The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1886-05-29
Interstate Commerce.
SPEECH OF HON. e. c. WALTHALL;
OF MISSISSIPPI,

Interstate commerce. |
SPEECH OF HON. e. c. WALTHALL;
OF MISSISSIPPI,
Delivered In the Senate or the United
States, Monday, May 10, 1856.
Mr.. President: Ihave listened with
much interest to the discussion of the
pending measure, and have given the
subject some independent considera-
ton. My determination is to vote for
this bill unless it is so amended as to
make it more Objectionable thanwheh
it came from the hands of the COM
mittee, though it does not, in some of
its important features, meet the ap-
prova[ of my judgment. | feel sure 1T
is not presented as a perfect measure
by its distinguished author who has
exhibited such marked ability and
fairness in his patient effort to solve
one of the most perplexing problems
of the age, for his experience has
taught him that those who have con-
sidered the subject most maturely
have found in it the greatest difficult
ties. q.
If it were proven here to-day that
railroad companies are not now op-
pressing the people in their dealings
with them, I would still support
any reasonable Congressional meas
ure looking to their supervision and
control, because of the undeniable
fact that such oppression, in the alb
sence of legal restraint, is possible,
and no adequate protection can be af-
forded by State laws. If we but con,
slider how immeasurable the railroad
interest of this country has become,
how vast is the wealth, and how i'm
mense the powers of these corpora
tions, 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 to-day stretch
out 10000 miles and their ownership
is estimated to equal one-sixth of the
entire possessions of all the people
living under our Government. TC
this many millions are being added
yearly by the construction of thou
sands of miles of new railroad. Ii
has not been many years since the
railroad property of the Union wa:
worth less than the amount of this
yearly addition.
The people pay these companies
over eight hundred millions yea
for transportation, and the commodi
ties transported run up to fifteen bill
ions a year in value. 1t is estimated
that eighteen hundred thousand mel
are employed in constructing and op
Grating railroads. Some of thes
companies have more patronage t.
bestOw than a Cabinet officer, AM
some of their presidents have beeI
paid larger salaries than the Presiden
of the United States. Many of then
receive and disburse vastly NOR
money annually than passes througI
the treasury Of many States of tn
Union. The men at the head of som
of them are among the ablest bust
ness men in the nation. They hav
wealth to employ talent and power t
command influence, They are organ
lied for gain and those who manag
them, however just and liberal the
may be as men, manage them TO
gain and are influenced by the sam
considerations which control tn
managers of other purely business in
stitutions.
Every interest in this country
dependent upon railroads ;agricultur
and commerce are especially at thei
mercy. With all this power in thei
hands no man can give valid reaso
why these corporations should not b
put under the wholesome restraint
of the law, and the oppressive excl
else of their power made impossible
It is no answer to say that self-inte
est will prevent them from imposln
undue burdens on traffic lest the
business may suffer by it's falling OF
If the burdens are possible what oil
lection can there be to the doubl
guarantee against them of both sci
Interest and the law? The very tel
dency of power, lodge it where yo
will, is toward abuse, and railroa
power forms no exception to the rul
/ have no words of denunciation ft
the railroad managers OF the count1
as class. They are as worthy as TT
men of any other class; they are ju
like other men, and II is because the
are so and are Influenced by the san
motives that influence other men tn
l want their power placed under col
troll.
The contest between the people ar
the railroad companies originated il
and is kept alive and stimulated b.
the same motive in boththe partie
and that the motive Of self-interes
One wants the service for the lowe
price, and the other demands IL
highest price, just as other men
other callings buy for the lowest al
sell for the highest price they ca
The instinct of gain is strong as it
natural, and we expect to see ana
see the evidences Of it in every line
\ trade, in every department of bus
ness, in every phase of human lndu
try, and in all the business dealing
of men with each other. The me
\ chant does not sell barrel of fio'
for $S if he can get 80 for it. No mo
e does the cotton-planter sell his pr
duce for s cents per pound II ne ca
get 8. No tradesman, no profession
man, nor laboring man puts low
price on his wares or his work whe
he can get higher one as readily.
But in dealing with each other
have the advantage of dealing
arms length, which is our protectlo
When the merchant charges a giv'
price for his goods we are not boul
to buy from him, as there are 9th
merchants and other markets. N
is he bound to purchase our produ
at the price we name. Nor is OF
man bound to employ orbe employ
by any other particular man for Sc !.
vice at a price named, there pell
other men ready to serve OF 10
| served. But when we deal with RAJ
road companies we have not this Ii
- +ho,,rb IL NAV he true that V