The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-12-23
reform I'm Railway Trauspor-
1R1iOm.


tlonai Grange, in Indianapolis, the
following report was presented by
the Sfecial Committee appointed
by the Worthy Master to confer
with the Congressional Committee
on Commences:
In compliance with a request of
Worthy Master Woodman. of the
National Grange, through Brother
Armstrong, of the New York State
Grange. the undersigned appeared
before the Commerce Committee OF
OF the House Of representatives in
March last to urge upon that BODY
the necessity of regulating by law
transportation through and be,
tween the several States Of the
Union; and beg leave to submit the
following report upon the subject:
That Congress possesses consti
tutional authority on this subject.
under the delegated power to regu-
late commerce between the States.
is not denied.
That the best interests of the
people demand that this authority
shall be exercised, the history of
railroad transportation in this
country abundantIy proves In de-
manding this legislation we en-
phatically deny hostile intent to-
wards the railraod interests of the
country, which have grown with
marvellous rapidity to almost fab.
ulous magnitude within the last
few years. We realize the indis-
pensable necessity of railroads, and
freely admit that they have been
and are of great benefit to every
section of our common country
When honestly built and faithfully
operated for the public good Ohe
original purpose OF their creation)
they are boon and blessing to
the people who have granted lib
srai franchises for their construc
ton; bat when in defiance of all
the instincts OF public justice, the
franchises are claimed as private
rights and used solely for the pnr-
pose ri individua9 or corporate gain
they become an .engine of oppres
siou destructive Of the very Objects
an purposes Of their creation.
Without tracing the history Of
the deVelonne 4 AID progress of
railroads in the United States, it is
sufficient to saw that in their in
fancy and weakness they courted
popular favor and prudentiy avoid
ed public fen~e: obedient to the
aw which governs common carri-
ers every VI here, they based heir
charges upon the common sense
and business principle of cost of
service, and treated all commune
ties and individuals equally.
They accepted charters limiting
dividends to reasonable profits upon
capital actually invested. In sup
plicating Legislative favors they ac-
knowledged rec,p rocal obligations
Roads were largely built with the
money actually paid by stockhold-
ers. and, when completed, repre-
sented only the cost of labor and
material used in their construction,
and the people were taxed only
enough to pay fair profits on such
investment. So long as roads were
thus built and operated, people
were satisfied. and no murmurs of
discomfort were heard.
But all this is now changed. The
"Credit Mobilier' is modern in
stitution. A large amount of stock
upon which dividends are now
paid is purely fictitious, represent
ing nothing but water Fran,
chises are claimed to be vested
rights. Their obligations as COM
mon carriers are denied, and laws
Governing them are defitd. Spe-
cial rates are given to favorltes OF
the roads. Communities and ind1-
viduals are discrininated against,
and no pretense of equality of treat
ment is made.
Charges are no longer based
unon tho cost of service, but upon
| the arbitrary, absurd and villainous
theory of what the traffic will bear
Competition is thus destroyed by
combination. Sovereign powers
are arbitrarily exercised by railroad
managers in this country, which
neither the President nor Congress
dare exc else. and if exercised by
anv sovereign in Europe would
nroduce revolution. Vaiues o.
property are entirely in their con
troll An increase of 10 per cent
n the cost of transportation redu'
ces the value of the prooucts o.
this country millions of dollars
without at all reducing the cost. c
/ consumers.
The natural forces of steam aoe
electricity have been monopo'izet
~ few individuals, and 50 con
troIfcd as 10 rob the productive IN
dus.ries Of th5 country OF their JUS
reward. and the fruits OF honest toi
are sati,cged iesa their, cqffsrg. ,H9J
The npantical working bf thaiF forces