Nebraska palladium. [volume] (Bellevieu City, Neb.) 1854-1855, 1855-02-28
CORPORATIONS.

NN&A VI hA4SNb.
No inconsiderable portion ~ the pres
ent session Of our Territorial Legislature
has been spent in creating corporations
This has been done, Notwithstanding the
democratic creed denies the doctrine Of
chartered rights and exclusive priyi-
leges," and in theory, maintains the doc
irine Of equal rights.
We say that a large portion Of the pres
ent session has been spent in The creation
of paltry corporations, and petty monopo-
les, which enable a few individuals TO bar
away the public from privileges 10 which
they are inherently entitled, and have a.
good a right 10 exercise (if the doctrine
Of democracy be true, } as those whom he
law says shall have the exclusive right.
The liberaity Of the Legislature has been
most profuse in granting exclusive priv
ileges TO individuals and companies. In
proof OF this look at the single item Of
ferries" We cannot now recall the ex-
set number already granled-they are
quite numerous, however, particularly
along the Missouri river. "Paper towns"
are pretty thiokly established up and down
the river, nearly tho whole length Of ihe
Territory: Every one of these towns
want a ferry, and many of them more
than one. Charters have been called for
AT nearly every place, and about as freely
granted as asked for. Not content, how
ever, with the establishment Of a corpora
tiOn for each of the places referred toe.
We notice one Of a broader character, de-
signed 10 cover the whole extent Of the
river from one end of the Territory to the
other, no, already covered by other char
tiers.
Numerous charters have been procured
by companies or individuals for ferry priv
ileges in different portions Of the Terrific
~, where there are no settlements, nor
any likelihood of their being any for years
TO come.
The enquiry arises, why have so many
special privileges been granted? We pre-
sumo most OF these charters have been
procured for no other purpose than spec
ululion. A charter when cnce obtained
gives the possessor the power Of making
something of Of the public. or of Of indi-
Niduals, without having made the least ex-
~penditure for the benefit Of either.
We see 10 valid reason why every i'm
'ginary ferry privilege in the Territory
should be covered by chartered rights.
When the country becomes settled, many
ferries may be needed that are not now.
Why establish ferries with chartered
rights, before they are called for by the
necessities of the community? Where
there are no settlements, and no travel,
no reason exists for the establishment Of a
ferry at all, and none should be esublish-
ed for the prospective benefit of any class
Of individuals, in advance Of the public
wants.
A large majority Of the members Of The
Legislature claim TO be the disciples OF
democracy, and yet, wehave never known
an instance where the zeal Of a wing leg
islature, lead it 10 bestow charters with
that degree Of hbcraliiy which our legis-
Isture have manifested in its creations Of
m~onopolies. We Look upon this charter
making spirit as democratic heresy Of the
vilest kind, and more becoming wing fai,h
Than democratic practice. If wing prin-
ciples are the best for the p~ractic~ Of dem
oerats. in other words, for adoption in
practice, we have no objection 70 them
providing the theoryis adopted alcng with
the practice. We ike 10 SCI, consistency
enough 10 produce a correspondence be-
tween party theory and praeice, st them
be what they may.
The democratic theory says, avoid spec
ial legislaiion-shun monopclies. The
policy Of the legislature appears 10 have
been to cover as large an amount Of both
land and water, with chartered privileges,
rs possible. This has been done by the
establishment Of numerous ferries on The
Missouri, Platte, Elk Horn, Loup Fork
md ether streams, beside numerous town.