The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-05-17
GRANGER laws sUsrAtNED.
The Supreme, 6otirt: Of tho Uhtttea4
states Decides i Very tmPortant
Case and Gives the Railroads q Sc
we're Touchdown. ~

2Gat0D ,DeCAuca u .V0EJ 4Ank0AS'ssAs
Case and Gives the Railroads Sc
we're Knockdown.
WASHINGTON, Special Telegram, May T.
The supreme court to-day decided the cases
Of The State Of Illinois vs. The Illinois Central
Ind The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy roads.
Seldom have railroads received such
knock-down blow from the courts.
The chief justice delivered the opinion
in each case which was unanimous and sus-
tained the granger lpw9 to theit fullest e.
tont It Nea decided that the legislature has
the power in all cases to regulate both freight
aud passenger charges without reference the
| roads char ter.
The case arises out Of the facts below Get
| forth:
On tho 18th of March, 1879, Morgan A.
Lewis. q passenger on a train of the Chicago.
Burlington L Quincy railroad, rendered Neal
Ruggles, conductor Of that company, 1S
cents us fare for his. transportation from
Buda to Nepcnset d dis anee ldt; Elk 1ailea.
THIS WIS ina&imum rate OF. cents peg.
Nile, as prescribed by the statute Of o Illinois, nos
20 cents, which was the fare fixed by the
railroad company. Lewis refused to pay moro
than eighteen, and tho conductor thercupon
attempted to eject him from the cars. For
this act the conductor was prosecuted before
assault and battery and fined $40 and
s ;sa up No through S:h0 tho "S' State o" seaf5
by suoceasits appeals, tie railroad company
Streaming th6: fondiist6r Ind fSsins sho .dtea,
ZION Of Tie right of the State to interfere with
portation. A deci sion was finally rendered in
favor Of the State by its highest court The
to the supreme court OF the United
States upon the ground that the ac'
Of the general assembly of Illinois
of April ID and II fixing the maximum rate
Of charges fot the TRANSPORTATION. Of bassengsfe
tophl hid Void BECAUSE it i,nplisa an obligation
o. the contract contained in the charters Of the
various companies winch were merged into the
Chicago, Burliagtm l. Quincy Railroad CONF
pany by tho constellation. This court holds
First-That tine grants Of immunity from legiti'
mate governmental contract are never to lie pre-
snmed on On tho contrary; the PRESENTATIONS ar !.
soas ii ss.:s es s %S Il is free ss5 to
seem to EeasircI 4 Sts'e ny l;|tit ;h5 siaount :
charges hy tic railroad ;:qmbanies for fares a,!(
hsrs is ITO s si me restra S a III ss
| y is. true, hza esen'.. the. board .
establish rates Of toll for conveyance OF persons
and property as they shall from time to time b!
their by,;aws determine, but such bylaw
mus: rot be repugnant to the consti
tuition and laws of the State, if thu
State had not legislative powe: I,
regulate charges o: carriers tor hire the case
would be different, but that question ha,
been so,t:ed ana amended, and the char
ter which this company secured from
the Legislature must be construed ii
tight that established power The Judgment of til,
supreme court Of Illinois is. affirmed with costs
Opinion by Chief Justice Waite. JttsicB Harlai
roncurs III Judgment; but not in opiiaion. Jnstir
blatchfota ,din Hot ,s,te iii eaas a decision wa
: slso Eehdersd. Sy. court ii. case 3
Illinois Central Railroad company, in error, agains
people of the State of Illinois. which involves pre-
cisely the same questions which were presented i
the preceding case. for reasons given by the coul
In it's opinion ii that Case yuqemeft Of IN
| snpreIae cotirt Of fliihois is affirmed.