The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-10-01
COMMON CARRIERS.

We notice that Mr.. Glow, our joint
Senator for Benton and Polk counties,
has introduced bill with this title,
can Act to provide for the inter-
change pf traffic by common carriers. :"
We have examined the bill and find
that il consists of only three sections.
The first declares that all common
carriers in the State, whether on
railroads, or by steamships or barges,
shall receive "without discrimination
and so forward to their destination"
all passengers and freight passing
o-rr or by their railroads, or steam
ships or barges,. whether the journey
shall have been begun on their lines
or on any other railroad, steamship
or barge connecting with or inter
secting their lines of communication
at any point.
The second section defines "dis-
elimination" to mean "any distinc-
tion in time, rate or method of transit
and delivery"
The third declares that every vio-
lation of the act shall be punishable
by a fine of not less than 500 or
more than $1,000, to be recovered by
the injured party at his option in the
Circuit Court of the district where
the head office of the offender is SIT
uated or of the district where the
offense was committed.
Do our readers see The point of
this bill? 1t is just this--to assert
once again at this most critical juno
tnre the old and safe principle, that
the highways of the State are first of
all for the use and benefit of the peo-
pie OF the State; that if railroads are
in question, the people, through their
legislators, can and will control them
and that whilst it is not intended
to try to fix fares and freights on any
particular line, yet that the people
shall have the free use of the roads
to send freight and to travel over
them, without arbitrary and oppres-
sive distinctions, and that the old
rule of first "come first served" shall
prevail.
The effect of the bill is to give a
fair chance for competition, and to
prevent corporations from making
distinctions in their business between
freight and passengers, shipping
throughout on their own line, and
such as reach them by means of any
other railroad or other means of CON-
munication
Every farmer, every sheep-master,
every miller, every dairyman, every
store,keeper, and every customer Of
the store-keeper, is deeply interested
here. The present high, and even
exorbitant rates of freight, are what
contribute more than anything else
to keep us poor.
And now the Senator from Benton
and Polk counties is appealing for
support for his bill. Let him have it,
and that heartily. This is no ques-
tion of the politics of the hour, but
deals with the real, l,solid home inter
ests of us all. And rest assured Of
this that if the chains of monopoly
are now broken, woe be to the man
or men who try to bind them on the
people of Oregon again.
Through the press the people can
make known to their representatives
their sovereign will, and what we
have to say is that if this bill falls to
the ground from any lack of earnest
and hearty support heavy reckon.
ing is at hand for all, be their poll.
tics what they may, who shall in
their places at Salem thus prove re.
oreants to their sacred trust.
Do not forget what we heard from
Mr.. Willard of the Oregon Railway
and Navigation Company last week,
and let US now prove if the Columbia
river is under their control, and if
Oregon is and is to remain. their ter
zitory.