The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-03-08
HIGHLY IMPORTANT.
The Supreme Court of the United States
~ affirm the Grange Legislation to ..,.
be Constitutional.

A few years ago when we asserted
that The State had the right TO control
and regulate railroad companies, within
it's limits, " G were denounced as o luna
tic or communist.
We have filed whole columns Of this
paDer with arguments 70 prove that
either the people must control the cor.
porations or the corporations must con-
troll the people and that. in the nature
of things, a free people could not submit
their prosperity, their possessions and
their happiness to the unlimited domi
nation OF irresponsible railroad compan
panies and common carriers. That
between the two alterntives of leaving
the corporations at the mercy of the
people, or the people at the mercy OF the
corporations, we could not hesitate for
an instantly
| And now comes the Supreme Court Of
the Uaited States, and affirns our jadg-
nent in every particular. We quote its
decision just made:
| The Supreme Court has decided the eases
involving whether the Legislatures OF Mime
I~sota, Wisconsin, Illinois aud ether Western
states have right TO regulate tia carrying OF
freight and Passengers on all the railroads. III
their res pectiv- States. THE COURT HOL DS
THAT THK STATES HAD sub POWER
UF REGULATION. All the Judges concurred
except Jndg. Field.
WASHINGTON, March LII GLOWING are the
fnll opinions aud decisions Of the Supreme
Court in th. Granger cases:
Peck ct al. vi. Chicago X Northwestern railroad
company et al, and Lswrenc- " al vs Pau
and others. and the Chicago X Northwestern
railroad COMPANY. App-ai from Gre
Court for the Western District OF Wiscon-
sin.
Tho suits present the singular question oi
the power OF the legislature Of the stats 81
Wisconsin to provids bv Law for the maximum
charge 10 be mads by the Chicago X North
western railroad company for fares and freight:
| upon TRANSPORTATION vi persons and property
carried within the Stats or taken up outsid'
aud brought within it, or taken up inside anc
| carried out. The decision that until Congress
! acts in references TO tile relations OF inter Stat
commerce ii is competent for the State TO reg
ulate the fares ON railroads, so far as they ar
J. Of domestic concern This company, ii i
said has domestic relations with the state, al.
incidentally these relations nay reach beyonf
tha State. Until Congress undertakes to legie
late for those who arg without, the Stats b
| Wisconsin may provide for those within, ey Ell
taotighsit may indirectly aft ct those without
, Affirmed. Tas Chief Justice delivered tils
opinion.
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroa
| ~ the Attorney General ami ~t.te Treas
nrer. An app-al from the iowa Circuit.
Tn this case Ii In said the railroad companie
are curriers' fuF hire THY are Incorporates
J powers i'm order that they fnay the better serv
! tn public IT'D that capacity They are, there
} fore, engaged III pnbic employment, effrctn
i | public interest, and under the decision in I'll
case OF Mum 4 ; otat vs.. the people OF llinoi,
the principal case, subject to legislative con.
troi IS TO the rates of fars and freight, unles
: proaecf-d by their charters In the absence .
, legislative regulation on the subject Of fare.
i th- court must decide fDr Is, ~ they do to
. | private parsons when controversies arise
= what is reasonable Bnt when the Legislator
) steps in and prescribes the maximum 3
= charge il uparatrs upon this corporation th
: same ~ ii dOes upon individuals engaged |
. similar business. 4 uniform late OF Charges fs
!. | all railroad companies might operate uniustf
upon some. IL was proper, therefore, 70 pre
9 vtde some way for tsa- adaptation of the rates
the ciFcnEstAf OF the different roads and In
j. Lsxi=saxur-, In tn 4 exercise Of to power hs
= seeu tit - do this by system OF classification
! and Whistler this Was the best that could
done IL sot for ths court TO decide.
. Affirmed. The Chief Justies delivered Iii
: opinion
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