The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-01-20
THE COMING

In another column on this page will be
found overwhelming evidence in support
of the position taken by the Weo0s recent
ly on the question of "Equeezing 0 1t the
water" from all ra lroad stock.
Next to the question of operating this
government no question is of so great i'm
portance to the whole people as the oper
ating of the railroads Of the country.
By the sde of it all other economic
questions DIV indie into insignifcance.
There is 10 a grain of corn or wheat
or barley, or a spear of grass that is not
affected by the railroad problem.
There is not an acre of land or the
product of the same that is not concerned.
1t even effects the mouthful we { st and
every stitch we wear,
/. In fact there is nothing it does not
effect exceo the sunlight of heaven and
the twinkle of the stars.
. And yet with every man, woman n
child in the United States so vitality in
terested, they have sat quietly by ano
allowed a handful of high toned, robbers
to place a burden upon them which if not
shaken off, will become heavier a. they
roll by until it bears them to the ground.
The NeaOs does not belong to the alarn n
list class, but where it sees that all the
railroads of the United States Q53, 385
miles) for the past year have twenty m l.
lions of surplus after paying over n
hundred millions of interest on "water
stock" it would seem that it was time for
a general shaking up.
The water" injected in the stock is
just so much fraud, and should b. squeezed
| out, and must be squeezed out if the peo-
| 10 oe +l1o o1I,r%-- ~ +n Two
We're rates of transportation based upon
actual value to day and honest manage
ment, there could be a horizontal reduc-
ton of at least 25 per e n on all classes
IF freight IN every direction,
To Reno county alone such a reduction
would save $500 0, 0 ayear. Tank of i'll
Figure it outl It is s%tupendous, but 1t is
true
Can this great wrong be righted
The WsU8 thinks it can and a recent in
terview with the leading thinkers in this
country, lawyers and statesmen, confirms
the belief. Here is the plan.
The inter state commerce law, sec. l,
page 2, says:
"Al charges made for any service rem
dered, or to be rendered in the transporta-
ton of passengers or property as afore-
said, or in connection Herewith, or for
the receiving, delivering, storing, or hand
ling of such property, shall be reasonable
and just; and every uni lst and unreason-
able charge for such service is prohibited
and decided to be unlawful"
A complaint that the present rates for
freight and passenger transportation in he
United States are unjust and unreasonable
and will be lodged soon before the Inter
State Commerce Commissioners, and they
will be asked to readjust all classes of
freight on all inter state railroads in the
United States on a oasis of &C ual value
and the best legal talent in this country
will present the matter, supported by
boards of trade, Farmers Allianc and
leading shippers al over the country.
The commission in all of its recent rul-
ing has shown plainly that it leaned to
that theory, but without a complaint it
had no power to act. But however the
Inter State Commission will decide, the
case will GO to the Supreme Court for The
final decision.
The same fight will be made in all the
States, either before the legislatures or
railroad commissioners.
1t will be the greatest battle Of the
decade, and Kansas will lead it.