The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-12-04
NATIONAL GRANGE.
18th ANNUAL SESSION.
Report Of the Committee On
transportation and CONNER
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transportation and CONNER
ciai Relations.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. r..
The problem of transportation,
in its relations to agriculture, CON
fronts every farmer throughout the
land. He may apply his labor with
rare skill, propitious seasons may
bless his efforts, and the fertile soil,
under these influences, may return
the most bountiful crops, yet there
is the necessity of market and the
means of reaching it as the prime
condition of profit. There is ever
increasing demand for the products
of his labor, he makes the supply,
but there is one intervening condi-
ton necessary to bring these two
elements of commerce into profit
able union-transporta Time
was when the water ways of this
country served the purpose well,
but new and i'm proved highways of
commerce have been provided;
railways threading the continent,
the lines laid in advance of the
plow, reaching athwart the broad
domain of an industrious people,
whose restless energies have thus
been led to new effort, on new
lands, and this country has by such
means become the granary of the
world. But while agriculture has
been enlarged and extended through
this agency working 10 promote its
development, it has by rapid stages
become subjected to the very power
whose kindly offices were at first
EN- rloyed to give it encouragement
and support. Between it and the
railways there is close inter depend
ence, reciprocal obligations that
must be honestly observed; for, if
it is not, one or the other must suf-
fer. The railways depend upon the
products of agriculture more than
upon all else for employment out of
which to secure profitable return
for expense of operating and capital
| invested in construction; while far
mers depend on the railways to
move their crops at such cost for
the service as will leave them fair
return for their labor and capital
employed. AS question of polit-
ical economy, it is clear that these
relations must be steadily maintain
ed for the security and the welfare
of both interests; and it is equally
clear that they win not be so main
tanned without just rules to define
the obligations.
Experience has shown that the
corporate power which manages a
railway is rapacious. 1t is marked
by encroachments and usurpations.
1t does not abide within its sphere,
where it is well nigh autocratic; it
assumes rights that belong to the
people, forgetful of the fact that its
first duty is respectful obedience to
the people whence it emanated. 1t
taxes the products of labor at viii,
because it has usurped the power
to do SO, and with astonishing ef-
frontery it warns the people against
attempts to recover rights they have
carelessly yielded. It makes the plea
that railway property is private
property, and, therefore, not amen
able to the public for errors or
wrongs in its management, and not
subject to regulations offered by the
public. As the outgrowth of this
sentiment there is system of char
ges for transportation dependent
only on the will Of railway man
ayers, and they care only TO get
from their ira ffic what it will bear,
without reference to the interests of
the owners of the property they
transport. That they do so is not
| denied; it is admitted by themselves
| and the practice defended as Alright
| In this they exercise a power which
even the State would not use with
out delicate regard for the interests
of citizens generally, looking to
their welfare, and welding the
/ power in their behalf wisely lest il
might bring suffering. Yet this
corporate railway power, irrespons-
ible and defiant, challenges the mul-
titude of sufferers and sneers al
Legislatures that attempt to impose
restraints upon its rapacity or to
check its assumed prerogatives
Ever alert and unsctnpulons, it goes
into the various districts, selects is
| supple servants, and, by detraudine
the suf,rages Of the people, put:
uper its plant tools the seal o.
authority, by which they become
law makers, to betray the rights o
citizens ct the behest of a soulless
master Or, if the expedient of d.