Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-05-21

pressing the people Ia their dealings
with them, 1 would still support any
reasonable Congressional measure
looking to their supervision and con.
troll, because Of the undeniaole fact
that such oppression, IN the absence
OF legal restraint, Is possible, and no
adequate protection a be afforded by
State laws. II we but consider how
unreasonable the railroad interest of
this country has become, how vast is
the wealth, and how immense the
powers of these corporations, the
necessity forces itself upon us to set,
If we can, some bounds to what they
may do in their business transactions
with the people of the country. Their
lines today stretch out 100000 miles
and their ownership is estimated to
equal one-six of the entire possessions
of all the people living under our gov
eminent. To this many millions are
being added yearly by the construction
OF thousands of miles of new railroad.
1t has not been many years since all
the railroad property IN the Union was
worth less than the amount of this
yearly addition.
The people pay these companies over
eight hundred millions a year for trans.
%portation, and the commodities trans
ported run up to fifteen. billions a year
in value. 1t is estimated that eighteen
hundred thousand men are employed
in constructing and operating railroads.
some of these companies have more
patronage to bestow than a Cabinet Of
fcer, and some of their Presidents have
been paid larger salaries than the Pres
ident of the United States. Many of
them receive and disburse vastly more
money per annum than passes through
the treasury of many of the States of
the Union The men at the head of
some OF them are among the ablest
business men in the nation. They have
wealth to employ talent and power to
command influence. They are organ
lied for gain and those who manage
them, however just and liberal they
may be as men, manage them for gain
and are influenced by the same consid-
erations which control the managers of
other purely business institutions.
Every interest in this country is de-
pendent upon railroads; agriculture
and commerce are especially at their
mercy. With all this power in their
hands no man can give a valid reason
why these corporations should not be
put under the wholesome restraints of
the law, and the oppressive exercise of
their power made impossible. 1t is no
answer to say that self-interest will pre-
vent them from imposing undue bur.
dens on traffic lest their business may
suffer by its falling off. If the bur
dens are possible what objection a
there be to the double guarantee
against them of both self-interest and
the law? The very tendency of power,
lodge it where you will, is toward
abuse, and railroad power forms no ex.
ception to the rule. | have no word of
denunciation for the railroad managers
OF the country as a class. They are as
worthy as the men of any other class;
they are just like other men, and it is
because they are so and are influenced
by the same motives that influence
other men that | want their power
placed under control.
The contest between the people and
the railroad companies originated 10,
and is kept alive and stimulated by,
the same motive in both the parties,
and that the motive of self.interest.
One wants the service for the lowest
price, and the other demands the high
est price, just az other men in other
callings buy for the lowest and sell for
the highest price they can. The in
stlnct of gain is strong as it is
nntural, and we expect to see and do
see the evidences of it in every line of
trade, in every department of business,
IN every phase of human industry, and
in all the business dealings of men
with each other. The merchant does
not sell a barrel of flour for eight dol
lars If he can get nine dollars for it.
NO more does the cotton planter sell
his produce for eight cents per
pound if he can get nine. No
tradesmen,no professional man. nor la
boring man puts a lower price on his
wares or his work when he can get a
higher one as readily.
But in dealing with each other we
have the advantage of dealing at
arms length, which is our protection.
When a merchant charges a given
price for his goods we are not bound
to buy from him, as there are other
merchants and other markets. Nor is
ne bound to purchase our produce at
the price We name. Nor is one nan
bound to employ or be employed by
any other particular man for service
at a price named, there being other
men ready to serve or to be served.
But when we deal with railroad com.
panies We have not this liberty, though
it may be true that we are not literally
bound to ship our produce by a rail-
road If the price does not suit 10.
Practically, we are bound to do it or
lose the privilege of marketing our
produce, and thus we really have no
choice. There is no other railroad. in
reach, or, if there be, competition is
DESTROYED by an agreement that