Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-01-08
THE RAILROAD oUESTION

up aSd-he' IL however from Baltimore. The
Sun cannot see any need OF Congressional
legislation tOr new railroads from Washington.
or any sense in Sena,or Slerman's argument
n behalf OF The bill. The mountain has
brought forth a mouse in Senator Sherman's
speech. says the Sun ~ will not add much
10 MS reputation as a IoSician-Or statesman"
but " hen that paper undertakes to ans wer the
points Of Mr.. Sbermau's argument Il breaks
Gown As lameHtably as did the eight railroad
Presidents II their circular. d has little more
tosay than 10 repeat the parrot cry Of MARYLAND
railTCad interests, hat modern facilities of
tTan>pCTituCn and the Capacity Of private en-
teTpfISt meeta!l ;he public demands" IN regard
10 railroad wants. In view of Senator Sh.r-
man = telling indictment against MaryJaud and
he Baltimore and Ohio railroad. for their re-
@tr!otVe policy 70 the public Disadvantage, and
especially 10 theinJUry OF Washing ON, this an
S"ef OF the Sun Is worthy of tue lamsutad
hTtemus Ward. II the Saa ever Iokei, or WAS
not known as a devoted adhereut to the Mary
lana monopoly policy, We should certainly
credit 1t with uttering a very smart s.sar-
kasum, as Artemus would call IT, over the
manner in which such liberal-mInded States
as MsTyiand and New jersey, and the rail-
iOad monOpolies that run those States. and
theH newspapers. cater ." 10 meet all the public
demands III the matter OF railroad facilities
Ihe Sun mas, however, not one word of denial
defence or palliatIon of the list of specific
charges made by Senator Sherman against the
baltimore and Ohio Railroad COMPANY for
discriminating against Washington in the
matter OF freight and passenger tariffs; re-
faslng TO make connections in Baltimore North:
arranging her time tables so as to create DELAY
II Baltimore putting travellers to the West W
the inconvenience of changing cars at the Relay
nd fhr0wx
transportation of supplies to Washington,
whereby the cost of hy.ug is so greatly in
creased in Washington. Instead of meeting
these allegations, the Sun resorts to the aisin-
genuous mode Of opposing the Washington
railroad charters by reckoning them amongst
the batch OF bills for Pacific roads for which
Government subsidies are asked The Su. has
done this thing repeatedly. and yet that paper
knows perfectly well that not one dollar of
Government aid is asked IN behalf of the
roads from Washington 10 New York Pits
burg and Cincinnati.
All the people OF Washington ask from ON
gress Is simply the right to build these roads
through such hide-bound States as Maryland
and New Jersey. that have for years in the
hands of great railroad corporations, blocked
the way against the construction OF any CON-
peting lines in this direction. We are giai to
see that one Baltimore paper-the American
rising above the selfish local spirit prevailing
there, endorses the views of Senator Sherman
IN re gard 10 the advantages of the free-raIlroat
system prevailing i'll the West, and expresses
the wish that Maryland had such a system
Quite aside from any interests Washin gton has
IN the matter. II seems 10 us that MARYLAND
stands very much in her own Light by insisting
upon maintaining her present restrictive pol
ICY. She needs for the development OF her re-
sources just such a Network OF railroads AZ
have, under the operations of the free.railroad
system OF the West. caused the States of that
section TO prosper SO marvelously. And,
though the people of Maryland do not seem 4:
view II IN that way, the growth and prosperity
OF tne DISTRICT cities are as much TO the adyan-
tage OF that State as If really loo ated upon its
territory. The State of cnio, As shown by
Senator sherman, had far greater temptations
20 pursue this selfish restrictive policy than
maryland ever had. Com maading every
avenue of approach from the East to the West
Ohio might oy taxing passengers and freign
have realized enormous sums Of money! nj the
expense OF The other States and Of the trayeIiuz
public and also have cut OF competition from
Ter gram markets. she rejected this narrow.
minded policy, and not only granted railroad
chsrters wherever desired. bat finally adopted
general railroad law allowing any assoc,a.
lstions applicable to all alike. Nor was
she the sufferer by this liberal policy The re-
suit, in the words of Senator Sherman. il !:
The building OF three thousand and four
hundred miles Of road, most of which is pro.
cucIng an actual profit TO the sroekhold
eTs, and every mile OF which is O. greater
local benefit than the cost New roads are
being constructed, new competition cre.ted.
until now cities OF the smaller class build rail-
roads merely TO secure local competition An
the great lines from The Atlantic 70 the West
are now competing in the different parts OF Ohio
Tor local business. They have extended their
connecting arms in every direction" THIS Is
what the free railroad system has done for
OHIO, and 1t would do as much for MARY
land, If that State would get out OF the leading
s;rings Of Baltimore ana of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad
The New York Post thinks Senator sherman
Is seeking coed end-thar ..all he saws of the
eIorbitant profits of the existing monopolies,
and CT the necessity for new routes, is true.
ard l. as important as he makes IT, IL shows
tnat sucn monopolies must be put down: and
that trade m ust be left free create ne routes
FOR itself wherever it needs and can support
them But the Post holds that Congress
should accomplish the result desired nv a
general law forbidding any State To grant
special charters or to levy a tax upou
through traffic The Post believes that the
States, having no longer any exclusive priv
iege TO sell could get nothing IN return for its
charter, and would therefore have no motive
70 refuse Incorporation 10 any company. TINS
pan mas some good points but would NOT
remedy the evil Unfortunately the enormous
power OF the wealthy railrs1 nd monopolles that
rule so supreme in some of the smaller STATES.
sueh as New Jersey and MARYLAND. is
pretty certain 70 control affairs in those
States, whether the tax on the traffc ia
Interdicted CT rot. Does the Past douh,
for instance, that the railroad monopolv q,
New Jersey would still be able to regulate
'nlrgs" IL that State 10 The extent al least of
preventing any competing road from getting a
Charter We, IN Washington. can appreciate
from the history Of the pest what our chances
would be of getting railroad through Mary.
land under this :. hands OFF, general law sup-
gested. communication in the Balti,nora
San (wri'ten, the American says. by a member
OF the present Maryland LegisIature) agaiu.t
the ehartering OF railroads through that State
by Congress, closes with the following sig.
nifcant language:
But 1t Is evident that such Cousressiona,
legislation must stop The people are MOI
asleep. II they are quiet. They will rsnon.
strate as the man did with the bow An ms annie
Cee They will use soft words aud TUFTS OF
grass; but If no heed be taken, they Will trv
whaf virtue there Is in stones. Some railroads