The New York herald., 1869-03-03
BELGIUM.

The New Law on Belgium Railroads.
The Independence Beige Of February IA gives the
following resume OF the proceedings Of the Chamber
and the thesis OF the honorable Minister Of Finance
Railroads form new power, the entire force OF
which Is not yes known, and the laws that must
govern this wonderful instrument are far from being
discovered. In Eng and and In the United States,
railroad companies guided by the idea that the laws
OF competition, IN such matters, would give rise to
the same results as III Others soon became evident
that In railroad operations competition had no effect
and that scarcely Organized it disappeared aud
gave place TO much more fertile coalitions that COM
Piled with private Interests TO the detriment OF the
public. Consequently the advantages at first granted
70 concessionafy railroad companies were soon re-
trenched in those countries The frequent shiftngs
OF public authorities, who often change their ideas
and modify their decisions respecting railroads.
must therefore not be wondered at. In Belgium,
therefore, alter having retained the right TO author
lie The Concession OF rauroads conceded OF late
concessions and alBalgamations have been favored.
The Minister dld not pretend TO dissimulate the
terday and the roya. decree OF August 26. 1894 but
he excuses t two considerations; firstly, that In
reference to railroads we are merely Us yet expert
meDtalIzlng; seconay, tnas the decree OF 1854 was
merely a m0ulentary AMI revocaDle tolerance and
not the alienation Of an imprescriptbe and nalien-
able right
The same paper In Its edition Of the 10th ult men
tions:1he intervention OF the French press renders
our position rather embarrassing. The reflections
suggested by IT, the project OF law voted by the
ChamDre, the discussion 10 whicn it gave rise anu
above all, the explanations rendered by the CneI oI
the Cabinet, wouio almost induce us TO hesitate IN
Keeping our PROMISE TO our readers did we not con-
slider IL our duty TO defend our ideas IN every sense
and 10 combat all measures that we consider op-
posed to the rules ol justice and equity.
The Paris press, according 10 It's wont, mas ONLY
once more proved how little II knows Of what passes
In our country, aud peciay the offciai journals
show suca nnie ignorance on that score that IL Id
even doubtful whether their assertions will be
credited even In france. According to them the
law submitting the concession OF conceded rail-
roads the authorization OF government Is merely
an indication of the increasing influence OF Prussia
nm the future OF Bel gum. Iney therefore recocct
that the brother VI king Leopold, the Count OF
planders married Princess Of the house OF
H0hepzoilern, and they already see our national
army transformed nto the audnt gdrde OF the Prus-
On the moment the order ls gwen In Berlin All
this is absurd ridiculous aud Rr0tesque, even more
a. fan the terrors inspired 10 some Of country
men nv tire prospect o the subsection OF Belgium to
France by the concession Of the Luxemburg Railroad
to the French Compagne de y Est. This only proves
That nowhere is there anythlng IKE weak.eyedness
10 falalfy IDEAS and blind the innd, anu although W.
viii use our utmost endeavor to cure tue snort sghed
ness OF the Begafs, we snail most aeciueuiy no
stteunt Ia excuse tho absurdites OF that OF tn'
rs.ncb IL ts evident that Prussia 10 altogether ou
"a tha ,ueaton and the error OF our brother writer
sn paris n proved by these two facts:-tirstly ina
the concession OF the Luxemburg Railroad 70 tn
FRENCH Comparnie de I'Est, IL merely tne origin 0
rather the pree xt the law; furtner nat sne rea
object OF that law is not much 70 prevens TUE l
staiation o. foreign companies on Belgian IhnIoau
"a il Ia to place an obstacle 70 the concession
fusion OF conceded lines In the lnterior VI ~
country.