The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-12-29
nAILxoAD DETERMINATIONS.

lk BY ref rsiNe TO the proceedings of the
ITniHd stltes Senate on the 10th inst, as
Published IN tie Congressional Record of
the 18th, it vii he seen that memorials
tirca Indiana, Nebraska, Kansas and Texas
Ewere presented and referred to the COM
nlit.ce on Commerce, these memorials pray
fling for legislation against unjust dis
EXAMINATIONS BY railroad companies.
Erhis is a .momentous question.
FTbat railroad, companies have their
lrights and that they ought best to know
khow to conduct and manage their own
kaffairs. who can gainsay? But is there ever
ahue and cry, long, loud and continuous
flike this that is going up from all over the
Hand and that has for long years been going
fup, without cause? We see that within the
Ipast week oraten days freight rates have
| gone up on all railroad lines throughout
the country, the rates being the same on
falL Why lis this the case? Does
lit argue concert of action and
mutual unders landing. or not? |
Ethere is concert Of action and mutual I'M
it lisa coalition on thepart Of
lthese great and. rich corporations against
1.-THE people and against the best interests,
1.-The commercial interests, of the country is
Lit not? 1t is generally supposed that when
Ftwo railroad lines leave the same section Of
tcountry for a common terminus that COM
ipetition, we mean legitimate and common
sense competition, not cut.throat game,
may be expected. This may be an ancient
and decidedly. old fogy notion, but it is one
entertained by the general public and the
general public is interested. If these lines
tcombine to raise freights and to pool issues,
| then they become arrogant and oppressive
do. they not? If arrogant and oppressive
with impunity, are notthe people their
slaves, miserable wretches over whose necks
their trains pass as Jusgernaut cars, crush
ling out financial and commercial life?
Mr.. Reagan has introduced again
This bill to regulate Interstate
lcommerce and these memorials from the
Ipeople are no doubt intended, to give
strength to that bill. OF the merits Of Mr..
iReagan's bill ave are uninformed, .forwe
lhave not seen it and do not know wherein,
| fiat all, it may be different from the orig
| nal bill on this subject he introduced. That
original bill, while it was all right and most
commendable in the purposes it had in
view, was crude in its provisions and
lnot Of a nature or force calcu-
plated to do strict justice as
lbetween the people and the railroad com
Lpailies, and therefore it was well that it did
|not become law. 1t put the people to
thinking in the right direction, however,
and it put the statesmen and the political
economists of the country TO thinking as
we'll. The Chamber of Commerce Of New
York endorsed heartily Mf. KeaSans con-
ception and some of the brightest
intellccts a'nnd most thorough soins
business men of the country organized
to fight the monopolies and extortonste
corporations, and the result is that to-day
the apti-monoboly league isa power in the
land, growing in strength and influence
every day. We opine that Mr.. Reagan has
very closely studied the question Of inter
State commerce, and that he has taken
counsel with the wise men Of the East and
|of the. West and of the South and Of the
Nerth since he first drafted his
| bill and that the one he now presents is.
.avery greatly modified and docs greater and
Ffullcr Justice to all parties concerned. The
railroads have rights as well as the people,
a I'd those rights must not only be re-
peeled. but they must be consulted in
whatever legislation may be proposed. il is
|mooted that Governor Roberts, when he calls
|the Legislature together in extra session,
} will make railroad legislation one al the
features for action embraced in bis cali.
f,Te cannot say whether tlie Governor will
|do this or not : bnt We take il that tits well
Enough for Texas 10 wait awhile and see
Ishat Congress may do. Texas hasn't been
sphrfed yet and there IS no use in kicking
until that Is the case. We do not know
that there is any railroad IN
he state disposed 10 discriminate
ID favor Of one town over another,
e,ut when the time comes, which Is not yet
y viii be well enough perhaps to guard
.Ae-ihsi any such Temptation ~ The flnt ~
~ rnilroed i,s rsoi'eF iesisiaijon. i be-
.soores Texas for tile neH few years io|
foster all she. cal. al railroad enterprises
INA when We have lines enough to insure
legitimate aud intelligent competition. II
|nil be time enough % see that We hare