New-York tribune., 1877-07-10
GRANGER LEGISLITION.

Ii is gratifying that recent comments ny us
upon the effects of Granger Legislation have
led many to desire further information. We
select the following letter for reply, because Of
The evident sincerity of the writer:
To the Edttor Of The Iribune.
SIR: would like information two three points,
suggested 10y your recent article entitled "Grangers
Decisions" and if these decisions are as vital 10 the
commercial interests OF the country Won intimate it Is
worth while that the community should have further
hight have understood that one OF these railroads in
Michigan or Wisconsin,. which came under the laws
regulating frcshts, declared dividend of II per cont
made in one year during the operation of the law.
l. why do you say Granger" Decjsionsi
q Please refer whore has been shown that the
Iowa law has ruined many Of the railroads OF the State
g. How has led producers and consumers to pay "a
Largo sum more tnan under existing ratcsl
While being a member of the order, which presume
Won term Gronqcr was that they a class,
had enacted caused to he enacted laws such as
Won speak Of Laws regulating freghts passed in
the West which did not t!pnk were very Wise, hut pro-
pie feeling they have been oppressed apt to
10 extremes; yet the Supreme Court sustaining them.
had thought they could not have the effect which you
assert they have had Yours, &c, j, d. WHITMAN.
VaIley Grore, West Va. July 2, 1877.
|. We speak of the recent decisions of the
Supreme Court as Granger Decisions" only
because they affirm the consttutiOnaliy of the
enactments generally and properly known as
Granger laws
II. 1t will not be denied that these enact
ments, for the purpose of regulating charges
for transportation and warehouse and elevator
service, had been formally demanded as one of
the chief objects of their association 10y the
farmers Of the Northwest. As soon as the
associated farmers gained sufficient strength
oh law
leading members of the association, and sup
ported unitcdly by its members. The first act
passed in Illinois, in 1871, was held uncon-
stitutional, and Judge of eminent learning
and mdOubted purity was driven from the
bench by opposition openly based upon his
decision. The amended Act, which empowers
Commissioners &" to establish reasonable maxi
"mum rates. and provides that their schedule
shall be primd .tdcie evidence that higher rates
are extortonate, was approved May =, 1878.
A similar act in Wisconsin was approved
March 4, 1874 and the Iowa law, Immediately
in question, March %, 1874. In the latter
Act, the "reasonable maximum rates" are set
forth within the law itself.
III. As no one will dispute that those acts,
and Others of like tenor in other Western
States, were passed by the influence of asso-
ciated farmers, in order to secure that relief
from Oppressive mOnopOlies in transporta-
"tionn which was leading and avOwed object,
so no reasonable man Will impugn their mo-
tivcs. Great abuses did exist, which the rail-
ways had refused to correct. The constitu-
tionality of the acts in question has been af-
frmed. but the Supreme Court was not called
upon and did not undertake to affirm their
wisdom or expediency. This our correspondent
| admits that he doubted. That these acts were
| inexpedient and unwise, it seems TO us mpor-
tant for sensible citizens i'll all parts of the
country to understand.
| ". The actual effect of these acts can now
be shown by abundant statistical proof. OuT
correspondent is in error in supposing that any
road at the West has paid II per cent dividends
The highest paid by any road in Michigan last
year was six per cent, and that was by leased
road, upon which dividends are paid, whether
earned or not, under the contract. Eleven other
roads in tho Northwestern States being leased,