The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-01-23
Granger

1 Through the instrumeutality OF til,
orange, thirteen States have laws tina
> are restrictive upon railroads, Te.ulatin.
their fares and freights, prohibiting dis
crlmInat!On. II is generally admitted
where properly and wisely enacted, the,
have been of immense benefit 10 thu
people at large. II was through and b,
the Grange that a test was made. thai
brought forth two decisions of the SUI
preme Court of the United States affirm.
ing that the states had "a right TO limit
the amount OF charges by railroad COM
panies for fares and ~freights." This is
one OF the great triurnphs BIZ which our
Order has demonstrated benefits no less
10 the country generally than 10 the
farmer.
AT our last annual meeting, Capt. Jas.
II. Ihigpen, III. Z. NcAllister. and n.y.
self, were appointed TO make known the
wishes OF h State Grange to the Leg
stature, favoring a railroad commission.
Through the efficiency of Bro. McAllls-
ter, who : a member of the legislature,
we were granted an audience before the
COMMISSION on Agriculture. and was
treated with much courtesy aud respect.
lhere did not appear scarcely an oppo-
sltlon to passing a railroad commission.
The Governor advocated il in his mes
sage. and that the majority of the peo-
pie OF the State agreed with him. there
Is hardly a doubt. But the railroad in
i%luence. and the railroad monev, was
brought to bear against it. and the SOW
erelgn will of the people was subverted.
In the language Of 4 prominent LAWYER. |
1t passed the House, passed the Sem
ate. and was killed in the lobby" That
the railroad run the Legislature. is |
the only palpable construction for it's De |
feat. Though | would not do, or advise |
ANYTHING that would want0nly iniure the
railroads or any other enterprise-yet
they must be checked, as they are com
bining to rule and govern the country
competition is no longer felt among them.
they ral.e or depress value, dlscrimina-
ting against towns, and favoring local.
ties rule or ruin seems to be the motto
OF many of them. | would recommend
the further consideration Of this subject
to our Order.
The tariff, is eliciting from the Aneri.
can people, a deeper interest than any
other question or issue in political econ
omy. 1t is a subject hard to understand.
Statesmen who are equally patriotic hold
widely different views, as to its beneficial
and detrimental effects upon the coun-
try.
Farmers are generally "free traders"
las far a. the Indebtedness and legiti-
mate expenses of the Government will
allow. The tariff for revenue can only
benefit the farmer. The greatest good
for the greatest number.
What the farmer has or raises should
be equally protected, as the manufac
turer. The recent act OF the last Con
gress taking off the tax of wool, and not
doing as much to the manufacturer of
wooden goods was a discrimination against
the farmer that should cause indignation
everywhere. There is said to be now
over a hundred millions of dollars in the
Treasury, above what is needed
tor the expenses of the Government.
This vast amount was rung mostly
the hard earnings Of the farmer
and laborer. Farmers ought to be al
to sell where they can sell dearest, J
and buy where they can buy cheapest
and yet they have to pay a tax of nearly
70 per cent. on everything they purchase. ,
careful writer estimates, that farmers !
pay annually $4,000, 000, 900 to the manu-. 9
lecturers as a bonus, under the present !
protected tariff. There are said to be
ID seventeen millions of persons of t
every age and sex engaged in all and t
Every pursuit in the United States s
whilst there are only ,, 1877 $50 engaged t
n the manufactures it is then plain !
hat only n person in eight, Of TIE
aboring classes, are benefited by the t
present protected tariff. The National
has recommended that the tariff c
5 a question that should be discussed
md considered by the Grange Willis
s. Williams, Esq, Grand Master, and
member of the State Boardor Ag.