Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-12-18
,rar,ly by the railroad corporations.

trar,ly by the railroad corporations.
The most outrageous and o, rsist- |
ent sxtortions OF the railroads are |
perpetrated during the period when
lake navigation is closed. The sys
tenn OF American lakes, in connec.
ton with the Erie Canal, furnishes
during portion OF the year a water
way between the West and the sea
board which compels the railroads
To make Reasonable terms with ship
pers; but, as the close of the navi.
gation approaches, the corporations
begin series of upward charges
which stop just short OF confisca,ion
The rates for trsnspo ting bread
stuffs from Chicago to New York
are to day more than double what
they were during the suDmer. No
excuse nor palliation is offered by
the railroads for this exaction. The
operating expenses have not increas
ed, il at all, one tenth part Of the in
crease in rates. The investment is
precisely the same to-day that il war
three months ago There ia no dit
terence in the intrinsic value of the
stocks, no increase IN the debts, not
withdrawing the gambling prices
on Wall street. The railroads are
charging more than double what they
charged few months ago for the
same services simply because the
public cannot help itself. This fact
suggests as one OF the most import
ant features of National railroad leg
islation, not merely the prohibition of
sn increase of rates within certain
stated periods, but the regulation of
such periods in such manner as TO
make the prohibition apply specific
ally to the time at hich lake navi-
cation ordinarily closes. and to ex-
tend over the entire season during
which it remains closed. That single
provision would go far toward sup
pressing the hardships which the
public suffers at the hands of the
corporations.
Senator Eaton's plan for establish
ing National Railway Commission
is PROBABLY an essential feature OF the
proposed National regulation of the
railroads, but public protection re.
quires that it should be governed by
specific Instructions of law relative
to The basis on which rates are to be
fixed: the prohibition of an increase
OF rates within stated periods; the
denial OF the right to charge more
tor shorter than for longer dist
| ance, or TO make any other unfair
| discrimination, such AZ rebates; and,
finally. easy and inexpensive RENE
dies tor the people, and severe penal
ties for the corporations IN all cases
of the violation OF the law The ere.
alton of Commission which should
be lett to its own discretion, and sub
ject TO the powerful influences the
railroad magnates can always bring
to bear, would furnish no relief, but
might increase the burdens Of the
people and excuses of the corpora
tons. The provision of the Consti
tuition and the decisions of the Su.
preme Court give Congress the
broadcast authority for bringing these
pubic corporations under the control
Of the Government, and the National
legislation demanded by the people
must be OF nature that will render
appeals to the National Commission
and the United States Courts effect
i've by reason of the plain principles
and details of the law under which
such appeals shall be made.
If this subject OF ra lroad legisla
ton has how made its way into Con.
gress in such shape as to command
the earnest attention Of both parties
(which we hope is the case) the giant
railroad combinations will undoubt.
eddy organize powerful lobby, aud
r sort TO the most corrupt methods,
10 defeat the passage OF in adequate
law but every man in Congress
should start out with the conviction.
sure to be confirmed, that uncertain
or suspicious action will be visited
with the penalty of polit cal death IN
every instance -Chicdqo Times,