The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-05-11
A RUINOUS MEASURE
THAT CONGRESS SHOULD MOI
PASS.
A Plain Statement That Goes TO the
Root of the Mater aud Ought
60 Kill the CnllOm BIlI.

Louisville CoUricr-Jo,u nal: The
Senate Committee on loteIs,sts Com.
me CO during the recess entered upon
most thorough invesliga ion Of The
iaihold question, aud as a result in
troduoed what is known fs the Cul,
lom bill.
This bill organizes National Rail.
road Commission, the objections Ia
which the Courier JoHnal has pointed
out from time 10 time, aud wbicd we
a'e very certain will re iult in CONNER.
mtrcisl and political evils at no dis.
tant day.
The Senate committee learned
enough during Its Investigations to
fully appreciate the arguments against
any absolute prohibition OF q smaller
charge for long than q shot haul.
In the bill such . charge wss recog.
nizsd under certain circumstances 90
Just aud necessary. Il is the very
cornerstone OF the whole system Of
competition, which in Americs, II II
has not settled all disputed p Oints to
the entire satisfaction OF the public,
has at least given US the cheapest sys-
tenn OF freight transportation known
to the civil zsd world.
Wednesday, by a vote OF 80 to %,
the Senate adopted an amendment
prohibiting any greater charge for a
short than for long haul. The pas
sege by Congress ana the approval by
the President OF such an act would
precipitate commercial disaster such
as the country has never known. 1t
would change ia day the whole sys-
tenn OF rates, through and local.
1t interferes with free interchange Of
commercial commodities.
1t puts an embargo on all foreign
commerce.
1t limits 10 very narrow range the
market for all farm produce.
1t depreciates the value CT every
bushel of wheat, OF every bale Of cot
ton in the farmers hand or Of the
coming crop.
Instead OF lowering, it will advance
freight lates, through and local.
1t aims to aunul the natural advan-
tages oi:lpoinis wherei. water: and rail
transportation compete, and puts all
on dead level; 1t says that when a
man locatts on the top OF hill his
rates should be no more than his
neighbor's who settles at the foot.
This wht leque t on has bsen gone
over time and again in this country
d in Europe. The pres ant rates are
not constructed by the will or in ac-
cordanca with the wish OF one man.
They are the result OF fifty years OF in
creasing competition. About them
has grown up the most gigantic COM
merrial system, :inte ual and external,
of which the world has any know
edge. This system the Senate pro-
poses to paralyze by the Camden
amendment.
If such law is passed and the rail-
read managers should apply 1t tO,mor.
row 1t would precipitate an industrisl
revolution.
1t would impair the value of every
mill aud foundry, of every dwelling
and storehouss in all the cities from
New York to San Francisco.
1t would depIeCiate the value OF
every acre Of laud given to agriculture,
1t would turn back The wheels OF pro-
gress twenty five years.
Undoubtedly there are evils con-
nected with our railroad system, but
they can be traced directly to ignorant
or corrupt legislation. Stockholders
are robbed under special provisions in
peculiar charters. Confiding citizens
are mi led by offers OF land grsnts
aud bounties. Government subsidies
have corrupted Congress- and com.
mt rec, but this Camden amendment
rectifies no evil, but preCipi ates
o,here.
1t will compel hundreds OF railroads
to abandon all competitive traffic. all
through business, al long hauls. The
system which makes it possible to
ship through cars from Omaha to New
York will slowly disintegrste. 1t will
destroy all argument for a uniform
gauge. 1t makes it necessary to break
u the various trunk lines into local
roads.
The Louisville and Nashville would
be compelled to refuse business TO
Memphis, TO New Orleans, 10 Mo1t-
gomery. 1t would have to confne H.
self strictly to local business, to non
competitive business, and just in pro-
portion as this decreased its Mt Teve.
nues would it be compelled to advance
it3 local rates.
All the trunk linas from Chicaro,
except the Grand Trunk Of CaDala,
would withdraw all effort to get gain
for Liverpool or meat for New York
The Grand Trunk could advance
through r, tss so per cent. and got praC-
tically a il could haadle.
Oar export trade would dwindle to
small proportions. Distress and low
prices would everywhere prevail. The
evils OF the tariff would be intensified
by this Commercial rsvoluti, n, and
three men would bs idle where one is
idle now.
The effect on financial affairs would
be lamentable. Numbers OF railroads
could only pass from one system, the
system Of competition, to the system
OF restriction and national regulation,
through bankruptcy.
The COiTier-JOurndl is no alarmist,
but it SHOWS that we cannot interfere
with the very foundation OF business
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