The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1880-10-01
.erAnn AaAlNsr moNoroLIEs.


Such monopolies can be, and should be
regulated by law
That there is at least one tronsporta-
ton company now extensively operat-
ing in Oregon that needs some etton-
toa in this respect there is no doubt.
From the circular issued by Mr.. Vii
lard, President Of the Oregon Re'lway
& Navisa tion Company, we see That the
net earnings of tiFat corporation or s'x
months ending witt last December were
5000, ,S64 GO, while the net eal aings Of
the first half of the present year reached
the handsome spm of s1,625,o0o. The
circular oracularly observes that "it
viii not be deemed extravagant to say
that there is hardly another transporta-
tion company IN the United States able
to make such favorable showing as
this"
Tho great and rapid Increase in tho
freighting business of the Upper Co
lumbia, of which this Company now
possesses the exclusive monopoly, is
given rs the main reason of this hand
some show ag. 1t is evidentH from a
further perusal of this circular that the
o. r.. & n. Company propose to hold
this monopoly of the Columbia, and dc
feat if possible the construction of any
and all competing lines. 1t goes on to
say that 'the Northern Pacific Il. II.
Company have decided to bui'd, and
have already entered upon the cor
struction of 220 miles of standard
gauge railroad, TO lie part Of their
through transcontinental I've from the
mouth of Snake River, in n northeast
crly direction to the foot Of Bitter Root
mountains and this new line ~ be a
direct feeder 10 our Tirer i.,s, and aciil
hare 10 d PERL altogether upon rs joT
transportation .t5f-iiities 'tp aud ,io,c1'
The Columbia" Aga'n, the circular
goes on to speak Of the construction Of
its Company's own Inc of railroad from
Cello to Wallu'a, (which" it adds,
"will strengthen our hold on and give
us enclusire control Of Tie Columbia
Rirsr-whieh may be termed the back
bone of our ente prise"
Surely this looks very much IKE a
settled deterp 'ation to establish a 3
gantic monopoly such as was never
known even in the old monopoly days
Of the P. T. and o. S. n. Companies,
and it ffor'd alarm the people Of the
entire State, and especially those Of
Eastern Oregon and Wash eIon.
But in further proof Of this bold at
tempt on the part of the Oregon Raj
way ( Navigation Company to throttle
the people and to exclusively control
the transportation interest: Of our
State, we quote the following eonclud
ing sentence from that em1Hrntsy-~s.e.-l-,
circular
eMoreeVer,asthe crossing importance
OF Oregon and Washington rcnlor Ger
tan the corst, uction of new through
| lin, from the East :tB'1 the mex
few &c -, It must he onr policy to NEE
any and oil Of these al such pe ms a,
sciH Erereat DE est sJf'shiaJ of oPposiin.
interests IN our ope., territory :"
Tier ou territory, forsooth wha
right have they, more than any othe
company, to claim the exclusive contro
and management of the transportation
interests of oregonl None whatever
and tbs assumption of such iigb
SHOULD warn the people to be on the''
guard lest this '-qolent corporation
make its right and power felt beyont
the hope of reparation.
With an evident Intention to head
4 this corporation of = its high-handet
encroachments upon the public welfare
| Hon. r. Glow has Introduced in The
State Senate b;'l "to provide for tn,
Interchange Of traffic by common car
riers," which, : passed, viii compe
this monopoly to receive and .anspor
any and all freight or passengers from
other lines over theirs. This bill should
pass by all means, and we urge its con
sideration and support by the member
of the Legislature. Compel that Com
pany to do what IS right. Compe
them by law to :1terchange transporto
tion with other companies without ex.
! tortionate charges or urfair discrimina
ton.
i Here is the full text of the Bill
which for the good of the common
wealth we hope will be promptly acted
upon and placed upon our statute books
SECTION l.. Every common carrier
fin this State, whether a corporation,
firm or person owning any railroad 10
Gated wholly or in part within thu
State, or owning or operating any steam
vessel or other water craft plying alto
lgether or in part on the waters of thii
State shall receive without discrimina.
4 ton and SO forward to their destination
las far as the powers Of such corpora
tion, firm or person extend5, all freight
and passenger cars, whether loaded Oh
, empty, in The case of railroads wherl
similarity of gauge exists, and ali pas
senoers and freight Passing or. bejnp