St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1880-12-25
The Necessity of Limiting the
Power of Railroad COrpO-
1.atiOnS.
IN. 0. Tines.i

rover OIL NHghfOHN SOfPO~
1.atiOns.
lE. o. Times
Tho annual report Of Mr.. French,
government auditor of railroad accounts,
which was furnished to the public few
days ago, contains many facts and sng-
gestions that deserve thoughtful con.
sideration. He shows that the great
Pacific roads, over which the govern
ment exercises n sort of supervision, NE
yearly making immense sums OF money
and that 10y their unjust Determinations
and exactlons they arc rather impOyer-
ishing than bcncfitting the people. He
sees the imperative necessity for legis-
lation by congress limiting the powers
and privileges of all railway companies
whose roads cross State lines. In his
report he recommends "that all common
carriers engaged in transporting pas
scngeIs and freight from one State or
Territory to another State or Territory
of the United States shall be authorized
to charge and receive for said service
such compensation rs they may fix from
time to time provided, that no dis
elimination OF any kind whatsoever
shall be made that like possible service
and facilities shall be furnished on the
same day at the same price for all freight
offered; and in case any common carricl
evades OF breaks this provision the
party injured shall have his remedy in
court having juristliction.'
There is u bill now pending before
| congress which covers the rccomncn-
dation made by Auditor French. That
it will become law, however, is very
doubtful. The great railroad tompa-
! nies arc so rich and powerful that it is
almost impossible to pass any measure
hostile to their interests. The leading
| members of congress are, in many ln
| stances, retained by them as their att0r-
neys, and are paid enormous fees. II
the truth could be discovered, it would,
| no doubt. be found that the election ex-
pcnses Of members of congress aud the
State legislatures in all the States are
often paid by railroad companies. It
can be readily seen, therefore, how diff
| cult matter it is to secure the enact
ment Of any law, limiting the powers
not only of the corporations controlling
| great trunk lines, but, also, Of those op-
of State. Some snch legislation how
ever, has become 30 necessary that it
cannot be delayed any longer with safe
ty. Mr.. F. B. Thurber, in an article in
! the December number of Scribner'e
Magazine, gives some startling state
ments relative to the way in which rail-
road companies use their great power
to iDjure commerce, destroy industries,
rob the farmers and corrupt legislators.
He quotes from report of the United
States transportation committee, made
in 1874, as follows:
"In the matter Of taxation, there are to-day
four men representing the four great trunk
lines hctweeu Chicago and New York who
POSSESSES, and who not unfreqncntly exercise,
powers which the congress Of the United States
| would not venture to exert. They may ut any
time and for any reason satisfactory 10 them
selves, by single stroke of the pen, reduce the
| value OF property IN this country by hundreds
OF millions Of dollars. An additional charge Of
five cents per hushci on the transportation OF
cereals would have heen equivalent to tax OF
forty nve millions OF dollars on the crop OF 1873
No con9ress would dare to exercise so vast q
power except upon II necessity of the most i'm
perative nature and yet theae gentleman ex
ercise it whenever II suits their supreme will
and pleasure. without explanation or apology
With the rapid and inevitable progress of com
ganizations are daily becoming stronger and
more imperious.'
Mr. Ihurber gives facts and hguret
from tho reports of investigating com
mittees. which prove that the rule OF
railroad companies is to charge "Whd
the traffic rill bear"
The principlo on which they act is tt
work solely for their own interests
| They have no regard whatever for thu
interests OF the public. 1t is a vel
known fact that in all parts Of The
country industries suffer on account O.
unjust discrimination in freight charges
On many roads it costs as much to trans
port goods one hundred miles as it doel
five hundred. By an agreement with
five great trunk lines Of railway tn,
Standard Oil Company was given .
monopoly Of the oil trade. These trunl
lines paid that company in eightee,
months the enormous sum of &c, ,15t al!
in rebates. In other words, the advan
tagcs given to the Standard compan,
over other Oil companies amounted in
year and half to over $4,000, ,0uC
With reference to this case the trans
po,tation committee Of the New Yorl
Chamber of Commerce says: "With th
favor Of the managers OF the trunk line
what is to prevent commerce in the res
Of the great staples from being monop
olized IN similar Manner The sam
thing is happening in other lines o
business. A few great firms are rapid
monopolizing the export trade in whea
and other productions, and crushing on
all opposition. Every thinking perso
must SEQ the danger threatened by IT,
exercise of unlimited power by rairoa
companies. In a recent letter to tll
New York Chamber of Commerce, Juds
Black said:
"If railroad companie. have tho M
) limited power which they claim. the
al ens'ness is at their mercy: agricu
ture, commerce, manufactures, mu
suffer what they choose to intlic
Though this power does not belong
/. them legally, they have been permitte
to usurp it, and need not tell you til,
they have abused it. They avow TIN
they make their cxactions with an eJ
single to their own advantage, withol
e considering any right or interest Of Il
e public. They boldly express their d.
u u termination to charge as much as Il
; traffic will bear that ia to say, they wi
&c take from the profits of any mans bus
+ ness rs much as can be taken witho,
&c compelling him to quit it. In the Il;
Is gregate, this amounts to the most emo
n nous, oppressive and unjust tax th'
!. ever was laid upon the industry Of nj
7 people under the SUM-
ss This is a brief and clear statement
lie the case. The tax which the railros
i;t corporations have laid on the industri
Is nf fha cnuntry ia aIraatv vary uree