Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-03-09
Railway Rates.

| Milwaukee Republican
1t Il fact worthy of comment that
the character Of popular meetings hav-
ing reference to railway tariffs has
changed greatly in the past half dozen
years. From 1871 to 1875, discrimina-
ton In freight charges was denounced
In the most vigorous terms the language
affords. Manufacturers as well as
farmers were swept into the stream or
Indignation, and Legislatures made
quick work of the matter by establish
ing railway commissioners, fixing max
imum charges, and prohibiting discrim-
mating rates. The other day there was
meeting of farmers, manufacturers
and general traders living and doing
business in Northern illinois. 1t ap-
pears from the proceedings that the
meeting was to protest against the
action of the railway commissioners In
issuing an order that the railway COM
panies would hereafter be compelled to
obey the law and abolish special" or
discriminating rates. 1t is found that
at many points which offer good oppor
tunities to manufacturers and shippers,
the railway companies have fixed special
rates which have the effect to divert
trade from unimportant stations and to
build up these better points. By reason
of these special rates many towns have
been able to establish large works, to
build great elevators, and to enlarge all
forms Of business enterprises. This
has been greatly to the advantage of
the agriculturists of the neighborhoods,
giving them a near and competitive
market and a convenient source of
supply.
Therefore the proposition of the rail
road commissioners to enforce the law
in regard to special rates." does not
meet with the favor a similar propo-
sitiou did few years ago, bfJre the
advantages Of a special rate system
were understood. The argument of
shose who are benefited by the special
rates is that the lower tariffs are the
natural consequence of favorable 10
cation, and that they are justly entitled
TO all the business advantages which
come in this way; that it is absurd to
compel those whose trade is specially
desired by railroad companies because
of their favorable situation, to pay the
| same rates that are charged for trans
portation to and from smaller and less
important stations; that it is the adj
vantage of the railroad companies to
build up large manufacturing towns
| along their lines, and to do this, special
inducements must be offered TO manu-.
facturers to locate at these points, and
that these manufacturing centers add
greatly to the wealth of the state, and
'enefit large number of agricultur.
sts-and so on.
1t will depend largely on the predom-
lnant industry of any community as to
which view it will take of this ques-
ton; but something is gained when any
arge number of farmers and manufac-
turers have reached the conclusion that
the question has two sides and that the
wisdom Of the extreme measures to
control railroad business is open to
doubt. Back of it somewhere are the
natural laws of business which cannot
be violated with impunity, to the study
of which the legislator should devote
himself before writing out laws. The
conflicting interests of farmers and 9TH
ers in different sections of the State
have come to the surface in the discus
sion of the question of special rates,
and we are more likely to see sensible
conclusion reached than when unthink-
ing prejudice clamored for unlimited
interference with railroad operations.