The Russellville Democrat., 1891-03-26
the speaker. MT. White in the

Mir. Berry said that he hau been convinced that the bill was 8 good one. It was in the interests of the people, and that was what the mem- bers of the legislature were here for, to work for the interests of the peo- pie.
 HON. LAWRENCE RUssELLs SPEECH ON
 THE RAILROAD COMMISSION BILL.
 That we have many wholesome laws now having for their object the regula- tion of railroads, no one can doubt, but what we need is some power to make these laws more effective. With no one especially commissioned to see to the enforcement of these laws they are not enforced. Regardless Of much leg islation upon this subject; regardless of tb e fact that these laws stand as sol emn sentinels along the highway of commerce, our people are piundered and our country is becoming impover- ished. hence there is necessity for railway commission such as is provided for in this bill. We need the commls- sion to look after the matter of rebates. We are informed that the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railway company has allowed to cotton buyers oI Little Rock rebate of from 90 to 70 cents per bale where cotton is shipped to said city, said company claiming that this is done to equalize the rate to Eastern points. But our farmers, who by the sweat of their brow make the cotton, are not so hlghly favored, and if they ship their own cotton they do not receive this rebate.
 In other words, they pay from oo cents to 75 cents more freight per
 bale when they ship than the cotton
 buyer does when he ships. Suppose,
 then. that of the 500 ,000 bales of cotton
 grown in Arkansas the farmer should
 ship 100,O ,O0O bales to Little Rock. If
 they received rebate of 50 cents on
 each bale they woulG receive from the
 railway company 50,000; but they do
 not get the rebate, hence they would
 lose the s50,000. Why this difference?
 If the railway company can afford to pay back to the cotton buyer $50,O00 on
 100000 bales of cotton why permit the same company 10 overcharge the farmer $50. 0U0 on the same amount of cotton?
 The railway commission is needed to prevent unjust discrimination in
 rates as against small places, and for short distances within the state. 1 am
 informed that the local rates on the
 above named road have been advanced
 in some instances B per cent. within
 the last five years. The rate on first
 class freight from Russellville to Nor
 rilton Ca distance of about 25 milesJ,
 was 25 cents per hundred. It is now IA cents, and all other classes of freight
 have been advanced in the same ratio
 between stations on a certain division
 of said road. Eight years ago car of lumber could have been shipped from
 Mill Greek to Russellyille, distance of five miles, for $5, now it is S7.50 per car.
 It is held that commission would
 have no power over lines extending be- yond the state. This is true, but the interstate commission can regulate that. As rule the through rates are rather reasonable.
 A car of flour can be shipped from Kansas City to Memphis at 20 cents per hundred, but it will cost 16 cents per hundred to ship carload of -four from Russellville to Ozark, which is only one-tenth the distance.
 We need tho commission to regulate railway freights so our farmers can compete with the farmers of other states in the markets of Little Rock, Kansas City and St. Louis. The local rate on first-class freight from Russell vile to Little Rock is IF cents per hum dred for the same distance in Iowa it IS 22 cents. The local rate on fourth class freight from Russellyille to Little Rock Is 36 cents; for the same distance in Iowa it is Is cents. How can we ex pect our farmers to compete with those of other states in the markets, and pay double freight rate upon their berries, their peaches, their apples, their eggs, their chickens, their cattle, their mules, t. cir horses, their corn and thelr cotton.
 The exorbitsnt freights charged the on all goods and produce which they ship into the state, comes out of the peoples pockets in the end, for they are the consumers.
 Ohi you say you are in favor of economy, and that the commission will cost loo much. But you seem to forget that while the commission will cost about SSo00, it will likely save the people in local freights alone Sl0S,000 per annum, leaving difference in the pockets of the people of $l00,000. Snch ogic as you use, if followed, would make Vanderbilt beggar, Gould l Lazarus.
 Will you who oppose this bill tell this body and the people that you favor yet refuse to support bill hat will save the people of Arkansas, n local freights alone, about Sl00,000S
 How can you be a true representative ,f the people and at the same time vote against bill which will, beyond ques- ion, give your people relief How can you oppose a measure that will lift rom the shoulders of the people of your state the same burdens which wise egislators, through like measure, nave lifted from the burdened and the of their states? The practi- ,ability of the commission can no onger be questioned. About two- thirds ,f the states have them in successful Itance where a board con- listing of three commissioners has been ried has the commission been abolished ,r the laws establishing the board been 'epea.ed. Missouri on our north, Tex IS on our south, Kansas, Nebraska. owa, Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, Indi- ma, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and number of other states have tried the and find it to work well. Why have they not found the commis- ion too costly? Why bave they not ound it useless thingp
 If l were to refuse to support this ill l would fall short of my duty to myself, my country and my God. I xpect to discharge my duty and vote or this biIl. Then l can return to my eople, look them square in the face nd tell them that l for one stood on he side of the people and opposed am not now, never have cen and never expect to be an nemy to railways. would ot Intentionally do them an injustice, ut dc know they need regulating as