The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-04-22
srAAroRp ANaMEsEn.
MS Letter disputed ana severed, CON.
denanta.

sertion OF railroad claims and lofty con.
tempt for tho decisions of our courts.
which can only spring from conscious.
ness of power, which fairly Joins issue
with those made in behalf OF the pub
lie. In answer TO Gov. Stanford's asser-
ton that railroads owe no duties TO the
public excent as merchants, farmers and
laborers, they assert that the courts
from tho lowest to the highest have de-
cided that railroads are public high
ways and common carriers bound TO
make but reasonable charges, and these
without favortism or discrimination.
In answer to this denial, that dis
against communities or in
dividuals aro praeticod by tho roads
with which ho is connected, they quote
Congressman Daggett Of Nevada, as
saying that a merchant at Toano, hay.
ing special contract, pays $50 per ear
load less freight than merchant at
Palisade, although the carriage is 20
miles miles more. Freight on boxed
eggs from Ogden 70 Toano costs oue
man % cents per box, aud the aanle
number Of eggs in the same sized boxes
Of the same weight costs another man
90 cents. A hundred pounds Of
squashes costs one man in freight s .56
while il costs another 50 cents. A car
load Of candles is taken from New Yoik
TO San Francisco for 50, but il loft at
Elko, GIG miles less sdistant, tho charges
are IS, being the through rate to San
Francisco aud back 20 Eko.
Regarding tho assertion that it is 10
worse for railroads 20 contribute to con
troll nominations or elections than indi-
yiduals, they answer, that while Ia
principle il is not, in precteo IL is FAR
more dangerous and Objectionable L.
being largely a question Of degree, i,st
as one predatory animal is more dn-
geIous than another according TO It's
size and strength. They claim that the
record of the New York Genital read
shows that had not that road watoTed
It's stock, tho public would nov be
81, 5000 better OFF, and SCI 600, 900
Of watered stock would not now be in
existence TO afford an excuse for far
ther taxing the production and con
merce of the country for all time 10
come. Even stealings have in the liast
been capitalized, prominent examples OF
which arc founu in the former manage.
ment of the Erie, and New York and
New Haven railroads, and they add
the Cenlral Pacific Railroad Company,
have been adopts ut these practices, and
through It's construction and Finance
Co, it has inflated It's obligations TO tho
fulleat possible extent. Regarding de-
nunciations ofrlecisicns Of the Supreme
Court Of the United States By Prcsi-
lsnt Stanford, the committee claim il is
useless 70 argue. 1t may, however,
they think, account for the recent at
tempts to place upon the Supreme
Court bench L prominent railrosd at
torney, and 10 the face of such utter
snces Il bshooyes all patriotic citizens
80 zea!ously guard against prsfsrm-at
IN any department Of our government
Of men who have been servants Of great
corporations, WHO arc likely 70 sympa-
thize with these great corporations 70
tho detriment Of public interest.
Ia response 10 the plea that rail
roads should be left alone 70 maneg,
their own affairs in their own way anl
to deelare what is reasonable eharg,
for service rendered, tho conmitte,
quote from Congressman Daggett'i
speech that al the money ever invcstes
by stockholdera toward the construc
ton Of the Central Pacific was Sl2,
800, and that the officially reporte,
value Of tho road IN 1877 was 1886,
5J6, ,0u9, represented in part by S5f,
| 600, 900 Of watercd stock OF the Cen
trail Pacific and $36,000,000 Of th
Southern Pacific, being an sggregfte G
| 900, 600, 900 in stock which cost then
only the price of printing, and uPol
which they arc compelling the public t
pay them 8 per cent yearly in div
dends.. The Southern Pacific has bee
constructed and paid for from the earn
ings Of the Central Pacific, yet th
owners issue $4,000 in stock an
| $40, 900 in baad per mile and cbarg
such rates rs will enable them 10 collec
annually per cent on the stock an
per cent on the bonds.
The report concludes with tho stat'
ment that great efforts are being.mad
by persons in railroad interests to prov
that railroad consolidation, with all it
increase of power in tho hands Of fe'
men, is in the interest Of commerce b
cause it reduces the proportionate e.
pense Of operating these modern higl
ways and constant decline in charge
for transportion, is poiuted to in col
frmation Of this theory. Your con
mittee are Of course aware of the grea
er proportionate economy OF operatin
I large than small establishments of a
, kinds, and TO this railroads are no e,
ception. We have no objections to a
railroads in the Uuited States beIf
consolidated into single system, pr
, vided that the system is controlled in IL
public interest but as long as railros
J managers permit gross favoritism al
: determinations against both commun
/ ties and Individuals ,solong as they seek
E stock watering and other devices to o
tain from the public more than reason
s able compensation for services renderer
so long as they try to perpetuate the
abuses by obtaining control of legisl
ton, and the judicial and execute
: departments of our government, just
g long must we esteem consolidation
$ railroad power detrimental to.all clas
: ess of citizens and a perpetual mena
/; to the public welfare for it is calc
d lated to redistribute the wealth of Il
country, virtually concentrate T.
j wealth of the nation in few hands al