The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-09-30
THE CUILOM BILL.

The republican party Of Iowa has de-
libera;cly chosen to stand by the Cul-
lom bill, as solution Of the railway
question. Its platform declares for it
and the permanent chairman Of its
state convention is making his CAM
paign on that issue.
The democrats gladly take up the
glove aud will fight it out on that line
until November. We have already dis
cussed the matter. but let us look a
little further into the merits Of this re-
publican measure,
The chief difference between the
Cuilcm and Reagan bills is that the
Cnllom bill provides for its own exc
cntion by means Of a commission,
while the Reagan bill is to be executed,
and questions arising under it adjadi-
Gated, by the peace officers already ex-
ist:ng Let us candidly compare these
two methods offered the! people for sc-
curing their rights against The aggrcs-
sion Of railroads.
There is to be but one commission
for the whole United States. 1t is to
be the court of first rs well rs last re-
sort. 1t is to adjudicate grievances be-
tween 135. 900 miles ofrOad and go, OCO.-
900 people. These roads own and
operate more than one-sixth of all the
capital OF the country. and far larger
| fraction Of the working capital.
1t is impossible for Il commission OF
five men. single small court to handle
all the business that will come before
il under the law. and the railroad re-
| publicans know it. In fact that is why
they are for the law. The sooner the
commission gets behind with its BUSH
| ness, SO that the farmer will be dis
couragcd from trying to get his rights.
| The better the regency will be pleased.
The absnrdity of the thing becomes
apparen. when we consider that nearly
| everyone Of tic thousands Of cOnl Is in
the country is behind in its business
aud cant catch up. There are 1000
| or 5000 Justice courts in Iowa, besides
| all the district and circuit courts. The
laws delay is bad enough with all
| these courts open. What will it be IN
that class of litigation wherein one
court must do for the whole country ?
How many months will it DO before
that one court would be several hum
dred years behind with its business?
AID who would profit most by its in
cv!table delay, the railroads or the
people?
Now let lis look IT another gricyous
disadvantage. The courts now exist
lug are scattered all over the country,
right ut the farmers door. He can
easily reach them and get his case
started. Under the Cullom bill the
commission which is to secure redres 5
of grievances is away off at Washing
ton. In almost all cases it can be conn.,
municatcd with only by letter, SO far as
the people are concerned. The rail
roads can easily send man 10 pull the
wool over the commissions eyes and
doctor up the case. But the aggrieyed
party, having no railroad ct his own
reaching to Washington, and not being
wealthy, must write. His letter NAV
be lost in The nails. At any rate hun.
dreds of letters will be in ahead of il
il any body has faith enough in the bi II
| to take a...an,ag. of il. The commits.
sion will then las the matter before tho
offending railroad corporation, and the
aggrieved. granasous may perhaps
/ hear sometime in toe next century
what has become Of il. A more non
scnsical way Of ,ryin. 10 deal with :
great problem was perhaps never heare
of.
But there is worse than nonsense in it
There is an evil Of the most positiv,
Kind and one Leiore which the honest
patriotic mind stands paralyzed will
apprension. This commission is to b,
appointed by the president, and BY hin
its members may be removed AM
others appointed in their places.
just imagine what q presidential
election will be under those circum
stances. The stake Of the railroads il
that election would be ssupendousl
Increased. In fact the Cullom bill ma
be titly characterised as notice TO tn
railroads that the republican part
terest in presidential elections. II the
don't already take enough, and IT
hard enough to control them, then pei
haps the Cullom bill ought to pass.
That bill would at Cnce unite all til
railroad interests of tho country
their choice of president. No pres
dent could be elected who was NJ
pledged to the appointment Of just ii
right kind OF railroad commissions
as vacancies should arise. Not onl
would all the railroads be in polite
but they would help that side not onl
with q vast corruption fund, but l
carrying whomeycr and whatever
wanted carried from place to pla.
free Of charge. Their power would |
: incalculablc.
Such is the Cullom bill. 1t is nOthir
but a gigantic scheme of bribery inte
.lcd to control the politics of the coul
try, and while pretending to relieve q
oppressed people. fasten the grip
corporate monopoly upon them mo-
, tightly than ever. 1t does not cvt
: rofess to prevent pooling. 1t is wor
than humbug. 1t is piece of VI
, lainy whose deadly effects are to
: dreaded. No patriotic citizen can q
ford to vote for it. On this issue Il
battle can be fought and won.
/. The DE Moincs Lea,tcr: The farme
: of the fourth congressional distri
should understand that Mr.. Fuller
! congress voted against the Reagan bi
= and for the Cullom bill; that he is
: sympathy with his party for the Cullo
= = bill. and that the railroads and mon
polists of tho country are also q I'LL
for that measure. Col. Earle, the pc
q pies candidate in this district is cl
q phatic in approval of the Reagan bill
and OF such additional legislation,
!. need be, as will protect the rights
/ the great industries Of the countr
. against the encroachments of corp
: rate CAPITA.
Mr.. Chas. +. Powell, postmaste
! Terre Hautc. O.. writes that two OF b
. very f1nest chickens were RECENTLY n