The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1882-07-07
RAILROAD MONOPOLY.

Oregon, where the building of railroads
is essential to the rapid growth Of the
country, people are, as rule, afraid to
exert themselves to check tho power
that gradually oenters In great railroad
corporations, for fear of putting some
stumbling block in the way of the de-
vslspment of our resources by doing
some injustice to the railroad corpora.
tans. The New York Journal Of Com
esc. e tersely says;
''Persens engaged in trying TO curb
the railroad power need not toe afraid
of going too far They do not aud will
not go far enough. That is the danger.
All men who approach the railroad
are apt to be over-timid and conserva-
tive. They fear to do something rash
and injurious to the rights of railroads.
They may calm their anyieties now and
forever. The railroads are perfectly
competent to take care of their own
interests, and viii not suffer from the
EXTREMIST measures proposed by the
radical reformers. "The man who aims
at the sun may hit the moon," says the
proverb. Starting out to accomplish
certain great results in railroad legisla-
Iion, we may obtain but little in COM
parison with our aims. But we shall
get some security for the public as the
get result. For that-whether little or
much-we shall continue to strive
The remarks of the Journal Of Com
n'erce are peculiarly applicable to the
situation in this State The people are
in the hands aud at the mercy OF Tie
one great railroad corporation that owns
and controls all the avenues of our
state commerce Assisted, as il has
been, by puslic and private land grants,
as well as by private subscription, it,
nevertheless, has the efreontery to
exact the most exorbitant rates for
freight and carriage from all who, from
force of circumstances, are compelled to
pa:ronize it. Il has boasted through its
president, that it has, so far, kept out
all competing lines of railway, and bold
ly announces its intention to continue
20 do 50 in the future. In furtheranee
of this design, il has succeeded in buy
ing out the only competing line in the
Willamette VALLEY, and when thote,
who so ignominiously sold out their
bi-ta.right lar mess Of po;tage, are up
braided for their treachery TO the people
along their route, they cry out with
right sous Indignation that theirs was
no sale, but simply lease Of ITS privi-
leges and franchises for a term Of ninety.
nine years Through It's lobbyists
and hirelings, it has endeavored to frus-
trate AMI defeat all legislation intended
70 pat down is oppression, whether sneh
legislation be direct or for the encour-
agement of other railroads. 1t endesv-
ors to insinuate itself into the good
graces of every branch OF our state gov
ernment, by teadering free passes and
unlimited privileges to those in public
life-nor is the sacre,I erlnine Cf our
judiciary let alone from its insal;iOg
blandishmenss.
Il controls newspapers and nswspap-
er men, and the names Of its officers
and paid attorneys are prominently
mentioned in connection with the SEN
ate Of the United States.
With al! these facts staring tie peo-
pie IN the face--fac:s too, that are sus-
eeptiole of profit seems to us. that
the time has come for decided and
united action on the part Of those most
seriously affected. The farmers, who
are the bone and sinew of the nation,
are the greatest sufferers by this licens-
ed robbery, because cut of their hard
earnings must eventually come the
money that goes to make up the eBof-
nous dividends annually declared by
this great railroad EMP ,rati3n. The
next legislature will be- composed in
great part Of those engaged IN sgricul-
tural pursuits, and it will be with them
and with those who will stand by them
through thick and thin, to remedy the
great evil imposed upon them by the
present system of railroad charges.
Let the members of our Legislature
bat act togsther, determined to regu-
late railroad freights and charges and
all will be well. Starting out to
accomplish certain great results in
railroad legislation, we may obtain but
little in comparison with our aims. But
VIC shall get some security for the pnb-
lie - the net result" -
-. .s.--s-szxz-1>
THE cEoss.