Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-10-05
Hon. ". D. mrs Public Record.

fatnful TO the people. when occupying
positions of public trust he has ever been
mindful OF the peoples rights. He is q
man who can always be safely trusted.
Below we reproduce some facts from Mr..
Hills public record, and commend it to
the careful attention of our subscribers:
In the House OF Representatives, on
February %. 1880, Hon. w. ID. Hill, by
unanimous consent introduced the fol-
lowing joint resolution. inquiriug into
the evils Of the grain blockade then exist
ing in this country:
Whereas, It. is asserted by reliable news
paper reports that vast quantities of
grain and pork are now stored and locked
up in all the large grain and commercial
depots of this country by unlawful COM
bination Of speculators; and
Whereas. 1t is also asserted that large
number Of vessels are now lying idle In
New York and other cities by reason Of
said grain blockade. thus keeping thous-
ands Of men out of active employment:
and
Whereas, such combinations and mon
opolies are well calculated 10 produce
staRnation in business in this country
and to add to distress in Ireland and
other countries where said produce is
badly needed; Therefore
Resolved By the Senate and House OF
Representatives of the United States of
America In Congress assembled, That a
committee of five on the part of the
House and on the part of the Senate are
hereby appointed and authorized TO en-
quire into the cause of said grain block
ade, and to report to Congress at an early
day, what legislation, il any, can be had
to remedy the evil herein complained and
that said committee be empowered in
their discretion to send for persons and
papers.
Commenting on the above, the Chica-
go Tribune has the following editorial:
''Mr. Hill, OF Ohio, has introduced in
the National House of Representatives
resolution in regard to the prevailing
embargo on grain and provisions. 1t sets
forth that, whereas vast quantities of
grain ann pork are locked up in the great
commercial depots of the country
through unlawful combinations, and
that large numbers of vessels are now ly-
grain blockade, thus keeping thousands
of persons out of employment and pro-
ducing business stagnation, a committee
of five members of the house and prop
er number Of Senators should be ap-
pointed to enquire in the cause of said
grain blockade, and to report to Con-
gress at an early day what remedy
should be employed. The root of the
evil complained of lies very near the sur
face, and the Congressional Committee
will not have to dig very deep to find it
If there is sincere purpose to arrive
at the cause. Previous to the closing of
navigation last fall the. roilroad rate ON
grain and provisions was Is cents per 100
pounds between Chicago and New York
land other Western points were relative
ly the same.) When water competition
was shut off at the beginning of winter,
this rate was advanced by rail federation
in rapid and recurrent jumps to 40 cents
per hundred pounds on grain and 40
cents on provisions. In other words,
the railroads have been charging all win.
| ter three times as much as they previous
| ly charged for service which has been
no more onerous and no more costly to
them this winter than it Was last sum-
mer. Doesn't this singular fact reveal
titles at Chicago and other Western points
why grain has accumulated in vast Quan.
and remaining there? The producers OF
the West had to choose between railroad
confiscation of their property and hold
ing it until they could send it to market
at cost which would leave them profit
They chose to hold the grain, and cap
| ital was forth coming in abundance te
enable them to carry their products over
the period during which the railroads, In
| the absence of water competition anG
Government regulations, are masters oi
the situation. During this period the
the Western owners of grain have eager.
ly sought every available outlet to thu
Eastern and European markets. Severa
millions of bushels have gone down tht
| Mississippi to New Orleans and hav,
been shipped from there to Europe
Some of it has been taken through Can
ada to Portland, when the Grand Trunl
Railroad could be reached in any rounda
bout way. But the Eastern trunk lines
which combined torob the producer ant
consumer by charging at least doubl
what they could carry the grain for witt
profit, have compelled the owners there
Of to pile it up in storehouses and awai
some relief from the policy Of extortion
i II Mr.. Hills resolution is designed t,
further expose the .rapacity Of the rail
road corporations and to impress upol
Congress the necessity for adequate Gov
eminent regulation of the Railroad busi
nesss, it is timely suggestion, and Con
gress should act upon it promptly. Per
haps tits too late for Congress to affor,
any relief for the present season, but
may take measures which shall avert
recurrence of q similar embargo il
future seasons by compelling the rail
roads. under the direction of q Nationa
Commission, to maintain fair and rea
sonable rates in winter, as we'll as il
summer when they are controlled TO !,
certain degree by water competition
/. Speaking of Hon. w. ID. Hills resc
lntion in relation to the grain blockade
the Van Vert Times says:
Ever farmer in Van Vert county an
every grain dealer knows that dur
ing the past year there have been ruinou
fluctuations in the grain market, whe
! vast quantities become boarded TO
months by Spectators. AT such time
they shove the price down Eve or tel
cents on the bnshel, when they bl,
large quantities at the low price and the
j let it out and make on the rise. In th
mean time many farmers who az
Obliged to sell are swindied'out of man
cents on the bushel, while the hom
!. warehouse men and buyers are sometime
, ruined. These monopolists rent all th
, elevators in the East and 20 in partner
ship with the railroads, divide the PR
fits and the increased freights. It is be
lieved that Hon. w. ID. Hills bill d
!, resolutions will yet cause TO be unearthe
such facts as will induce Congress t
"a