The Chickasaw messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1880-1900, 1880-12-23
NATIONAL GRANGE, PAT.
RONs OF HUSBANDRY.
Report Of the Committee ON
transportation and CONNER
cial Relations,

WASHINGTON, DC. November p, 80
The problem Of transportation, in
its relations to agriculture, confronts
every farmer throughout the land
He may apply his labor with rare
skill, propitious seasons may bless
bis efforts, and the fertile soil under
these influences may return the most
bountiful crops, yet there is the ne
cessity Of a market and the means
Of reaching it as the prime condition
of profit. There is ever increasing
demand for the products Of his la
tor, he makes the supply, but there
is one intervening condition neces-
sary to bring these two elements OF
commerce into profitable union
transportation. Time was when the
voter ways of this country served
the purpose well, but new and i'm
pro3ed highways Of commerce have
been provided, railways threading
The continent, the lines laid in al.
vance Of the pillow, reaching athwart
the broad domain OF an Industrious
people, whose restless energ es have
thus been led 10 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 to promote its
development, it has by rapid stages
become subjected to the very power
whose kindly offices were at first EN-.
ployed TO give it encouragement and
support. Between it and the rail.
ways there is close interdependenee,
reciprocal obligation that must be
honestly observed for, if it Is not,
one or the other must suffer. 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 farmers 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 a ques
ton Of political economy, 1t is clear
that these relations must be steadily
maintained for the security and the
welfare Of both interests; and il is
equally clear that they will not be so
maintained without just rules to de-
tine the obligations.
Experience has shown that the
corporate power which manages q
railway Is rapacious. It is marked
by encroaehments and usurpations.
Il 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 il emanated. It
taxes the products Of labor At will,
because it has usurped the power
to do so, and with astonishing
edrontery It warns the people
against attempts to secure rights
they have carelessly yielded. 1t
makes the pIea that railway property
is private property, and, therefore,
not amenable 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 a system of
charges for transportation depend
ent only on the will Of railway man
ayers, and they care only 10 get
from their traffic what il will bear,
without reference to the interests Of
The owners Of the property they
transport. That they do 80 is not
denied; Il is admitted by themselves
and the practice defended as a right.
In this they exercise power which
even the State would not use without
delicate regard for the interests of
citizens generally, looking to their
welfare, and welding the power il
their behalf wisely lest Il might bring
suffering. Yet this corporate TAIL
way power, irresponsible and defiant,
challenges the multitude Of sufferers
and sneers at legislatures that at