The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-16


secret rates accorded far below the
standard Of published charges. The gen.
eral public gets little benefit from these
reductions, for concessions are mainly
confined to the heavier shippers. All
this augments the advantages Of large
capital. and tends to the injury and
often the ruin Of smaller dealers. These
are not only matters of the gravest con-
sequence to the business welfare Of the
country. but they concern in no less
degree the higher interests Of public
morality.
/" The conditions now widely prevail
ing cannot be better illustrated than by
reference to Investigations of the conf
mission during the last year. These are
not isolated and exceptional cases; their
counterpart may be found in many 10
calities The facts thus brought to light
carry Their own comment, and nothing
said by US can add to their significance.
And again, the commission in the
same report said:,
" Every consideration of private
justice and public welfare demands that
railway rates should be reasonable
uniform to all shippers and equitable
between all communities. Until need
ed legislation is supplied that demand
must remain unsatistied and the COM
mission must continue to rest under the
responsibility of duty which it is pow
erless to discharge
LAS the law creating the Interstate
| Commission was largely secured by the
| influence of our. order, the important
facts disclosed indicate the wisdom Oh
| the order and the necessity for such
commission and for further Legislation
If the railways OF the country were
properly and fairly managed, the people
would have equal opportunity to com
pete for business, but as conducted tue
railways are main support of trusts
"Our vast sea coast, our river navi-
CATION and our great lakes have in ser
vice documented and undocumented
vessels exceeding eight millions of tom
mage Nearly four millions Of this ton
mage is in service on the Mississippi
River and it's tributaries. On the great
chain of lakes extending from Mime
sofa to New York State sail more ships
than enter the port of Liverpool or
London More than double the freight
passes through Sault Ste Marie in eight
months than passes through the great
|
OOO,O tons of freight passed through
Sault Ste. Marie.
Our coastwise traffic is of the same
gigantic proportions 1t has been dem
onstrated that water transportation is
much cheaper than by rail. On long
distances freight can be carried by
steam for ene-quarter, and by sail for
one-seventh the cost by rail. In view
l DOR
favor the improvement of our harbors
on sea and lake and keep our rivers
| free from all distractions that interfere
with navigation? Our rivers and lakes
are worth billions of dollars to the
American people.
81 recommend that our order favor
and insist upon the construction by the
United States of ship canal from the
Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, and
also deep waterway connecting the
Mississippi River route with the Great
Lakes. These great arteries of COM
merce would be worth to the American
people many times. their cost, and
would afford the cheapest transporta-
ton known, and would be a wholesome
check on railway charges. Such water
ways would save to the farmers over
SZOU,UOC,UUV year.
1.-The construction of the Nicaragua
Canal by the United States would bring
San Francisco the Columbia River,
Puget Sound and all seaport towns on
our Pacific Coast line 10000 miles
nearer by water to all our cities on the
Atlantic Coast and Gulf of Mexico, and
the deep waterway connecting the Mis-
sissippi River, Great Lakes and At
lantic Ocean would enable boats to de-
liver cargoes from our Pacific Coast
to river and lake ports and all along
| the line of the ship canal
II recommend that the National
Grange continue to press their demands
for appropriate legislation on the fol-
lowing important matters:
'F'irst-Free delivery of mail in the
rural districts; and that the service be
| placed on the same permanent footing
as the delivery of mail in the cities
and that the appropriation therefor be
commensurate with the benefits and de-
| mands for the service.
| Second-Providing for postal savings
pankss -sasssa9sss 80.
| Third-Submit an amendment to the
Constitution providing for the election
of United States Senators by direct
| vote of the people. II
| Notwithstanding the powers and
duties of thesInterstate Commerce CONF
mission, giving them and charging
them with the duty'of fixing maximum
rates of fare and freight on all inter-
/ state railways.
| Notwithstanding use of shoddy.
Sixth-Enact pure food law.
'Seventh-Providing for the extension
OF the market for farm products, max
Ing 1t the duty of the United States
Consuls to aid In the extending of mar
kets for farm products as for manu-
featured articles.
"Eighth-The enactment of an anti
trust law clearly defining what acts
on the part of any corporation would be
against public policy. <
Ninth-The speedy construction of
the Nicaragua Canal by the United
| States.
Ienth-The speedy construction of
a snip canal connecting the Mississippi
Hiver with the Great Lakes and tha
great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean.
| Eieventh-Revising the fees and SAL
aries OF all Federal officers and placing
them on basis of similar service in
private business.
we also recommend to the several
state Oranges that thew urea ~, +ho;.