The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-09-23
TIE INDEPENDENT.
RosEBURG. SATURDAY, SEPT. %.
REGULATION OF TRANS
PORTATION.

ton by the railroads in this State.
In doing this MIR. Doris is follow
ing resolution of the last Dem
ocratic convention, which says:
s.That while we recognize and
respect the lega! rights of railroad
enterprise, we demand that our
Legislatures, State and Federal,
enact such laws regulating the
same as may be necessary te pre-
vent unjust discrimination to-
wards and oppression OF the peo>
ple". We have not seen the bill
as it was introduced and are not
prepared to say that this partlcu>.
lar bill should become law, but
we are ready to defend any well
matured bill for this purpose, up
on reasons of public policy. The
right OF the State to regulate
freights and fares upon railroads
ls too well settled by our highest
courts, to admit of question, and
the necessity of such legislation
in this State is already too mans
test. For ALI example, take the
subject of fares. Tho fare from
Roseburg to Portland, two hun
dred miles. is 1925, a little over
six cents per mile; from Rose
burg to Oakland, II miles, the
fare Is $1.25, traction over seven;
from Raseburg to Myrtle Greek,
90 miles. the fare is $1.35, nearly
seven cents per mile. The freight
charges are equally exorbltant
The transportation of bushel of
wheat from Roseburg to Portland
costs Is cents, from Myrtle Greek
to Roseburg, six cents; from Dts
lard's to hoseburg, ten miles,
three cents; and from Green's to
Roseburg, tour miles, three cents.
The committee to whom the bill
will be referred will, no doubt,
find charges more exorbltant than
these.
That the Legislature should es-
tablish such rates that would ena-
BILE farmer by hard work and
strict economy to accumulate
something for himself and pro-
vision for his family, Is a self-evi-
dent proposition, and should it
fail to do so 1T will be held re-
sponsible by the people, without
distinction of party.
We regret to see that the
"Stapdard," a so called Demo
cratic paper, antagonizes the bill
and advises liberal and just pol
icy should be pursued towards
the corporations. This is proper
enough. but when 1t offers as an
apology for the present high rates
that ''no rates. howevca extrava>
CANT, have ever been charged by
railroads equal to the present cost
OF these sections" 1t asks US to
concede more than the people can
grant. These roads have been and
are now beiug built by an extrav-
agant subsidy from the United
States, III the shape OF land
grant, more than sufficient to
build all the roads now projected
in the State. These roads were
intended, hot for sections, but for
interstate commerce. The one to
connect Oregon with the East and
the other with the State OF Cali.
fornia. If the project was not
feasible, it should nevei have been
undertaken, but having attempted
1t, the company have no right to
assess the people of Oregon to
build their road, by establishing
a high rate of fares and treights.
Such an appeal might have
been effective if the railroad com-
pany had confined itself to its
legitimate bu-luess and not lnter-
tered with the politics of the
State. but when it sets itself up
to elect not only the members OF
the Legislature, but even the
sheriffs and county officers of
every county to which its power
extends, and then demands the
election oil an United States Sen
ator in its interest, the spirit OF
the usually quiet Orogonlan Is,
aroused. The fate OF our neighe
boring State of California stands
before them. By specious argus
ments that they were developing
the material interests ofthat State,
the Central Pacific railroad OF
tanned large grants of money IN
addition 10 the immense subsidy
gwen by Congress, and having
with these sums made a net work
OF railroads throughout the State
and achieved a monopoly which
makes every business subservlent
to 1t, they now defy the power OF
the people. The new constitution
made provision for the election of
commissioners to regulate rafl-
roads. The railroad company by
the use of money, elected their
candidates, and are now IN the
field with their usual appliances
to secure the same result in Mo-
vember, which nothing short OF an