The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-11-17
FARMERS AND RAILROADS.
A Sensible Discussion ut the rational

A Sensible Discussion at the rational
Congress.
SEDALLA, Mo, Nov. lin the Ma
ti0nal Farmers Congress to-day Con-
gresham John r.. Heard, of Missouri,
delivered an address on railway trans
portation, which, he said, was a subject
of supremeimportance to the farmer.
One Of the solutions was found il
State railway commissions. Missouri
had been among the first of the States
todeal with the question that way, and
MlssourIs experience showed that the
method had been successful. Another
method of controlling a railroad cor
poration In the interests OF the people
was through the national railway COM
mission. Some professed to believe
that a railroad should be placed under
Government management. Govern
ment r%ailroading, he believed, would be
q gigantic failure. In the first place
the Government would have to buy the
railroads, and that would cost $1,000
100000. That would be impossible and
impracticublc, because there was in cir
~culation only $500, 100000.
III. &. Brown, of Georgia, endorsed
everything that he had heard said.
Georgia, he said, had tried State owner
ship OF railways. Georgia owned the
Western andlAtlantic Railways. Under
State control the rates were high, the
service was bad and deficits were ex-
traordinary. The State found that it
had been too expensive to run it's w
railway, and the line was leased to pri-
yate individuals. Under private con-
troll the road charged cheaper rates,
gave better service, paid a rental Of
$1,000 a month and made money for
tho lessees.
Resolutions were introduced recon-
mending that the President Of the
United States and United States Sena-
tors be elected by a direct popular vote;
demanding an extension of the signal
service reports issued by the agricul-
tural department; requesting the Fed
eral Government to aid the States in
irrigation of arid lan3s. The resolu-
tons were all adopted with the excep-
ton of the latter, which the Congress
defeated by Al to II.
A resolution asking Congress 10 i'm
prove the harbOr at Savannah was
loudly applauded and unanimously
adopted.
The committee On iinauct presented
y report requesting the various State
Legislatures to make appropriations
Tor the expenses of States delegations
TO future congresses of this character
in order that each State may have full
and proper representation. The report
was adopted.
The administration of the depart
ment of agriculture by Secretary Rusk
was highly commended III the resolu-
tion. The following additional resolu-
tons were also adopted: Requesting
the Secretary OF Agriculture to Increase
the number OF representatives in for
eign countries to push the work of in
Producing American corn as food, be-
lievipg that marked success in that
direction attained already is warranted
for such a request, and requesting Con-
gress to appropriate sufficiently to cover
The expenses Of this increased represent
tation abroad; demanding a systematic
and thorough Improvement by the Fed
eral Government Of the waterways and
harbors of the United States; request
ing the extension Of the free delivery
of the mails among farmers; demanding
the control of all trust and monopolies,
SO that they shall work no harm to the
people.