Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-01-27
PATRONS NF uUsDANssI:Y
MORTIMER WHITEHEAD.

The report Of the Committee on
Transportation of the National
Grange, at its last session, was one of
the ablest papers that came before
the body, and it was unanimously
adopted. The members of the Com
mittee have each had much practical
experience in handling this important
question in their respective States,
and their wise, temperate and safe
conclusions are worthy of careful con-
sideration by all members of Subor-
dinate Oranges of the country, where
this report will no doubt be read and
considered. The Committee consisted
of Alpha Messer, ofVermont; Leonard
Rhone, of Pennsylvania; Hiram
Hawkins, of Alabama; VIM. Sims, OF
Kansas, and A. n. Brown, of Della
WIRE. each at the head of the Ora &c
organization in their respective
States
After careful review Of the causes
that led up to the passage of the In
terstate Commerce law and the re-
suits already accomplished through
its practical application, this report
SAYS: And this is the scope of the
Interstate Commerce Act, SO benign
in its influence, and so far reaching in
it's results as TO affect the material in
terests of nearly all the producers of
the Nation. Your committee are well
aware that the construction which the
commissioners have in some instances
placed upon Section 4, of this Act,
does not fully meet the views OF the
ardent friends of the law and they
are of the opinion that, however
wisely the power of the suspension of
the long and short haul claus NAV
be exercised, its natural tendency Will
be 10 defeat the purposes of the law.
The report further says: I'VE have
only to say that we trust that Con
cress il its wisdom will add such
amendments only to the law as vii
supply any defects which may exist
in this direction and also in the CLASH
fication Of freiShts, so as to prevent
the roads by changes in their classl-
.iratiDns to defeat or render inopera-
i.e auy decisions of the Commission.
As ihc Interstate Commerce Act APP
plies only TO interstate trailic we rec
ommend that State Oranges use every
lawful means within their power TO
correct the local abuses which exist in
many States and bring the people
and the railroads more in harmony in
the future than in the past. We be-
lieve that a reasonable rate OF trans
por;ation. both interstate and local,
would not only add greatly to the
material prosperity of farmers, but
that its effect would be reciprocal
and the railroads would be enabled
thereby to largely increase the volume
OF their traffic and the consequent
earnings upon capital invested
The National Grange once more de
clares its true position regarding rail
roads. the position it has always held,
but which has in thu past been so
greatly misunderstood and niSrepre-
sented:
This body again atiilms that it has
no desire to antaSonize in any way
the railroad interests of the country.
1t only seeks justice, which is the
right of every citizen. Neither has
the Grange any controversy with le-
ultimate corporations of any kind so
long as they justly carry out the pur-
poses for which they were created. 1t
is only when they exceed the bounds
of law and justice that the Grange as
serts its rights and power to compel
obedience TO the same.
Already several measures have been