St. Landry democrat., 1886-11-27
Ruthless Corporations.
States.

| ~
States.
A number of causes are tending tC
injure the trade of this city. No one OF
them, however has exercised Or is exer-
cising, more deleteriOus influence
upon our commercial interests than that
SO graphically pointed out in the States
Leathers. Capt. feathers said:
Whenever they 1.-THE rallroads) meet the com
petition OF the river their rates are put down
| to nothing. so lew that the boats can't compete
with them; while to make up the difference
and to keep cotton away from the river and
force 1t over the railways, they put on the
most eXt0rtlonate rates for interior points,
All the railway rates seem to me to be fixed
with the express purpose OF forcing cotton
| away from New Orleans and away from the
| river. The people at interior points are alb
solutely in their power. Some of them are
compelled to ship to New Orleans because
they get their advances here, but beyond this
the cotton Is bound TO go East But for this
the rates FROM NatcheZ. Helena and other
points would be equally prohibitory. They
force the cotton to go long distances over the
railways instead of the short distance to its
natural port, New Orleans There are dis
Grim nations all eyer the country, know, but
do believe that New Orleans is more sinned
against than any other city OF the country.
Unless something is done to counterfeit these
influences we are going to suffer more than We
ever nave SUFFERED. Honest Legislation Is all
that is needed and Reagan's Interstate com
merce bill meets my views, and We must have
something of the sort.
Sunday morning the States printed
interviews with several of our cotton
factors, all showing the fact that these
determinations in freight rates are
made by the railroads to the incalcu-
liable injury of this city and the oppres-
sion of the unfortunate denizens of
those localities which are not included
in the favored list of competitive
points" The day previous the Plea
yune printed Il letter from a cotton
planter in the outlawed region showing
the expressions OF the railroad charges,
and yesterday the merchants of Meri-
dian, Mississippi held meeting to
er freight rates to this city, where they
wish to trade and ship their cotton.
The States has before commented on
the crime of the railroads against the
business interests of the country in
establishing different rates from "com-
peting" points and what may be as apt
ly termed dependent" points. This
policy is not based in just business
ethics. 1t is not the methods of indi-
viduals engaged in the same line of
business competing for public patron
age, wherein every customer has an
equal showing. On the contrary, it is
neither more nor less than a raid upon
the public, and is aimed at the best in
terests OF the competitive points, no
less than at those of the dependent
points.
The object of this system of discri-
minatiOn is to mOn0polize the franspor- |
tation of all the regions the roads can
possibly reach, and to then squeeze out
of it "all the traffic will stand" The
rights of invested capital, the conve-
nience of the public, the principles of
common justice, are utterly ignored.
It is perhaps the most selfish feature
aver developed amongst the selfish
features of trade.
The method of honest competition is
@ put down prices to invite the custom
If all the public. The method of dis.
freight rates between COM
,eting and dependent points, is, first, to
over the rates at the former points to
20 small figure that steam boats and
III other descriptions of transportation
nay be driven oft, and to increase the
ates at the latter to such an exorbitant
igure that the victims may be tieeced
. make mp the cost the railroads incur
D breaking down competition and de-
trOying rival capital at the TEMPORARY
localities; but in the
nd to make victims of all alike.
This is one of the most virulent evils
o which the trade of this city, and one
f the greatest expressions points tribu-
airy to US are being subjected to- Some
t the State legislatures have attempt
d to remedy the wrong, and have
assed excellent laws for the control of
|lese ruthless corporations. But il has
ecome quite evident that the evil or
'rong, reaching through and beyond
tate lines, cannot be adequately con-
rolled by separate State action, and
hat it is lmperatively demanded by the
rade, not only of New Orleans, but of
he whole country, that Congress shall
ike hold of this question and put
ride on these audaciOus corporations
he Reagan BILL. which has now been
, long before the country, is beyond
fair and nntrammelled commerce
,quire. Of course it is the bill which
Ieets with the unqualified hostility Of
he railroads, because it is the bill
hich is adequate to protect the people
gainst the corporations it is designed
, regulate.
Will the merchants of New Orleans
ct in this matter 1t seems to us that
lere should be enthusiastic organiza-
on amongst them with view of in
the approaching session of
ongress to pass the Reagan bill That
III will be worth millions to this city,
nd its tributary country. 1t will be of
ore benefit to New Orleans than to
ly other city in the Union. It has =
zen shown, through the States, that {
e merchants here realize the injury
e discrimination Of the railroads are c
,ing them. Will they proceed to act
! this knowledge