The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-08-19
THE REAGAN BILL.

Versus the CullOm Fraud that Re-
publicans Propose to Saddle on the
country---A Comparison Of the
Two Bills by 4 Philadelphia Pa
per.
The house OF representatives at
Washington decided last week 10
consider the interstate commerce
bill and devoted the afternoon and
evening to general debate on its
provisions. The hill before the
house is really tic Reagan bill, the
house committee on commerce upon
receiving the Cullom bill from the
senate having stricken all after the
enacting clause and substituted the
measure substituted by Judge Rea-
gan. These two measures differ
widely in their provisions. The
Reagan bill lays down certain gener-
al principles, notably the short haul
clause, publicity OF rates, and the
prohibition Of pooling and OF grant
ing drawbacks. The application OF
these principles under the Reagan
bill would be uniform in all parts OF
the country and in all cases. The
Cullom bill provides that commits
sion shall have power to suspend
the application Of these general
principles mt its discretion.
The Reagan bill simply enunciates
the law & provides remedies through
the courts. The Cullom bill would
set up bureau government, and
would place the great transpurta-
ton interests OF the country in the
hands Of Il board of seven men. The
railroad companies, which oppose
the short haul principle and the
publicity OF rates, are favoring the
Cnllom bill and fighting the Reagan
bill.
Under the Reagan bill the anthracite
coal combination would be Il crimi-
nal conspiracy, and the people Of
Philadelphia would be saved $1,000
900 a year which they now pay in
excessive coal charges.
Under the Reagan bill the iron
business Of Pennsylvania would be
free to every man who desired to
enter it. To-day no man can engage
in any business into which transport
tation largely enters unless he first
crawls into an Office OF railroad
manager and asks il he can get
living rates.
Under rhcReagan bill the farmers
OF Pennsylvania would be enabled to
send their grain to the seaboard
cities as cheaply as do the farmers
\ Df tho Misciccinni ya1lnv
Under the Cullom bill the compe-
tltion OF the Erie canal would be
availed OF an excuse to make the
Pennsylvania farmer pay more for
the transportation of his grain for Il
distance OF 100 miles than the west
ern farmer now pays for hauling the
same article 1000 miles.
Under the Reagan bill the stand
ard Oil company would lose its grip
on one OF the sources Of our national
wealth.
Under the Cullom bill the CON-
pany would have chance Of retain
ing its monopoly.
Under the Reagan bill the state of
Pennsylvania could develop its
resources subject only to the opera
ton of the natural laws Of trade.
Under the Cullom bill this devel-
opment would be at the mercy OF
seven men.
Under the Reagan hill the railroad
interests of the country would be
dealt with in the courts as are all
other interests. Under the Cullom
bill the railroad interests would be-
come involved in the political chan
ges Of national administration.
Under the Reagan bill the railroad
would be forced to live up to its
charter obligations rs common
carrier, carrying for all persons
alike, on the same terms and the
same rates. Under the Cullom bill
the charter obligations would be
suspended in interstate commerce.
There are some of the issues that
arise in the question before congress.
1t is probable that the house will
favor the Reagan bill, and will send
the amended measure to the senate
for concurrence. The upper house
is just as likely decline to accept
the house amendments, and the
whole subject will fail.
There can be no question Of the
practicability OF the Reagan bill in
dealing with the railroad problem.
The railroad representatives are
opposed to that measure, and insist
on the adoption OF the Cullom bill.
which he's been framed in their in
terest. When the alternative shall
be presented to congress OF taking
the Cnllom bill or nothing, it is to
be hoped that the decision OF the
house of representatives will be
against the Cullom bill. The peo-
pie can afford to wait year or
more in the hope OF getting the
ideas OF the Reagan bill migrated
upon the statute books, but they can
never afford to sacrifice principle and ,
accept the terms laid down Ia the
Cullom bill by the railroad mag.
nates.-Philadelphia Record.