The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-02-03
The Problem of Regulating Railroad
Corporations.

IAIIO& AND COMMERCIAL RELATIONS.
a The problem of transportation, in its re
iation to agriculture, confronts every farm
y er throughout the land. He may apply hi
c labor with rare skill, propitious seasons ma
l. bless his efforts, and the fertile soil unde
p these influences may return the most boun
!, tiful crops, yet there is the necessity of
market and the means OF reaching it as
II prime condition of profit There is ever
=. increasing demand Tor the products of BIZ
labor, he makes the supply, but there is ont
/ Intervening condition necessary to bring
" these two elements Of commerce into profit
l bic unlOa-transporta Time was when
g the waterways OF this country served the
/ purpose well, but new and improved high
way. Of commerce have been provided
railways threading the continent, the lines
laid IN advance OF the pillow, reaching
athwart the broad domain OF an industrious
people, whose restless energies have thus
en- led to new effort, on new lands and
this country has by such means become the
granary Of the world. But while agricul-
ture has been enlarged and extended through
this agency working 10 promote its develop
ment, 1t has by rapid stages become subject
ed TO the power whose kindly offices were at
first employed to give it encouragement and
support. Between it and the railways there
Is close interdependence, reciprocal obiiga-
tiOns, that must be honestly observed for,
{
The railways depend upon the products of
agriculture more than upon all else for en-
ployment out of which to secure profitable
return for expense Of operating and capital
invested in construction while fairness de-
pend on the railways to move their crops at
| such cost for the service as will leave them
fair return for their labor and capital en-
/ ployed. As question of political economy
| II Is clear that these relations must be steadi
| ly maintained for the security and the well
fare of both Interests; and it Is equally clear
that they wilt not be 50 maintained without
! just rules to define the Obligations
/ Experience has shown that the corporate
| power which manages railway is rapacious
/ 1t Is marked by encroachments and usurpa-
/ tions- 1t does not abide within its sphere
| where it is weil-nigh autocratic; forgetful of
the fact that its first duty Is respectful ODE
! dience TO the people whence it emanated, it |
taxes the products of labor at WILL because |
1t has usurped the power to do SO, and with |
astonishing etfrOntery it warns the people |
against attempts to recover rights thew have |
carelessly yielded. 1t makes the plea that !
railway property is private property, and, |
therefore, not amenable to the public for err
rOrS or wrongs in its management and not |
subject to regulations offered by the public |
As the outgrowth of this sentiment there is
Il system of charges for transportation de-
pendent only on the will of the railway man
ayers ana LnGN 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 so is not de-
MED it i admitted by themseve and the
practice defended as right. In this they
exercise power which even the State would
not use without delicate regard for the in
terests of citizens generally, looking to their
welfare, and welding the power, irresponsi-
bic and defiant, challenges the multitude of
sufferers and sneers at legislatures that at
tempt to impose restraints upon its rapaci-
ty or to check Its assumed prerogatiyes. ,
Ever alert and unsrupulous, it goes into the
various districts selects its supple servants,
and, by defr3uding the suffrages of the peo- !
pie, puts upon its plant tools the seal of
authority, by which they become law makers
to betray the rights of citizens at the behest
of a soulless master Or, if the expedient of {
direct representation be not employed, they l
do not hesitate to use brides upon legisla-
tors, Tor there IS abundant testimony show 1
ing that they have purchased the honor of '
Senators and Representatives. in many legis- !
Iatures, and trampled manhood in the COW I
etous dust Of frail nature until in some /
States the debasement of Lawmakers has q
become by-wOrd aud lasting shame. Even .
now, while we deliberate upon the means of >
restraining the manStrPpa ,tEranpF rat yak
to send into the United States Senate their
paid attorney from the most powerful State
ing, and in four other populous States Sena-
tors directly in the service Of railways will
soon be chosen if the people do not make
prompt and vigorous protest. Already these
have secured powerful influence .
in the Senate, and they have numerous will :
ing and obsequious servants in the other d
branch Of Congress ready always to barter {
away our rights IN the interest OF the mag I
mates they serve. !
Intrenched in the several State Capitals,
domiciled in the central citadel, confident :
and strong, the railway power to-day sways ::
the commerce of 4 continent, and dominates }
its industries with cold neglect Of the golden
rule that is the vtalizing spirit of free gov
eminent, and with cynical contempt of the I
common honesty and homely virtues that ;
support the structure of civil liberties. a
power within the State, accelerating in
growth licensed by its own inordinate !
greed, usurping rs desire advances, linlitless
in audacity-how long will it be before the
State itself will be supplcant to its crea-
ture that lays lustfuI hands upon the shreds
of authority yet preserved, swaggers in
every precinct of the Legislative domain,
with its manmuvres defile the ermine, and
has towering scorn for the people and
especial contempt for the class that suffers
most by its cruel eXactiOns-farmers? Shall
there be an organized effort by the people to
recover the rights flched from them by the
creatures of their generosity? VIII they
mark the limit of concession and thereafter
guard its boundaries The time is oppor-
tune their strength equal to the require
ment-do they lack the purpose? Will
American farmers join in positive, earnest,
determined effort to secure Just protection,
through the peaceful medium of laws, wise
in their design aud just in their operation,
whereby railway corporations shall be gent
lv but firmly restrained within the limits
so defined? If they will, the day is near al
hand when their industry will be free to dis
tribute its profits through all channels of
trade in Just measure, according to deserts,
and they will themselves share equitablv in
the blessings that reward free, untrammeled
labor in the primary avOcation of man. 1t
is not the purpose now to mark with pre-
cisiOn each step of the benefcent work, nor
can this be done at once by any legislation
for there must be nice adjustment OF the
great forces engaged, on the one hand IN
production, and on the other in transpor-
tation essential to the development OF all
useful industry There must be wholesome
growth of common honesty, so that Iegis-
lator will spurn the bride insiduously COW
cred in a railway pass, judge be abashed
and ashamed when the hint Is given that
his palm can be tickled by the favor, and
Senator of the United States execrated when
he betrays the honor of his high position by
accepting 4 fee 70 carry the case ola railway
| corporation againit she government he has
| sworn to serve, before judge whose appoint
ment he has procured, and by the damnable
prostitution ofhOnor mulcts the people he
! is unworthy to serve. 1t is not yet enough
| that there must be honor and honesty III
high places Power win not be more pure
than its source; the people must be honest
aud delegate their power only to those who
are worthy of trust
In answer to the assumption of private
rights, vociferiously proclaimed by railway |
| attorneys, there is the opinion of Chief JUS
! tic Waite, delivered from the bench when
rendering the decision ia the famous /
| "Granger Cases" so-called carried to the |
] - EHn-.-t r,r..,., Ibis r.arx r,oir,t l