Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-05-06
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LANCASTER. MAY 0. 1856.
Wise Man or Fool

That was rash legislator who under
took, in a meeting Of Lancaster county
farmers, to declare that he was opposed to
80 restraining the railroad companies char
tered by Pennsylvania, that they should not
charge Pennsylvanians more for the use of
THAR roads that they charge the people of
other states. This legislator clearly
manifested the opinion that he was much
wiser than his fellow farmers, whom he |
charged with being bound in their views |
by the narrow limits Of wheat field, |
while he surveyed the commonwealth.
But when this legislator so wise in his own
cOnceit, was asked, by the stupid farmers
around him, wherefore it was that Western
products were carried cheaper through
! PENNSYLVANIA than Pennsylvania products,
he answered that he knew not, unless it
was the result Of competition; nor did he
know wherefolo Pennsylvania mineral
products were carried cheaper to outside
Communities than to the people of tho state
sOve that it was caused by competition.
This very wise legislator seemed 10 think
that if it was competition that sat 80
heavily upon Pennsylvania prosperity there
was no help for it but in the Lord. And
that seems to be true enough, if the major
ity of the legislators have the same quality
of wisdom as this Drumbre Solomon.
But to another quality of legislator it
might appear to be the province of Penn
sylvania s legislature to see to it that the
competition Of her own railroads with their
rivals did not put the people of the state to
disadvantage. No more clearly assigned
duty ever appeared to a legislature nor
one more sAQre clearly within its power to
discharge with satisfaction to its con-
stituents.
For the legislature has supreme control
Of the subject. 1t may command and the
railroad corporations must obey. The only
command, in the matter 9f fEeiiift I'D 1t rates
needed to protect Pennsylvania people, i,
aicsa|eeaS Sy the most obvious justice, for il
Is. simply that no greater charge shall b.
made to Pennsylyanians by Pennsylyani;
railroads, than is made to those who an
not Pennsylvanians.
If that is not fair thing to ask Penn
sylvania legislature to enact, we confess Il
dense stupidity of understanding. Th
Lancaster farmers who ask it, are stupi'
along with us. Wisdom compasses abou
the Drumore legislator who would no
lift his hand to hurt a railroad, but woul
4 raise bludgeon upon the farmers and pre-
ducers who are the railroads customers
But wherefore the railroads are better ent
tied to the legislators protection than tn
people, is not easily seen. If one of tn
two is to he hurt, seemingly it should nc
be the people.
But there is no need that either should b
hurt. The interests of the railroads and th
people are in common. The railroads suffe
from their competition, and the people G
Pennsylvania suffer, as they are made
pay the piper. The hand of the law
needed to say to the carriers of merchaI
disc, ''you must carry for all at a like chare
for a like services. 1t is the command {
sense and honesty and the Pennsylvan
legislator is rank fool who sees the good
from the West carried through the sta,
cheaper than in the state, and the prOduc
of the state carried from it cheaper than
places in it, while he sits paralyzed, e.
claiming :" 1t is competition! God
greatm