204 THE GRANGER MOVEMENT 



for a law establishing maximum rates, but at the same time 

 committees were appointed to secure reduced rates by negotiat- 

 ing with the railroads and by contracting to give all business 

 of Grangers to certain lines, 1 a treating with the enemy which 

 would not have been countenanced by the northwestern granges 

 for a moment. In Virginia and Tennessee, likewise, the state 

 granges were interested in efforts to secure reduced rates by 

 negotiations with the companies; but the Virginia Grange 

 appointed a committee in 1874 to memorialize the legislature 

 for a law prohibiting free passes. 2 The next year the Virginia 

 legislature did pass an act designed to prevent discrimination 

 in charges, but this was superseded in 1877 by the establishment 

 of a commission of the Massachusetts type with supervisory 

 and advisory powers. 3 The state grange of South Carolina 

 appealed to the legislature in 1877 and 1878 for laws to prevent 

 discrimination and other evils in railroad management. A 

 conservative law, but one which was approved by the officials 

 of the grange, was enacted in i878. 4 The influence of the Patrons 

 may also have been a factor in securing the more radical restric- 

 tive legislation of i88i. 5 In Kentucky and Tennessee, also, 

 the agitation of the neighboring states was reflected in attempts 

 to enact radical railroad laws about 1875, and the Grangers 

 seem to have taken part in these to some extent, but no legisla- 

 tion was secured in either state during the decade. 6 



As a result of this survey of state legislation for the control 

 of railroads during the decade of the seventies it is evident 

 that the Granger movement was a considerable factor in pro- 

 curing and shaping the course of this legislation in a large number 

 of states, while its indirect influence can be traced in the railroad 



1 Arkansas State Grange, Proceedings, v. 15, 24 (1875). 



2 Virginia State Grange, Proceedings, Special session, 24, 34 (1874); Tennessee 

 State Grange, Proceedings, ii. 39 (1875). 



8 Wisconsin Railroad Commission, Reports, 1875, P- 39> Cullom Committee, 

 Report, \. 132-134. 



4 South Carolina State Grange, Minute Book (Ms.), 75, 88, 100. 



6 Cullom Committee, Report, i. 125. 



8 Tennessee State Grange, Proceedings, ii. 31, 39, 48, 57, 61, 62, 66 (February, 

 1875); Wisconsin Railroad Commission, Reports, 1875, P- 4> Cullom Committee, 

 Report, i. 107, 127. 



