Evening star., 1896-11-19
1np0rtanbBg . ta.nbBgA Matter ! Considered by the
n 5N'aatjASnal Grange.
REPoREoH9RANsPoRqAHIoN
A Subject Of. Local interest Re-
ce;ves Attention. =,
THE MORNING SION

resolution by Mr.. Wilson of Mississippi to
print 5000 copies of the executive commit
tees report, and amended by Mr.. Horton.
directing the executive committee to print
In leahet form lal Of the general reports,
wac adopted
On motion Of Mr.. Cox. 6.OOO copies Of the
proceedings were ordered to be printed
Mr.. Wiggin, from the committee on reso-
lutions. reported favorably resolution OF
Mr.. Judson to appoint special committee
to investigate the rumors concerning the
Grange Camp Association. and report to
the next session Of the National Grange.
Mr.. Wedderburn moved the adoption of
the resolution, and asked immediate ac-
tion.
Mr.. Rhone opposed adopting the resolu-
tion. saying 1t was not within the jurisdic-
ton of the grange.
Mr.. Weederburn interrupted the speaker,
and urged the grange to adopt the resolu-
ton In justice to himself and as 1raternai
act. He was ready to meet his accusers.
and preferred to do SO rather than submit
longer to slurs innuendoes and frresponsi-
BILE newspaper paragraphs. He asked it in
behalf OF his grange, as well as hiHiseii'
and asserted that he was ready at once 10
meet the matter, and would nave hlmseil
offered a resolution to investigate. Wni:n
he had prepared in the first days OF the
session. except for the urgent opposition VI
grange and other friends
Mr.. Rhone continued his opposition 10 the
adoption of the resolution. and Mr. Judson
disclaimed making any charges ana ohiy
desired to understand the matter
Mr.. Smith said the matter should DE IN.
vestigated without regard to any personal
feeling and the grange should thoroughly
understand this question.
Mr.. Devries supported the notion and
said he believed 1t was right that the
representative from Virginia had to de-
mand at the hands, Of the grange, and he
was glad to see that Mr.. Wedderburn
courted the fullest investigation '..-
After some further debate the report was
adopted. E -" MA '"' .''-'f :
An Exhaustive Report.
Mr.. Virgins submitted his general re-
port. which was elaborate and fully COW
cred the verious subjects. 1t recommended
stable currency, equal protection for the
farmer. pure food legislation. free rural
mail delivery and alluded to the value Of
the experimental stations and agricultural
colleges: expressed sympathy with Cuba,
and stated that the grange would howl
with Joy the settlement of the vexed ques-
tions between England and America. 1t
favored arbitration whenever 1t can be
resorted to WITHOUT sacrifice of honor. 1t
Congratulated the grange that poll. .ical DIFF
ferences dnd heated contests had made no
difference in the fraternal feeling of .he
order. and ended by pledging the united
supporter the order to the country and the
ft &.
Mr.. Hillery offered an amendment recon-
mending that United States Senator's be
elected by the people, which was accepted
by the chairman. and the report was
adopted without division. --'t.- ''l 80 .s'
Mr. Mefsick delivered an able and ex-
haustive report from the committee on
transportation, which was adopte6 IT
was as follows:
The commit tee realized that a comprehen-
sive report of what are actual abuses and
what inherent conditions which must be
borne, would involve months of study and
investigation. They can do little more than
call attention to some clearly needed trans
portation reforms A result of the deyel-
opment OF railways In this country into a
system of about 10000 miles is that trade
and commerce are no longer limited to cir
cumscribed areas: commercial bargains in
yolyiDg the transportation of commodities
over the longest distances take place daily,
and almost every article produced meets In
the market town competing product of
| another region. The influence of railway
charges upon the profits of producers. ship
pers or dealers has become so great that a
difference in rate upon staple products, Of
ten no greater and sometimes less than
one cent per hundred pounds, may ma
| terially effect the business of entire COM
munities. This accounts for the ever-in-
creasing demand in all sections Of the
| country for more efficient public control
| Adequate railroad facilities. including fair
| ly adjusted charges. constitutes the life
| blood Of husbandry and all other indus
|
abuses should be purged from railway
| management.
| After quoting statistics showing the con-
! dition of the railroads of the country. the
| report went on to say that If. as is true. the
| successful maintenance and operation of
| the railways Is Indispensable to the pub
| lie, 1t is 20 less so that 1t Is necessary to
have such legislation at the hands of Con-
gresS as will prevent wreckfng of railway
properties and consequent insistance of in
! creased rates because of such disasters.
| Condition of the Ronds.
| 1t is an unar swerable argument that
| when a large percentage Of these corpora
| tions demonstrate their incapacity to man.
age their financial affairs, they advertise
| their unfitness to properly regulate charges
| for use of highways built and supposed to
be operated in public interests.
| Reports of the interstate commerce COM
| mission for the past ten years show a con-
| tinuous struggle between the railways and
commission, the railways exhausting all
possible means to evade the just regula-
| ticns Of the commission, prompted thereto
by the unconscionable demands of the COM
bir ations Of capital usually called trusts.
| A now common practice of the railroad
companies Is to control. largely by owner
| ship, of mines, the shipment and prices OF
| coal. The varying systems of elevator
| charges, manipulation of rates through the
milling in transit privilege cutting OF
| export rates. so that the middle man OF
| buyer can ship from interior to seaboard
| cheaper than the producer the unintellf.
| gibility of rate sheets posted at railway
| stations, puzzling even to railway experts
| and many other devices Of the same char.
| acter, are among present transportation
| evils that give favored individuals unjust
| advantages.
| 1t is as true now as In the past that II
| allowed the exercise Of their unrestrained
| power to give or withhold rates. the rail.
| ways can advance or retard, and sometimes
! destroy, the property of localities
| Your committee, after due examination
! believe the following amendments to the
| Interstate commerce law are indispensable
| to the W6lfare of farmers and the public
| generally, and would also benefit, rather
than injure, the carriers.
| l. That the procedure In the courts to en-.
| force the orders of the commission, which
| may have been disobeyed by the commits
| sic ners, should be confined to the record
| made up>of the testimony taken and pro-
ceedings had before the commission, and
| the order of t1se commission should be en-.
| forced unless the court shall find in such
| testimony and proceedings some material
error prejudicial to the carrier. which fur
nishes sufficiept reason for refusing to en-
2That the commissioners should have pow.
er to require after investigation and In.
tquiry, that the rates, facilities or practices
| involved in the case shall be changed modi
flied, or corrected as specified in the order
| so that when the commission has deter.
mined what is unlawful it shall be It's duty
to prescribe what is lawful in respect te