The Ottawa free trader., 1879-02-22

Il Island road-thcy affect all the roads. thina
about this $500 900, not that think it will b,
needed, but il will show the railroads that III,
canal rW be kept running,
The committee on resolutions prcsenteC
three reports. The majority repor; is as fol
lows, Is presented by Mr. Stackpole;
HSo,rd, That the laws against unjust dlscrim
i nation and secret rebates ON frcghis by railroad.
4 should bc enforced.
Resoi,od That Illinois should take care of and
u preserve its canal property.
! K-SoltOi That il il the duty of this convention
to appoint committee to urge upon the present
congress the completion Of surveys for suitable
connection between the great lakes and the
Mississippi systems, and that they be respectful
ly requested 10 declare said work one OF para
: mount national importance.
| R,So''o9, That committee be also appointed
to confer with the Legislature of Illinois and urge
! the passage of an act submitting to the people
the question of the transfer of the Illinois and
= Michigan canal and the work begun in the river
To the United States ON condition of prompt and
suitable completion and enlargement.
Mr. Ray presented a minority rcpor. as fol.
lows:
WHEREAS, There is great probability that the
earnings of the Illinois and Michigan canal for
the next two years will not be sufficient to make
the necessary repairs and maintain the same;
| therefore be it
Res0'rod, That the present general assembly be
D., earnestly requested 10 make necessary appro.
priationS for any deficit that may occur TO
maintain and keep in repair said canal,
u Mr.. Lynch presented sub. minority report in
three sections, as follows;
/ NsU WHEREAS, The Illinois and Michigan
canal is state institution from which, as "a con-
IpctnG line OF transportation, the people of the
state derive incalculablc benefit and
i Whereas, the said canal has always been not
only scli-sustaining but source OF revenue, and
must continue to be so although carrying freight
at nearly onc-half less than the rates charged by
railroad corporations for equal distances on their
railroads where they do not come in competition
\ with the said canal; and
\ Whereas, the railroads running parallel with
and crossing the said canal are carrying frcghts
! for nearly three-fourths less from points along
the line of the said canal than they charge for
Icqual distances on their railroads away from the
Icanal, evidently for the purpose Of accomplish
ing its distinctions therefore
! ReSoittd, That we earnestly request the lcgis-
lature now in session to 50 amend the railroad
law aS 10 prohibit unjust discrimination by rail
! roads against the Illinois and Michigan canal
making the penalty not less than 100000 and
not over 5000 600 for the first ocnsc and for the
second otiense the forfeiture of their property
and franchise as provided by the constitution.
! (3d) WHEREAS, The necessities Of commerce,
OWING ~ lHc great lltItaet Ol pOpu!diioI anu
consequent production, demand that the canals
conncrting the great lake chain with the Allan.
tic east from Lake Erie and south from Lake
h Michigan, bc so dcCpened and widcned as to car
ry vessels Of greater tonnage; therefore
u hSD',td, That we request our Legislature to
i appoint committee from the committees On
rivers and canal of the house and senate, who in
connection with the governor, will confer with Il
like committee to be appointed by the legislature
Of the state of New York, in connection with lis
l,r,, ,ltr ff dot mi tlp
course of action necessary 10 accomplishing the
object.
81 RSol,td, That We request the legislature to
place S2O0,O0O of tile surplus fund of the earn
Irgs Of the Illinois " Michigan canal 20 the
credit Of the canal to bc used by the canal com
= ms~oners IN case Of emergency.
Alex, Naughey moved the adoption of
tute to adopt Mr. Rays report.
! G w Armstrong said Lynch's would re.
Iquirc special legislation which is impossible.
Besides it is impractlcablc. Mr.. A. favored
Mr. Rays as the only practical report offered
and as covering all the ground needed. The
present canal is large enough and has never
done l-20th the business it can do.
! Mr. Ray sald the canals present danger is
the only question at issue. We want money
to protect it and from the legislature It must
come. If we go there with that simple pro
position we shall get what we wan'-we must
pool our issues for this money.
Mr. f. F. Bull said the object Of this meet
ing is to adopt some measure to preserve the
canal This Is the view of all the people
along the canal, and we are here to drive
home some one measure. The railroad law is
stringent enough The railroad kings are
sovereigns perhaps but they are trembling
now before the people. Even Sage of the r.
! / road said they must he more careful be.
cause the people will not stand these dlscrim-
Iinations Money is all we want 70 keep the
canal open. II the commissioners have money
to carry on the fight, the fight will end. The
transtc- OF the canal can't be made under
three or fonrs. and must first be submitted 70
"A vote Of the people, and before that can b.
done the canal will be dried up.
Mr.. Lynch made strong argument for his
resolutions He thought a 81 600 fine as now
imposed ny the railroad law ridiculously low.
We must have hard remedies. If the rail
He also made Il strong plea Tor the ship
canal.
The delegates from the west having arrived
the resolutions were re-rcad and the questions
before the house stated.
Hon. Jos. Hart supported the substitute. He
| thought the present railroad law sufficient
The discrimination against the canal is now
the only one comp lained of in the state. The
former meetings in Ottawa and elsewhere
have stirred up the railroad and warehouse
commissioners and they are fighting the rail
roads on this issue. Until this is tested why
want further legislation? In '3 Il case was
taken up to the Supreme Court which held,
| by Lawrence, j., tha; the penalties were two
severe for the oitenSc committed; and Judge
. I I a.tnrSorlS tr.1y IS cline