Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1890-04-30

moro favorable circumstances, present
comparisons Of inequality which often
seem like injustice, and on the other hand
1t must not be forgotten that many
roads are over-taxiug their oonstitu.
ents in an effort to secure dividends
upon total Of capital and bonded debt, .
portion Of which Is purely fictitious. That
many roads fail to psy any dividends at all,
while the total profits Of The railroads
throughout the country represent but 4
comparatively small dividend upon the
actual cost Of construction, plant and
equipment, still In no wise palliates the
grievous wrong Of attempting to secure .
profit upon fictitious values. II il still too
early to suggest any important modiiica-
tions In the inter state commerce law. A
fuller trial is needed TO Judge properly Of
ito effects and TO suggest judicious amsud-
ments. The condition Of our agriculture
10 such that large proportion Of our farm.
sfs must depend upon facilities Tor reach
ing distant markets, and the 1Aw VIII
hardly accomplish its purpose OF securing
the greatest good for the greatest number
il it, ultimate result should be to raise the
cost OF the long haul. Its most valuable
Office will be to prevent injustios by for
bidding the granting BY the railroads Of
special privileges to certain classes or cor.
porations which are denied to the commu.
nifty at large.
The Middle Msn.
Another cause operating to depress the
price of the farmers honest toll, 10 the
undue increase of the class Of middle men
and the dishonesty and greed OF many OF
them. Hence the wide gulf between the
high prices charged to the consumer, and
the low prices paid to the producer. The
middle man with certain limits must be re-
garded as necessity. Tners are many
things he can do for the farmers which the
latter cannot do so pro6tably for them.
selves, and under such conditions it 10
wise to employ him.. The evil which exists
at the present day in this direction could
undoubtedly be mitiRated by, hrst, .
familiarity on the part Of the farmer him.
self with the market value Of that which
hs has to sell. and second, better system
Of cooperation among the farmers both in
the disposal Of their crops, and in the par.
chase Of their supplies.
Controlling Comblnstions.
Much has been said aud written alleging
the existence OF unlawful co,nbina tions for
the express purpose of 10 controlling the
markets a. to lower the price Of the farm.
er's products, and Of other combinations
whose object 10 10 raise the price Of the
articles which the farmer consumes. That
such combinations exist IL impossible to
doubt, and the serious results Of their greed
and selfishness are enhanced by the grave
difficulties attending any effort to limit
their evil effects. This 10 one Of those evils
so closely allied to the matter of inter.
state commerce, that Its regulation
may possibly fall within the Legitimate
province of national legislation. The
great difficulty lies in the close observance
Of the line Of demarcaticn which clearly
exists between combinations for mutual
self help, protection and the advancement
by legitimate means OF the interests Of Q
class, craft or industry, and combinations
or trusts inspired BY greed, whose objects
are unattainable save a. they infringe upon
the legitimate rights Of others. In spite
Of these difficulties, however, there cannot
be any doubt that IN earnest demand TO,
adequate legislation on this subject, sus.
tanned by popular opinion, seceivipg the
earnest attention Of our strongsst minds,
will eventually result in soms adequate
means Of controlling this gigantic evil.
Protection for the Farmer.
now come TO tho consideration OF one
Of the gravest canses in my opinion Of The
present agricultural depressions, but which
am happy to state can be eifectually and
directly dealt with through national legis.
lation. Few people realize that our i'm.
ports Of agricultural products estimated ai
prices paid BY the consumers are about
equal to agricultural exports estimated u
prices paid to the farmer, yet such is the
case. Our imports Of products sold ia
competition with those actually produced
on our own soil, amount to nearly Sll5,
O0O, 900 and AZ much moro could bs pro
duced in our own soil under favorable
conditions. We must surely conclude tbs,
We have here another cause Of depression.