The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-09-01
o. r. 8 n. FREIGHT RATES.

cation to the business manager.
o. r. 4 n. FREIGHT RATES.
The East oregonian says:
It Is plain to be seen that much
more OF the wheat Of the Inland En-
pire viii so down the Columbia river
route to the sea in future than in the
past TO the advantage OF Portland and
the encouragement OF the opening OF
the Snake and Columbia to free navi-
cation. from Lewiston to Astoria.
Now. II Astoria win cease its grumb-
ling at Portland. and cease putting its
faith in bonuses and land speculation.
and take held OF the open river Ques-
tion with vim and vigor and never stop
until there is an open river, and with
some one 20 represent the people Of the
second district in congress instead Of
politician OF the peanut. ofiiee-jug-
Cling variety. who had the office thrust
upon him because he could be in
fiuenced and controlled. the prospects
Of the entire section east Of the Cas-
cades will be Frightened and the coun-
try developed and inhabited by
thousands 10 hundreds that prosper
here at the present time. When there
is an open river. no agreement that the
railroads can enter into can hinder
development or retand settlement.
Until an open river is secured the peo-
pie win be, comparatively speaking,
subject to the whims and dictation, and
sometimes the greed. of those who
make profession Of manipulating rail-
road stocks and bonds in Wall street
There is no reason why the PEOPLE in
Eas ern Oregon should be subject to
the dictation or greed Of wall street
railroad manipulators. The East Ore
gOnian knows well enough that the
remedy for the present oppressive
rates charged by the railroad eombIna-
tiOn for the down grade haul on the
o. r, &N.-7s fi7~the peoples hands and
can be applied whenever they wish.
Let the legislature Of Oregon force the 1
o. r. q N. out of the alliances that /
now holds up its rates to the Puget
sound mountain standard. In other
words. let US have in Oregon, for the
benefit not alone OF the producers OF
Oregon but Of the whole Northwest. =
Columbia river down-grade standard
Of freight rates. Let the freight rates
Of ''0regon's" road be fixed at point
which viii leave a fair return on the
money invested, with the cost OF oper-
alton. and yet give the dwellers in the
Columbian basin the rightful advan-
tages Of their location and nesrness 10
natural markets. There is no section
OF the country where the people can so
easily protect themselves from the un-
just exactions OF transportation mo-
noply as in the Northwest. The o. r
& N. is the key that regulates the
whole rate situation, and the people
have control Of that key. Let the peo-
pie apply that key-not maliclously
nor in a spirit OF persecution. but ju-
diciously and fairly, as their just de-
fense against the "manipulations" Of
which the East oregonian complains
AS 1t is now. the farmers Of Eastern
Oregon are oppressed by a standard Of
freight rates based upon the mainte-
nance and operation OF the mountain
grades into Puget sound, instead Of
the water level grades leading to the
natural outlet OF the Columbian basin.
II the East oregonian and other papers
Of that section would take up this
question the railroad combination could
be brought to time without waiting
for a session OF the legislature. It
would be to the interest OF the combl-
nation to make any reasonable conces-
sion to the Columbian basin people, {
rather than force resort to legislation.
not stand an honest legislative investi-
cation. The producers of the Colum- /
bian basin are contributing interest on
many millions Of investments which
should be taxed against the people Of