The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1882-07-14
INTERCHANGE OF TRAFFIC BY COMMON
CARRIERS

GAhhl6fSS.
1t is now suggested and freely admitted
by parties who opposed Senate bill No. 50,
in our last Legislature, that the same ques-
tion will no doubt be again considered by
that body in the near future. Since that
time the people have had ample opportunity
to reflect about the interchange of traffic by
common carriers-a question involving the
most important results that could possibly
be suggested to the farmer, shipper and
every citizen of our State, unless it be those
interested in extending some vast scheme
to advance the interest of some great mo
nopoly. 1t is very evident that the repre-
sentatives in the next Legislature cannot
disregard the interests of the public on
these important questions and lend their i'll
luence to oppose such bill in the interests
of some extensive monopoly, which is fast
endeavoring to fasten its fangs into the
flesh of thousands of our laboring and in
dustrial portion of society, and then return
to their constituents and plead to them an
ignorance of any merit to the people at
large in such a bill.
1t is of vital Importance to the farmer and
every other person whose business makes it
necessary for them to send or receive freight
be assured that when such freight is started
to any given place of destination that it
shall 60 promptly, and in the most speedy
manner without delay, and that if during
its transit it becomes necessary for it to be
carried portion of the way by any other
company than the one on which it was
started, that such other company will re-
ceive it promptly in the order which it
comes with other freights and carry it to its
ultimate destination without any delay or
discrimination in time, or charges for carry
ing the same, other than such company
would do with freight which had been pre-
scented to them for transportation in the
first instance. All of these things the ques-
tions involved in Senate bill eighty-two pro.
vided for, and made il obligatory upon all
common carriers within this State to receive
and transport all freight and passengers
which had been carried part of the way
DSCt O1AASh hASoJ 90 pAOAhPeAJ gnu az WAC
same price as they would freight and pas
sengers offered to them fer transit in the
first instance. Without this kind of legis-
lation the company whose duty it might be
to carry the freight on the last end of the
route if of perishablc nature might let it
remain so long. that it would be unfit for
market. On the other hand if it should be
produce for market at good price, they
could if so disposed let it remain until the
price had gone down so that such produce
would have to sell below living rates. This
beneficial law would also have the effect to
foster and protect shorter lines of transpor-
tation and prevent them from necessarily
selling out to stronger companies, and thus
oecome swallowed up by them.
It will be as well for the Senators and
Representatives in the next Legislature to
look well to these matters and not be gulled
into opposing the peoples interests by the
slick, ily-tongued gentlemen who are SO
eften hired in and about the lobby by inter
ests opposed to the welfare of the people.