The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-03-27
From the Boston Journal of Commerce.
THE REAGAN BILL IN CON


tits a somewhat curious fact in the mat
ter of the present contest in Congress be-
tween the merchants of the country, head
ed by the Board of Trade of New York,
and the railraod monopolies, over the
transportation bill known as the Reagan
bill, that the house committee on COM
merce have refused to report it favorably,
but in its place have reported a substitute
known as the Henderson bill. This bill
is merely and solely trick to draw atten-
ton from the Reagan bill, leading the
merchants of the country to suppose that
the Reagan bill is virtually dead or aban-
doned. The provisions of this Henderson
bill are such as will restrict an opera
ton to quantities of a carload or more,
thus absolutely shutting out the smaller
shippers who ship only in quantities as
desired, leaving them quite at the mercy
of the railroad monopolies. This is simply
one, and is not at all the only Objectionable
feature of the so-called Henderson substi-
tute We notice that very many of the
journals of the country seem, to us at least
to have gone out of their way to make the
impression general that the Reagan bill
was dead and abandoned. We doubt very
much, however, if the Reagan bill dies SC
easily Welook upon this Henderson bill
and its treatment by the committee as a
trap, not very cunningly devised or han
died either, the real object of which is to
defeat legislation which is actually in the
public Interest, and allow the railroads more
latitude in their present prevalent prac-
tice. Many of the most important provi-
sion of The Reagan bill are entirely left out
Of the substitute, and allows ill-treated
shippers to receive redress through pro
posed railroad commission. This is done
in such a way as to make it really Sub
iect of ridicule, and very little has seem
ingly been done to allow calm, clear and
deliberate consideration from any stand
point. 1t is rumored that Judge Reagan
has the committees consent to report his
bill with the Mclean and Henderson bills,
and perhaps hearing on this will be had
i'll the House. 1t is very plausible to APP
point board of commissioners who shall
guard the interests of the dear public, and
it is possible that the railroad people have
quite sufficient interest in the matter to
take good care chat the appointments are
made from the railroad side of the house.
This is simply and solely misleading the
people. Applied to business usages it is
a swindle. 1t leads the public to suppose
they are to be protected, while, in plain
language, 1t SIMPLY puts the entire power
into the hands of railroad lobbyists and
rings. 1t seems to us that the attention of
merchants and shippers should be had
promptly and persistently to the matter,
and the lobbyists should be made to un-
derstand that the dear people of the coun-
try, although they do consent to. entirely
too much of this kind of business, have
not only the right but the power to say
may" when this is carried too far. We
trust the Reagan bill will pass in such
manner that some wholesale restraint shall
be placed upon corporations, which are
SIMPLY created by the people for the good
OF the people, but as rule make the peo-
PIE tnen servants in all respects whenever
it is for their interest to do so.