The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-03-27
.on the American Grocer.
INTER STATE COMMERCE.

2 / ne COMMITTEE on commerce OF ltie
House of Representatives, which had I'M
der consideration the Reagan bill and
other measures for the regulation of inter
State commerce by railroad, has voted to
reject the Reagan bill and substitute the
Henderson bill, said to have been drafted
by Charles Francis Adams, Jr., providing
national board of railway commission
ers. We have always been in favor of a
board of commissioners as supplementary
to positive legislation, but there are some
principles so we'll established that they
should and must be embodied in the law
of the land without further delay, and this
was what was attempted by the Reagan
bill. 1t did not attempt to interfere with
rates, but affirmed the principles of equal
ity and bnblicity, and prohibited Poolfmes
and combinations, while the Henderson
bill makes pretence of providing for the
former, but leaves the publicity entirely
out, only enquiries about the pooling,
and expressly excerpts small shippers from
its benefits by ruling out quantities less
than a carload from its provisions. How
can equality be secured without publicity,
and how can the public interest be pro-
tected if it is left to the will of such men
as Vanderbilt and Gould to combine and
decide 1Vllat is a reasonable rate? A COM
mittee OF the New York Legislature has
been engaged for eight months investiga-
ting railroad management; every charge
made by the public was sustained, and in
the report of the committee we find the
| following:
'sIn July last, during the war of rates,
wheat was carried from Chicago to New
| York for ten cents per hundred. In Au-
gust it was put up to fifteen cents-a 1iv-
ing rate A short European crop created
an unusual 2emand-a bountiful harvest
| here created an extraordinary supply.
The carrying capacity of all roads leading
to the seaboard was taxed to the utmost.
The rates were gradually raised from fif-
teen cents, in August, to forty cents in
November. 1t cost the roads Just as much
to haul hundred pounds of grain in Au-
gust as in November. The rate was
raised simply because the condition of the
market warranted it and the product
could bear it, 1t would be difficult to
make criticism upon that raise which
public judgment would sustain. eH5 -
"But we are distinctly told that public
interest plays. an insignificant role in the
theatre of railroad management 1t is at
| best but servant waiting upon the inter
i l.
sIsts in exercising a censorship over the
affairs of the community, secretly, arbi-
trarily and unequally varying rates, build
ing up this, developing that-not only
performing the proper functions of trans
portation, but taking into consideration
the probable or possible profit of ship
ment, and adjusting their rates accord
ingly. If the shipper is likely to make a
| Lore i
| the margin is close one, they determine
whether the shipment shall be made or
not, whether it shall result in profit OF
loss, and the amount of profit or loss
Thus, under this system of management
and this method of giving rates, is every
merchant, every manufacturer, every ship.
per, and through them every individual
along the $3.50 miles of railroad in this
State, with its five hundred millions oil
capital, measurably in the power of these
corporations. Conciliate their good will
court their favor, and favorable rates will
follow; incur their hostility, and the mar
gin of their displeasure may be read or
your freight bills. This has been we'll il
Illustrated in the course of this investiga
ton. Not q shipper would testify volun.
tariIy, however freely he might talk in
IiisoeS, O0e supOH DGlNR SuODO-
naed and put in the light of being dragged
before the Committee and compelled to
/ answer eH1 s.sl
! This is the reason why representative,
OF the public are always so scarce before
legislative committees, as compared with
railroad representatives.
On pages IS and So this report show.
conclusively how the high rates fall upor
the producer. If rates are lowered, the
price OF grain in the West advances; il
rates are raised. prices decline, and the
farmer gets much less for his product. the
European market being the governing
power and the transportation charge in
the nature of tax upon the article car.
RED. Hence the necessity for promptly
and absolutely prohibiting combination.
and permitting the laws of competition
the public's only safeguard against extor.
tion-to have sway. Selna
There are some things regarding the
Reagan bill which are not generally un.
derGfO0d 90 uaa, - 100000 A.