Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-03-14
lail,asrc. fmtclligenerr.
Tue spAY EVENING, MARCH IA. 1889.
Unjust Freight Dfscrfminatlsn.

The Farmer and Manufacturer,
whose letter we print to-day, is az en-
tirely reliable and amply responsible
gentleman. He strikes from the shoul-
der, but he means what he says. We DO
not have any personal knowledge OF the
relative estimate in which the present
and ex-president of the Pennsylvania
railroad company are held by its patrons.
In many respects we have found occa-
sion to commend what we Ee-
lieve to be the wiser and more
economical management of Presi-
dent Roberts, and the advantages
accruing to the stockholders from his
elevation to the presidency. Especially
do we approve his firmness ip the policy
Of working toward an abatement OF
the free pass system. We could Wish,
however, that this WIS due to proper
Difference for the fundamental law OF the
commonwealth governing everything
within its borders except the Pennsylva-
mia railroad company-rather than to
purely economical reasons.
Nevertheless, when President Roberts
adopts or continues the policy which has
too often marked his company, OF
squeezing the local shippers, he invites
not only their just Indignation, but the
reprobation of the entire public, and lie
works ultimate injury to the interests OF
the stockholders. The recent report OF
the Pennsylvania railroad company
shows what vast proportion OF the pro-
fits of it's management accrue from its
local traffic. The interests which bring
il this are those which it should foster
and not crush out. The policy which
ships barrel of -four from Chicago, St.
Louis or Cincinnati, to Philadelphia, or
New York, as cheap as it ships the same
freight from Lancaster to the same place,
.the policy which has at times compelled
Pittsburghcrs to ship their goods to Chi
caro. and thence to the east, IN order to
get lower rates of freight, is not sound
nor equable policy.
Our correspondent is right, too, in his
demand that this question of unjust
freight discrimination be made and
maintained political issue. The columns
Of the INTELLIGENCER for the past
ten years attest with what fidelity this
journal has advocated this policy. When
the new constitution was adopted by
over 100000 popular majority, Article
xvii of that instrument seemed t.
provide adequate legal prohibition
of the complained of freight dis
elimination and other corporation
abuses. 1t has been found, however
that the Pennsylvania railroad conpan!
ignores the fundamental law OF th'
state. The Democratic state convention
of 1879 demanded that ali corporation
should conform themselves to the neV
constitution, the convention of 1850 re
iterated this demand and that OF 1881 wa
even more explicit in its expression. L
does not seem, however, that any of thes
calls have been heard or that the SINGER
ity and significance of them have beel
fully impressed upon the people OF tn
state. If the farmers and manufat
turers can bt made to realize ther
there will he no doubt of the verdict a
the polls. And there is no Surer wa
for the public to he made acquainted wit
this issue than for the Democratic part
to advocate it with courage, with energ
and supplied with the facilities to Sprea
before the people of the state fror
stump and press the abuses from whic
they suffer and the proper legal remed
for them.