The Union and journal., 1869-12-17

aristocracy in proportion rs IL is wealthy.
By the net granting such corporate power
rs il may possess, the legislature Chat is,
the people) have given away something
which was formerly held in common
have parted with power which many held,
and which the few now possess. The on
ly inducements which, according to our
theory OF government previously stated.
could be equivalent to such loss of power,
must be found in better development OF
our resources in enterprise, talent, and in
dustry, just as the nation gives money and
lands to build the Pacific railroad, or the
State parts with her public lands to endow
colleges and the like. The wise legisla-
tor will keenly sift every scheme asking
/ for corporate powers until he is satisfied
that the public will reap an equivalent for
parting with its franchise.
/ When the subject of consolidation comes
up 1t will be necessary to look at the in
terests of one party only; for. that It will
benefit the stockholders ofthe roads. every
one admits, else those stockholders would
not desire change. We have thus dis
posed of the interests of the railroad. and
|, we need only to look at its effects upon the
people. ..-.r ..tr...r
II will cost no less to run, equip, repair,
or maintain the railroads Of this State un-
der the proposed change than Il does un-
der the present condition. There will be
no more passengers pass over the road,
nor will there be any more frcights. 1t
is a matter of some curiosity, then. To
know why the stockholders desire to con-
solidate. Lctus suppose acase. The law
obligcs tho Maine Central to transport
from Kendall's Mills (the junction) TO Ban
gor the through passengers between Port
land and Bangor who goby the kennebec
route. rs cheaply as It does passengers
who trayelall the way by its own route:
or. in other words, 1t forbids any railroad
in this State to discriminate between its
own freight and passengers and the pas
sengers and freight over any other connect
in: road. Under the present manage
nicnt ifthe Central should double its tar
i'll. the Kennebec would get all the through
travel and freight, and all the Central
would gain for its loss in that direction,
would be the tariff on the short portion
between Kendail's Mills and Bangor
therefore, with the competing road it new
er will be done. But suppose You consol-
'itiatc the two roads, that Is, make the In
terests of one road that Of the other, and
when the Central raises It's tariff the Ken
nebcc does the same, since the revenues
are in common. ..g .s... ..r
We are met with the immediate reply,
that the legislature can and will retain
control over the tariff of prices. Were
we not familiar with some Of the iniluenc-
es which make and unmakc laws, and did
we believe the Legislature past or to be,
as incorruptible rs the member from
Punkinvillo always supposes 1t to he when
he first takes his seat, we might think
that the reply was well given. But the
h.ct, disconsolate rs II is, starcs us in the
face, that the election of man TO tho
Great and General Court, does not make !
him an angel and hardly makes him q
saint. Doodle is just rs weak and shallow
when he takes his seat in the House and
sits down to open his box oftrinkets given
him by the very gentlemanly clerk in the
passage, who, he is sure recognizes in him
the leading mind in the Legislature; or
when tho session closes he remarks to his |
wife that there never was so much assem-
bled wisdom before Mt Augusta, and he
doubts If there ever viii be again, rs
when he measured cambric or ribbon be-
hind his own counter. So is Noodle. SO
Is Etz Poodle. .. ..r... ... .f.. ..
The legislature directly cnacts the laws;
but outside pressure indirectly enacts
more laws than is commonly under
stood. In granting an act ofconsolidation
the legislature viii regulate the tariff of
prices /; but il the tariff does not suit, we
fear so large and powerful corporate
monopoly would find II an easy matter to
elect majority of any Legislature favor
able TO its interests, whenever il should
exert its vast resources more powerful
than the legislature itself. We have in
our mind Camden and Amboy, and the
Baltimore and Ohio railroads and other
tIyant monopolics, and desire them to be
created rs infrequently rs possible.