The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-07-27
"All The Traffic Will Bear.v

man Reagan, OF Texas, introduced a
bill to forbid transportation compan-
les from charging unreasonable
rates, and to forbid their discrimina-
ting against persons or places. Tens
OF thousands Of petitions for tho pas
sage Of the bill, came up from grang
es; from farmers; FROM merchants,
and from citizens generally, from NIL
parts Of the country. These petit
tions were addressed to ears that
were deaf to public demands; to
hearts that were callouscd in the
service Of corporate monopolies.
The people ,oere not represented IN
Congress, but the railroads rere.
The Reagan bill was referred to a
committee appointed by the speaker
who is also representative CT
the corporations, and upon which he
placed seven republicans, five dem
ocrats and one grccnbacker. The
bill was quietly pigeon-holed for two
years, and then seven republicans
and four democrats Of the committee
voted against reporting the bill to
the House; the solitary greenbacker
and one democrat, who probably
represented district where the peo-
pie were more numerous than the
railroads, voted to report the bill to
tho House for its approval. When
this bill was thus unce. g noniously
cast overheard by the committee the
railroads were charging IS cents per
100 lbs on first class freight from
New York to Chicago, but this action
In their behalf seemed to say to
them charge all the traffic will bear, :
so the five trunk lines between New
York and Chicago advanced their
first class freights to 20 cents per loo
lbs. and in. like proportion upon 9th.
cr grades. In this, five railroad
kings have conspiled together te
compel the people using their lines
OF road to pay $500. oOO, 900 more thar
is just and fair equivalent for thu
services rendered in return. w,
have congress whose duty is tt
make laws to assure to the people
the provisions Of their constitutions
government. One Of the objects O.
that constitution as announced in it:
preamble is to establish justice ant
promote the general welfare of thu
people ard to this end congress i,
authorized among it's enumerated
powers, In Art. l, See. VIII, to regu
late commerce among the severa
states. but instead OF doing thes,
things congressman are in the hand
ofmonopolists like clay in the hand.
OF the potter, and absolutely ignore
the constitution, and thus make TIL
people the constant prey of the cor
Inorants OF monopolistic power. An
to aid the railroad monopclies in til
perpetuation Of their unjust power
the Republicans OF the 4th congress
ional district in Iowa, will present t
the farmers for their support as Rep
resentative in behalf of the RAILROADS
the name Of Thomas Updegraff, {
McGregor. To avert these calam:
ties there is but one remedy, an
but once in two years that it can
applied, and that is in the choice
representative in congress. Hay
the farmers Of this district the wi:
dom, the independence, and the mar
hood to choose representa-,
from their own ranks and from the
own profession, or will they contir
ue at the dictation OF party leade,
to DO is-represented in congress
Q railroad attorney? The greer
back party present to you mt
whose sole vocation is in tho varit
pursuits OF agriculture and sto.
growing with yourselves. He b,
the capacity to serve you and yol
interests efficiently. His integrity
above reproach. His thorough idel
LITIGATION with, and zeal in behalf
labor, and Its interests, constitu
the real reasons why corporate car
tai in all its varied forms as repr
sentatives OF monopolies will oppo
him. And their opposition cons,
tute uuanswerable arguments VIII
the toilers upon the farms and in Il
workshops should give him Tho
support.