The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-04-19
TIE COMMISSION uRYxSpxp.

iAk SohMiSSlON UBfHNDEDs
Sir, have been told by some that the
railroad and warehouse commission Is Of
no use to the state that, therefore, as the
first blow OF the many they intended to
strike 1t until they have killed 1t, they
will give their votes TO the bill.
Gentlemen are mistaken when they say
this Is a useless board. The bare fact
1t exists, no matter how little labor its
members do, saves to the pcople--to the
patrons OF railroads and through them
to the farmers of this state--thousands OF
dollars each year. But its members need
not be idle, and they have not been.
| During the five years and halt of the
| commission, 1t has put in operation tho
| machinery OF the railroad and warehouse
| laws OF Illinois, and in all its labors has
walked over new ground in the dark
| ness OF inexperiencc without the lamp Of
precedent to give light to its feet. 1t has
| stumbled sometimes, but it has walked
| safely, and by expostulation with the
| monopolies with which 1t has had to
| deal, aud by action in the courts when
| expostulation has failed, has saved much
| money to the purses of the people OF the
state.
Very dearly, it has been said, have we
| paid for this little whistle of benefit Not
| so. During the eXistance of the com
| mission, 100000 have been expended
| by 1t, less than 1000 year; and this
| has included the salaries of commission
ers, office rent and expenses, lawyers
| fees and costs OF suits. There Is not
one railroad company of any reputation
| in the state that does not itself expend a
larger sum than this every year tor law
| yers' fees alone. And it must not be
forgotten, while we grumble
at the eXpensivcness OF
| the commission, that, during
| the past five years and n half of its exist
ence. it has done the costly work of put
| ting into operation new system OF
| legislation intended to control great and
wealthy corporatiOns--a system that has
given birth to new doctrines which have
| startled not only the monopolies but also
| the conservative impulses of the bar and
| the dreamy sleepiness of Judges doing,
while events bearing great interests OF
| the people go clamoriag past them un-
| observed. At every step the people have
| been resisted in this movement against
monopoly by concentrated wealth en-
| ploying splendid abilities in its cause.
| But they have triumphed glorously.
| They spoke with a voice so loud that even
| the supreme court OF the republic heard
| it, and needed their demand.
To the railroad and warehouse COM
mission OF Illinois the people owe much.
| for it contributed not little 10 the OBJ
| tainment of this victory; and. sir. have
no doubt that this commits sion Ia. saved
to the people thousands OF dollars for each
cent It has expended. It has done this
TOO with great disadvantages beatin 2
constantly in its face.
FRIENDS AND FOES or THE PEOPLE
WARNED.
Sir, shall we now, in the very moment
| OF success, in the very moment, when,
after laborlous toiling, we have finished
| the edllice, begin to tear it down and
throw away the results that may come
| from our triumph:
That Is what members OF tins house
would do-some of the members no are
friends OF the corporations. The former
are foolish; the la,ter unwise. The for
| mer may learn that they have been used:
| the latter will stop when, having accom-
| pllshed reaction, agitation commences
| again and the people enter upon new
! crusade against the corporations, q cru
SADIE that will leave III its path the bleach
! Ing bones OF all mOnopolies, upon which
| no political prophet viii ever breathe and
| clothe them with flesh again.
| Dus WIN tudt ltlls ulOftlHEHl 10
reduce the salaries OF the commissioners i.
not AL attack upon the commission and
the railroad laws OF this state. is. sir.
| Cheap railroad ana Warehouse somm,s-
| eioncis Will be the servants OF the III o.
| nopolies they are intended 70 control.
ms fact is patent, and no talk about
| economy can cover it up. Harmless as
doves they are not, but wise as serpents
are the monopolies, and often they come
with the voice OF reformers, CRYING in
the wilderness of hard times: Down
with the public expenses. Let us lop
of. Let us save But the loppings
and savings they suggest are always OF
the kind that will do them the most
good.
Sir, we know these things. Let us
profit by the knowledge. We have now
an opportunity. The enactment oftbis
Dill viii be economy In the interest OF
the monopolies. Its defeat is therefore
demanded by the best interests of the
people.