The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1881-03-03
THE TOLLS
IA Railroad and Telegraph Lines
Should be Regulated by 7aa1
Legislation.
- ~
BOLINAR. IENN
FehruarY %, 1881.

Mr.. EDITOR: If there is any o. e
subject more than another which de-
serves the attention of the Solcns of
the present time, State and National,
it is that Of regulating BY legislati, n
the tolls upon railroad and telegraph
lines. Upon the solution of This I'M
portant question depends, to very
great degree, the success of our free
institutions; because, Il the legislatures
are powerless 70 protect the industries
Of the country against the exactions
Of soulless monopolies, gross and IN
just Determinations in the tr5lnsporta-
ton of Gicir products to market, then
the election Of legislatures is a farce
and republican institution are a fail
ure. It is a question Of vital import
ance to every industry in which the
American people are engaged. It has
long been contended that the only
feasible and legitimate way Of regula-
ting these tolls, and of preventing
unjust Determinations, is by building
competing lines. 1t was Urged that
in that way these abuses could and
would be corrected by rival companies,
anxious to do the business Of the coun-
try, undertaking each other, thereby
linsuring reduction in rates which
would be just to both of the contract
ing parties, and only a fair per cent.
realized upon the capital invested in
these lines. These arguments seemed
plausible, and were accepted by the
people in good faith as the true and
legitimate way Of correcting their
grievances. They have long submitted
to these great wrongs, hoping that re-
lief would gradually come, as the rail
road and telegraph systems Of The
country were expanded. But time,
which proves all things, has demon
strated that those were falIacious ar
guments. It is fact that, as these
2
systems have grown and expanded
and their wealth increased, instead of
its resulting in u reduction Of the rates
from competition, they are becoming
more imperious and exacting in their
demands. Instead of having a greater
number of roads as the mileage in
creases and the systems expand, we
we have now fewer competing lines
than ever before. And to-day the
exactions of these companies are more.
unreasonable and oppressive than
when they were in their infancy. BY
thisnew feature of consolidation, the
once competing lines are becoming
feeders for main lines and at once all
competition is at an end The diff
ferent companies are being swallowed
up. their charters bl0tted out of ex-
istence; the different systems are fast
becoming one system, under one man
agement, in fact,=a grand monopoly,
and more fmpeflOlfs than the Caesars
we're 1t is patent that there is no
hope Of relief from competition They
won't allow it. Capital is entitled 10
its Just reward, but it is the duty of
our lawmakers to see to it that capt
tai is not permitted to impoverish the
Industries Of the country in order that
it may grow fat upon their in-gotten
gains. The legislatures have a con
stitutional right to regulate the use of
capital for the public good Upon no.
other principle can our usury Law be
sustained The justic5 and wisdom of
these laws, which come down to US
hoary with age, are unquestioned by +
respectable statesmen and plilantlfro-
pists. That our State and National
legislatures have the right to regulate !
the charges made by railroad and tele-
graph lines, is sanctioned by the highs
cst iudicatures in this country, boh