The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-09-25

anu mine VIII nail II, rs tho coming OL
new day; but II IL In this great west, this
land Of land owners: this land Of yeomcn;
this land Of school houses; that the evolu-
ton IL to be effected.
MAJOR SHAFTS RECORD.
Now let Us ask ourselves whether Major
Strait Is 1T to be tho representative Of such
party, or Of any party having similar aims
think his official record will show that he
has been on all occasions the consistent ad-
yocate Of The moaopolists md against The people
RAILROAD POOLING.
The constitution OF the United States gives
to Congress the power ITO regulate commerce
between the states; and this, Of course, en-
braces the right to regulate the transportation
OF such commerce. The founders OF the
government recognized the fact that the
prosperity and happiness Of the people do
pended largely upon the free interchange Of
the fruits Of their industry, aud this Is what
We call commerce; hence they put this clause
In the constitution. The supreme court OF
the United States has decided, In a series OF
decisions, 1.-THE ripe fruit Of the Grange agita-
ton of few years ago., lapplauscl that the
railroad corporations of the country are
amcnablc to the control Of the people, ex
pressed through the law making bodies-thc
state legislatures and the national Congress.
THE AGE OF THEFT.
The curse Of our aye and country Is, that
while thousand men work, a hundred men
sit on the fence, contrlying how
10 steal the fruits Of their industry
laughter and applansel Society IL
divided into two great classes-those who cat
and those who are eaten Applausel; the
few highly intelligent wolves aud the many
graminlvorous sheep.
THE PEOPLE ENTITLED TO RAILROAD CON-
PETITION.
The people have built the railroads Of tho
west BY their IMMIGRANTS, aud their traffic sus-
tains them. They recognize the value Of the
roads, they are not inmical to them. But
they feel that the same competition should
| exist between railroads that exists between
blaeksmiths, carpenters, grocers and dry
| goods merchants. What would the people Of
town think II their merchants held a
| public meeting to pool their profits and put
up the price Of their commodities fifty per
cents There would be q riot In that town.
And yet We sit patiently by and see. year
after year, In our newspapers, reports OF
| great conventions of the railroad men 10 pre-
vent competition, to pool earnings, and keep
up the cost OF transportation Of our produc-
tons. The impudence Of the thing is as coll
lossal as tho injustice. Vainly, 1t has been
said, Is the snare Of the fowler set In the
sight of the bird; but here the fowler calls the
| .yfa ,f q l,x,l ,rl s,h ia
WHAT COMPETITION MEANS.
We are entitled to competition. II one
railroad can carry cheaper than another we
are entitled tn that lower rate, on our wheat
and corn aud pork, and dry goods and grocer
les. It means higher prices for our COM
moditics aud lower prices for what we buy.
II means more money In our pockets: more
wealth in our community; more prosperity
for farmer, merchant and artisan; more
home comfort aud higher civilization.
/ REAaAS's hill.
For years past an attempt has been made
by some patriotic men t. obtain congress
SIGNAL legislation to prohibit this popting busi-
ness, aud give the people lower rates. The
railroads have iloeked to the Capitol and they
have defeated, Congress after Congress, any
such legislation; they have, with one excep-
ton, prevented 1t from even obtaining a
hearing On only one occasion did 1t reach
4 vote. That vote, to my mind. was one Of
the most important taken In congress since
the close oi the civil war.
On June ), 1881, Mr. Regain, Dcmocratl,
Of Texas, an able aud honest man, finding
tina. the monopoisis had gotten control Of the
of the Committee on Commerce, 10 which his
bill had been referred, moved the adoption
Of the following resolution:
Rssol,ei, That tho rules OF the house be
suspended and the Committee on Commerce
be discharged from the further con sidcration
Of IL. L. hili No. 1865, entitled. "A bin t.
regulate interstate commerce and prevent
unjust discrimination by common carriers, -
and that ii be set for consideration on Tues
aay, 18th day of December, 1881: and that
its con sideration be continued from day II
day until disposed OF, not To interfere with
the consideration Of appropriation bills, OF
bills for raising revenue"
This resolution led to fierce fight.
Observe how little Mr. Regain asked:
He asked that the bin be taken out Of tn,
hands of that packed jury, the COMMITTEES on
Commerce, who refused to report It back I,
the House, with any kind of recommends
ton: determined that 1t should not come Il
vote in any form. This resolution VIA.
offered sir months after Congress met. II pro
posed that after Congress had adjourned
aud had returned home. aud had come bacl
to Washington, six moatas atser the date Of III
rss,satos., thu, the bill a.oald hare a hoariny,-
nothing more. The bill would then be opeI
TO debate and amendment It did not com
nit the House,or any member, to any special
plan: 1t simply proviled that six months
from that day tho subject Of railroad com
binations aud Determinations should be con
sidercd in Open house. Was this not . fai
and reasonable propositions
WHAT WAS ITS rATEl
The Republican members Of the Commit
tee of Commerce, led By Wa1bar. u -Hinne
sota, fought the resolution.
! Mr. Townsend (DemocraD, Of Illinois
said:
.'rhis is decidedly the most importan
: undisposed Of question now pend
, ing before congress.
IL am satisfied the sentiment OF til,
people throughout the country. by an over
whelming majority /. in favor of some leg
isiation BY Congress- looking to their proiec
ton from railroad monopoles. But II yot
wait until all these various bills arr discussed
: by railroad presidents, and the attorneys q
| | railroads, before the Committee Of Commerce,
| the people will have no hearing whatever
@ THE VOTE OK REAGAN's hill.
Mr.. Raagan's resolution was defeated;
failed to receive the two-thiris vote neces
sary to suspend the rules. The vote stoo,
yeas lei: nays g. Politically, the vote stoo
:. as follows: Yeas,-Republieans BIZ, Demo
, Gratis -, Greenbackers d; Nays--Repuhlie
! ans Us, Democrats 10, Greenhackers none
, MAJOR STRAIT VOTES No.
@ Where did Minnesota stand on this vote
r Mr.. Washburn, We have seen, put forth hi
J feeble powers again II, In one Of bis eloquen
= speeches. Mr. Dunnell, to his honor be /
remembered, voted In favor of the resolution
| AMI Sf..Yif ,sfaJ auYYaxY IL