The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-03-10
Protection of the People Against
Extortion and Discrimination by
Public Carriers.

BoGUE CHITTo, March 7, 1881.
EDITORS CLARION: 1 have but to refe
you to the railroad combinations, and tn,
very recent combinations of the telegraph
companies to show the dangers that surrounC
and threaten us on all sides, and then t.
refer you to our rights in the premises Al
pointed out in Judge Blacks letter to the
/ New York Chamber of Commerce
The subjoined slip embraces the principal
but probably not the exact scale that should
be adopted in correcting abuses The
Commissioners laws of Georgia and Ala
bama and other States North, West and
South and also the one in Missouri, that
this bill is intended TO repeal, are unsafe
and presents two great temptation to the
cupidity and avarice of fallen human ma
| ture.
The constitutional authority of the Leg
| islature to deal with this question, if We
can take Judge Black as witness, has been
decided by the United States Supreme
Court, Chief Justice Waite himself giving
the decision, in the Georgia case. Judge
B. cites other decisions in which all the
questions involved in the right of the Leg
islature to deal with this subject has been
shown.
To my mind it is a plain question of
common law, as well as common Justice
that the Legislature cannot by charter or
otherwise divest the citizens of their right
to control these corporations any more than
they can cede away their territory. Since
two successive Legislatures by very large
maiorities have passed bills asserting the
power claimed to protect the public and
they were both lost, one by the veto and an
other for want of time to secure the concur
rent action of the two houses, the pending
canvass should be made upon that ISSUE
Let me say that the people are alive to the
subject and will press it home upon the
candidates in the coming canvass
They want no extreme measures, but they
want just and fair legislation. The press is
looked upon as the great bulwark of the
peoples rights and liberties, but in this
case, it has not sounded the alarm as it
should. The people are ahead of them, and
We all look to THE CLARION as our cham
pion. We want to hear from it, Whilst
the people through their representatives
have twice spoken on this subject, the press
is silent The people also want to hear
from those intrepid and eloquent champions
of their cause, Barry, of Clay, and Hum
phries, of Lowndes. NJ.
Here is the extract above referred
to from the proceedings of the Missouri
Legislature
y,
duced bill which regulates the charges for
freight and passengers on railroads and
abolishes the railroad commission. The bill
has an emergency clause The following
are the reductions made: For carving
passengers on main lines, or class A. from
three cents to two cents per mile; on branch |
lines from four to three cents. All roads
more than forty miles in length are placed
IN class A The reductions in freight are
as follows: Glass ID, grain in car loads, |
from six to four cents per 100 pouuds Tor |
first twenty-five miles; for second twenty
five miles, from four to three cents; these |
are the only changes in class u. Glass u. |
fogr and llAae, is charged as follows. For |
flrst twenty-five miles, from twelve to ten |
cents per barrel; second twenty-five miles, |
from eight to six cents per barrel each |
additional twenty-five miles, from four to |
three cents. Glass T, salt, from fifteen to /
twelve cents per barrel for first twenty-five /
miles; second twenty-five miles, six cents
each additional twenty five miles, from
three and half to three cents. Glass q. |
lumber, from % to % per car for first
twenty-five miles from 50 to 81 for second |
twenty-five miles; 81 for each additional
twenty-five miles; but if fraction IA les
than thirteen miles from 81 so to 81. Glass
d, live stock in car loads, from $40 IN aQ /
for flrst twenty-five miles: second txentv- /
Ave Rlless from 81 to s6 ~ for each adds /
tlonal twenty-five miles but if fraction
g less than thirteen miles from 81 to 91 I
Glass |, agricultural implements, furniture.
etc, from $ll to SO for first twentv-fivel
miles; from IS to IS for second twenty-fivs
miles; $3 for each additional twenty-fivel
miles; from 81 80 to 81, if fraction 4 Ieas
than thirteen miles. Glass y, coal, stone. /
wood, ties. etc. from s. to So for first
twenty-five miles; IS TO 81 for second 1
miles; each additional tTant ,;..
i've miles from 50 so 10 90: from aIs II kfl 1
cents, # fraction is less than thirteen nailea.'
section sS6 ID amended 30 that the mas I
mum me Or penalty On railroad comna,,v /
q individual for violating the law IS MAJ /
ne ogercharges i 81 600, Instead or 5000. /
: loN Section 6a6 i amended M A "a I
'ntitie me plaintiff ID 4 reasonable affnrs 4
-eN.n L. II IL 1nsd L. 80 -