pay
ing enormous profits to the manufac-
lures on their necessary farm imple-
,aents. The farmers combinations
against the manufacturers, gave birth
to the grange" movement, and in this
they were quite successful. They
quickly grasped the idea of cleaning
out middle men, and bringing the
producer and consumer together. and
mus uvrn Classes would save tho
profits Of the betweens, which, equally
divided would great enhance the prof
its of each. In this they were not
successful. Large mercantile houses
were erected in the great centers, from
which subordinate lodges could order
their groceries, and to which they could
send their surplus produce, these con-
Germs often acting as agents to sell.
This was more so West, than East, as
this has been the great field of the
Grange movement. In many of these
stores the good honest farmer found
that they were dealing with middle
men, and were paying not only sala-
ries, but commissions besides.
They thought that they found the
fact that the Rail Roads and grair
elevators were making enormous pro
fits in shipping their grain and othel
produce, The question at once be
came great political movement
against the Rail Roads, and thu
grangers carried several of the STATE
Legislatures. Laws were enacted
regulating freight and passenge
tariff, and when the persecution wa
not so strong commission were created
to grade the tariff according to tn
profits of each road.
In Wisconsin it was found that the
law had placed the Rail Road tarii
so low as that the revenue would onl'
pay running expenses and properl,
care for the property Of the corpora
tions and of course they could pa,
nothing on their Rail Road debts, AN,
Ill reality the law obliged them tt
repudiate their corporate debts. TIL
Rail Roads denied the rights of sucI
laws and carried the question to thei
State Court, and from there to tn
Supr enc Court of the United States
While the slow process of getting
decision upon the question Of tn
right of a State to limit the charges
of Rail Roads was going on, the ques
ton of the policy Of passing sucl
laws settled itself. The Rail Road
found that the people were oppressin
them so as 10 suffer, and hinder thei
efficiency, and the people found out tina
they cOud not do without Rail Roads
and the obnoxious laws were great,
amended or repealed altogether. An,
now, after the questions in dispute ar
virtually settled, comes the decision o
the United States Court affirlnin
the right of the State to pass sucl
laws, that they are constitutional, an
the States have a right to enforce them
The principle on which the decision
is based, is that if a man puts hi
money into tie public use, they hav
right to say how it shall be used
ana so of corporations. 1t would seer
narrow policy for any State by lega
enactment to place the rates so low a
to destroy all the profit. They certain
ly could not expect any increase Q
Rail Roard building in that State
Both parties have doubtless learne
wisdom. The grange wave ha
moved Southwark but little is heart
OF ITS present or prospective glory
and he must be good man in aritl
metic that can figure out very larg
balance sheet in the hands of til
country, where the credit can be 81
down to the order of the Patrons {
Husbandry.
The Commission to investigate the n
fairs in Louisiana has hecn finally con
pleted, and will consist of the followin
gentlemen: