The national Republican., 1869-01-08
Our Washington Correspondence.

JASCARY 7, lSdp.
THE RAILROAD SUBSIDIES QUESTION BEFORE
coSGREss.
To THE REPuBLIcAs; The recent publication
in hundreds of newspapers Originating prin.
cipally in the Washington correspondence OF
the Cincinnati Gd=stts) explanatory of the
amount and character OF Government subsi-
dies already given to railroads and those now
being sought, have rendered 1t well nigh Ger.
tain that we shall not soon have any more
such Congregational legislation. While great
good has resulted to the public from the con-
struction OF most OF the railroads so far built
through Government aid, 1t Is undoubtedly
true that immense private fortunes have been
accumulated through the control OF those sub
sidies, That feature of the results of these
grants was not designed by Congress, however
inevitable as 3 contingency OF making them II
may be.
THE RAILROADS LoBBY-wAsHBuRsE AND
GRANT TO PROVE TOO MUCH FOR THEM.
The current attacks upon the grants already
made and those sought at this time to be OBJ.
tsined from Congress, has brought hither one
of the largest and most powerful railroad lob
bies ever assembled In Washington. They
throng the lobbies Of Congress like bees
swarming. Nevertheless, their little game ap-
pears to be eFectu ally blocked for the remain.
der of the session, owing to the evident pres.
sure of the necessary business OF legislation,
tall OF which cannot possibly be disposed OF
before the 4th of March, Mr.. Washburne, of
Illinois, has gotten the whip.hand OF this and
all other rings and lobbies for the balance OF
the session. He is the implacabie foe OF their
schemes, one and all, 1t will be remembered,
and in the consider alton Of all public bills he
has virtually the preference In obtaining the
door. His fiat, at nearly all times, will per-
nit or deny the consideration Of any and all
lobby schemes. Precious little chance have
any of them under his tender mercy.
The fact that Gen. Grant Ia well known to
stand affected towards them precisely as Mr.
Washburne stands makes the railroad lobby
doubly anxious to press their several schemes
just now as when Grant may be inaugurated
he will back Washburnes opposition to them
with all the power, with Congress, to grow
out Of his control of the executive branch OF
the GoveEnment. They-the railroad lobby
fear Washburne, but they dread Grant more.
NEITHER SUBSIDIES NOR LAND GRANTS ASKED
FOR RAILROADS FROM wAsHISGToN.
II Is worthy Of note that the projects for
charters for railroads centering 10 Washing
ton embraced in Senator Sherman's bill have
no connection whatever with the schemes or
operations of the lobby None OF them con.
template or request the appropriation of a
dollar oil subsidy, elthef IN bonds or public do
main, from the national Treasury. They sim.
ply ask the right to construct the roads with
private and muuicipsl capital, which will be
forthcoming the moment Congress grants the
necessary authority to construct the works.
PRooF OF PTHEREADISKss or PRIVATE CAPITAL
TO BUILD THs WASHINGTON RAILROADS
The very best answer to the taunt of the
president of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
concerning Washington's inability and indis-
position to furnish the means to build the
railroads, charters for which she asks, is the
speed and vim with which all the roads now
engaged In efforts to defeat Senator Sherman's
bill have formed their combination. II Presl.
dent Garrett and his cO-conspirators against
the extension Of railroad facilities In this sec.
ton Pdri paSSu with the growth Of necessity
Tor them believed what they say on that head
they would have given themselves no concern
whatever on account OF the Introduction Of
the Sherm'u measure. The truth Ia, they
know iulI well that the moment fair charters
are granted 'HthoH2tni the construction Of
the works the capital will come forward to
that endi that there viii be such a scramble
for the stocks on the part Of capitalists from
Maine to the Potomac as has lneyer vet been
seen for the stock OF any series OF new AmerI
can railroads.