The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-10-09
Hon. L. II. Wcller's Record I'm
Congress.

Voters or the Fourth District, let
us.carcfnlly examine the record Of
l.. IT. Weller In the first session OF
the 4Sth congress and determin-
whether he deserves our endorsee
ment by reelection.
Abraham Lincoln Is reported to
have said short time before his
death, THE question Of corporate
power will be the great issue In this
country for the next 80 years. Who
that has closely watched the tenden.
cics In the United States 10 a vast
accumulation OF wealth in the hands
OF the few, while the masses OF the
people are poor and impoverished
can for moment doubt that the liv-
ing issue is
MoNoPoL1ES vs.. THE PEOPLE.
Tho monopolies most aggressive
In their absorbing power are, 1st,
The Money Monopoly; Cd, The
transportation Monopoly; 3rd, The
Manufacturing Monopoly; 4th, Land
Monopoly.
The money monopoly asked Of the
1oNlI SoltHIV5S GSNSldl tbahitioHal IL"
vors such rs the Mcpherson bill
which provided for an additional
present OF 1919 circulation to ma
tional banks on bonds deposited, so
that the amount returned to the
banks to loan debtors should be
800 instead OF 500 on every 800
worth OF United States bonds depos.
tied. Mr.. Weller vigorously opposed
this class legislation and also the
Dingley bill which also provides for
additional special favors to national
banks. A national bank organ In
New York City published the follow
ing special dispatch from Washing
ton during the session. "A great cf-
fort will be made by our friends (the
national banks) in congress to take
up next Monday and pass the Ding
ley bill. Ii Weller, Of Iowa, can be
muzzled it will probably succeed"
Weller Of Iowa could not be muzzled
10y this giant monopoly power but
was in his seat and by his objection
to its consideration defeated this and
all other efforts to grant further IA
vors to the national bank monopoly.
THE TRANSPORTATION MONOPOLY.
The entire railroad transportation
system in this country has gradually
passed under the control or half
dozen men Of overgrown wealth and
Unsuitable cupidity." In the year
1871 at the Minneapolis Fair Horace
Greeley spoke as follows: "A dozen
OF SO OF railroad magnates, sum
moned by private message, meet
from time to time in one OF our great
cities. They consult In secret, dine
and wine satisfactorily, adjourn and
90 their several ways. Next morn
ing the telegraph wires will fash
across the land the decision that
every bushel OF grain going to the
market, every bale of goods passing
inland, shall hereafter pay 20 TO 81
per cent more freight than has hith-
erto been paid. In effect the ring OF
railroad kings have absolutely re.
duced the price Of every farm, every
quarter-section, every bsshcl Of
grain in the great west. IL the.
owned the whole country and nj
who live In it they could not lord II
over US more UNANIMOUSLY" TIL.
Chicago Tribune, also, in speaking
Of this giant monopoly makes tn.
following startling but truthful state
ment: 1.-The power OF these eombina
tons over the government Is shown
by the fact that the railroad mana
gers are filling both houses OF con
gress, especially the senate, will
their paid and pensioned attorneys
They bid defiance to the country
They are in possession and contro
all the highways OF trade. They ar,
lpraoticing ex.ortions in every diree
ton. Men who valiantly fight owe
the battles OF the revolution and til
last war stand mute in their place
when it is proposed to assert tn
power OF government to control an,
regulate the commerce OF the coun
Itry aud to protect the interests o
the people," To protect the interest
OF the great producing class iron
the rapacity Of the railroad monopo
, lists and to avert the evils that hay
grown into the railroad system, job
A. Reagan. democratic congress
/, man from Texas, introduced u bi
+ known rs Reagan Bill to Regnla'
: Inter State Commerce. the mai
provisions Of which are as follows:
PIRrr-To prohibit all Determinations
l freight rates and charges between individuals
, requiring like services 70 DC rendered 10 ail pe
l sons for Ike compensation.
; S.coNp-it prohibits the allowance or rebate
; and drawbacks IN all Gases as one OF the mean
. 10 prevent unjust determinations.
TnlaD-lt prohibits the pooling or freights
r direrent and competing Railroads, 80 rs to Il
cure u the general public the benefits Of con
petition In freight rates and charges. and as
, means OF limiting and restraining the monopo
1 power, of the railroads.
FouRTH-Ir provides limitation on the pow
er vi the railroads 10 discriminate between Ill
1 ferent places or portions OF the country BY py
sidug that no more shall be charged Tor q q
load oil freight for shorter than for long,
distance In enc continuous carriage. This pc
ton Of the hill recognizes the right OF the rai
% roads u make Determinations In favor OF II
longer hauiS. but not 10 the extent of chars.n
]. more for car load for shorter than for "A Ions
: err distance by the doing OF which they hay
i greatly injured the commerce ami prosperity
some places Tor the benefit o; others, aud oft.
foster and promote schemes OF private srecui'
! tion by railroad managers and their fasutits
10 the injury OF particular communities ana pc
sons.
8 within It's provisions shall adopt and keep pos
ed up schedules Of freight rates and change
Q and that these shall not b. changed without NJ
days notice, and that they shall charge
!, more nor less than the published rates. This
. a necessary means OF protecting the publ
against unjust determinations
This just and absolutely necessaI
: measure has been fought by the rai
; road kings and their paid and pei
O stoned attorneys" with whom the
= have filled both houses Of congress
. ever since Reagan in introduced It
but L. II. Weller, true to the peopl,
i deemine its passage OF utmost In
r portance, voted twice to take it up 0,
/, Of its order for immediate consiae
alton.
= TARIFF REFORM.
1t was conceded three years ae
by men OF all parties that the ..
Is cessive war tariff duties" should
+. lowered to Il peace basis and tn
4 with over four hundred million do
!, lars lying idle In the Uuitcd Stat
> treasury, an incentive to subsid
Is grants and wasteful appropriation
< the collections OF eighty five to OF
/ laIl 1