The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-01-07

much Detter In proportion 10 tHe uisedncc
carried over, than to the two other
places But this low rate has not been
for the large shippers only; it has been for
the small ones as well, any new conner
who would start an industry that the rail-
roads thought would grow and in the end
amount to fair business, could get the
same rate, no matter how small the begin
ming. 1t was a rate to the town not to the
person. This has been the rule throughout
the state and Peoria, Springfield. Quincy,
Bloomington, and many other places are
in the same list as Rock Island.
This discrimination has harmed no one,
as every place where it was possible for
large industry, to exist has been given fa-
vorable rates, while the others have been
charged no more than the present tariff
allows the railroads to impose; the sole
effect of the bill has been to raise rates to
the class of points above named.
There is another phase OF the question
worth taking into consideration. Here in
Rock Island and Moline we have been en-
couraging the building of other and com
peting lines of railroads as means OF
cheapening our freight rates. and for that
end have voted money to aid in their con-
struction and granted them subsidies.
Through this action of the railroad com
missioners all this goes for naught, as
their bill is virtual order to the railroads
that they shall not make competing rates.
1t fixes minimum rate and orders the
companies not to go below it.
The injustice of this is easily seen. Her
we have two roads, both going out of Rock
Island, and both going to Chicago; the
commissioners have stated that they will
not allow those two roads to make
rates, bidding for certain business, but
they must charge Sc much and they can
not 60 below it.
But the greatest injustice of all is, that
the law only applies to the state, and the
consequence is this. The railroads must
charge certain fixed rate to Rock Island
and Moline and can not go below it. but
the minute they 60 outside the state they
are free and can charge what they please
Now Dayenport, across the river, can get
the rate which the railroads think is the
best, both for the town and themselves,
while here in Rock Island rate must be
charged, which is necessarily higher. Lum-
Der is a large business in both places. and in
consequence all along the lines of the roads
leading out of Rock Island, the Davenport
lumbermen can get better rates to points in
Illinois than our manufacturers here,
although the Rock Island dealers are car.
rying on much the larger business. Other
industries are in the same list and the
whole of the matter is, that from any point
in the state Davenport shipper can get
better rate than the law allows the Rock
Island ones to have. How much benefit is
such a state law that discriminates against
its own citizens, in favor of those of an
other state?
There is one effect of the present law
that will surely come. In these two cities
we use vast deal of iron in our various
bought in Chicago. Now the present law
says that the railroads cannot discriminate
in our favor so far as this state is concerned,
out when it comes to freight from outside
he state, they can do as they please.
Hence our iron will henceforth be bought
n Cincinnati or St. Louis so also with
he other materials used in our manufac-
cries, the loss will be Chicago's, not ours, |
md the manufacturing interests of Rock
Island, Moline and Milan are the greatest
n this western country.
The whole of the matter can be briefly |
stated: it is well to make rate beyond |
which the railroad companies cannot 60, |
,utthe saying that they must not charge |
ess if it so pleases them, or if it is for
heir interest so to do, is discrimination !
lgainst our own citizens, the putting of a |
rag upon our cities and their Industries.