Year: 1873

CHICAGO, January, 1873.


DEAR NEws:-In Gov Palmer's late


message, he argues at some length


the right OF the Legislature to limit


Railroads in their charges for carry
ing freight or passengers.


The subject has lately been agitated
in number of places, and we trust
that it will not be let alone until some
thing is done to put stop to the av-
aricious demands of these growing
and gigantic monopolics.


It is said that the leading lines in
the country are at present controlled
by five OF six men, and virtually these
few Individuals have the power to say
how much the Western farmer shall
have for his pork, wheat, OF corn, by
their power to compel him to pay just
what they please for conveying it to
market.


This city fixes the price for convey
ing passengers within the limits of
the city, and no hackman OF bus
driver dares to charge more. Has
the State no right to prevent extor-
ton ON the part OF Railway Compan-I
les, who are also common carriers by
permission?


But Gov. Palmer takes the ground
that Railway is but an improved /
highway" and that any party should
have the right to run engines and
cars thereon, under regulations made !
by the State the owners of the rail
way being entitled to reasonable tolls
for the use of their track and fixtures.
The arguments are sound, and prove
conclusively, we think, the Governors
position, that Railways are chartered
for the benefit Of the people, and not
for the enriching of few individuals
at the e.rpe'aSe of the people, and that
since the railways have made the
turnpikes, canals and rivers practic-
ally of no account in the transporta-
ton of the freight to market, it be-
comes the duty of the Legislature
to make such laws as will protect
the people from oppression.


He charges that the Railways have
set at defiance the present laws of
the State on this subject, and recon-
mends law making it the duty of the
States Attorney to prosecute them
for every violation.


There is cloud in the distance,
and although mot larger than q
mans hand, yet it will grow until it
bursts in q storm of public indigna-
ton on the heads of these Railroad
Kings, and they will find that the
''dear people" are not their servants,
but their masters


At present, these noble gentlemen
act as though they owned this coun-
Try, body and soul, and we are told,
if we murmur at their impositions,
''Well, what are you going to do
about it?"


Every year witnesses the growth of
their power. They cajole the people,
who vote city and county taxes to
build new lines Of railway, and then
these railway Storks gobble them up,
and the people find out too late, they
have been turning a grindstone."


We hope to live to see Gov. Pal
mer's recommendations carried out in
this State, and complete revolution
made in the management of Railways
in this country.


Once establish the principle that :
q Railway is public highway, and
you or I have the right to transport
ourselves or luggage over it, subject
only to the necessary regulations and
reasonable tolls, and perhaps we may
live to see the day of cheaper trans :
portation of freight and passengers ,
Till then we must ride on such trains,
and under such arbitrary rules, as
our masters choose to impose.


It is suggested by some one, that
the Government build double-track
Railway from New York to San Fran
cisco, and collect tolls as on a canal .,
Then every one who is able and wish
es to, can run his own engine, and do :
his own T. RAVELING.