New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-06
SpECTAL LEGISLATION.
ttior OF The Tribune.

TO the Edttor OF The Tribune.
SIR: Among the most pOrtentous evils which
threaten the permanenco OF our republican institutions
is legislative corruption connected with the overSrowth
OF chartered corporations That the Legislatures OF GER
tain States are VIGOROUSLY manipulated in tho interest
of great railway companies Il matter OF very serious
concerns and IL simply adds to tho gravity OF the case
that one OF these States has been in this condition Tor
quarter OF q century. Tho disgrace into which our own
legislators fell whilo the Eric robbers held sway and
the present degradation OF tho wgiycrs OF NewJersey
at tho hands tho railroad lobby laid bare by tho
correspondent OF THE TRIBUNE arc extreme instances;
but Pennsylvania and OF the reconstructed States
are hut little behindhand "a TO that bad cmnencc and
the recent rapid growth OF few railroad companies
attained by absorbing others, adds TO tho occasion Tor
anxiety. II is however, when tho lobby In tho Interest
OF wealthy corporations establishes itself III tho capital
OF tho nation that there Is the most imminent peril
This is widely recognized Scarcely day passes that
THE TRIBUNE does not receive letters invoking us ad
against aggressive monopolies There Is condition OF
positive alarm throughout tho country the subject OF
land grants winch tho manifest benefit these nave
conferred the regions developed by the railroads re-
ceiyng them does not to dspel. Curb, control
these corporations urge. Western farmers demand
legislative restriction upon tho reights charged for
transporting their produce. 1t Is but few days ago
that great cutlery went up because asst interest In
which this city deeply concerned was throttled by
chartered monopoly. Throughout tho country Mt pc
RODS like the present. and at all times at tho West men
bitterly complaining OF high rates OF interest," ana
Of the continual failure OF the banks under the present
system to supply money TO important enterprises ofer-
Ing abundant security.
There is one method OF meeting all these dangers, all
these expressions These tho fruits OF special legis-
laoD Lay the at the root of tho tree. The charter
that gives TO corporation, at the hands Of gisiauro
or OF Congress, rights from which all other people Vi
State or the United States declared, Is not repuo
lican. This Is In another form practice belonging 10
feuda to Asatic despotsm; nay, IL is Just so much
worse than the farming out by the State to half dozen
favored individuals Ut the right to carry on certain
kinds OF business inasmuch that is made to Yield
some income to the state. whc usually tne caar. ar
national revenue. n to be thoroughly opposed 10 tho
spirit Of American institutions Is 10 be
abolition Of special legislation has made feature
OF State Constitution, the air or legislative hS s
almost ceased to be contaminated by corruption Tue
adoption OF this principle In the Constitution OF LIMOS
last year had the effect OF entirely dispensing .e
applied TO all great interests. In the case OF roaus'
when any company can organize and pooeedh 70 r0e
Impossible. In Pennsylvania, the passag' OF s
Pipe b giving tho same opportunity 20 az was .no
nrst effective check to tho career OF the south
ment Company itself chartered monopoly. s
BS more Parsaary IN Congress, lot rsa naV Of %t
Ing the number OF corporations that may publish n S,
papers, or OF fire Insurance companies mat eac o.ac
national banks or of the amount their Issues while
they deposit abundant security To every
whether II asks for land grant subsidy Ior ca,iyns
malls The privilege OF dropping cable lroi gu, an
or inc permission TO establish bank OF u,scounJ an
issue, let our reply be tho same. Genera nws' sNns
the same privileges TO all upon duo orgnlLa,o ,ti
ing proper deposit OF security or otherwise Piooo,"s
the puiic, must servo charters. Then, won,
corporation lays too heavy load upon inc no S
of commerce or the products OF labor IL y DO sure "
arouse competitor, ready aud anxious to hit inc W
keo York, April IS, 1872. w C. W.
1.-THE above is partly right and partly wrong.
A general law whereby railroads through tho
Public Domain should BIO entitled to 30 many
acres of land for every milo of completed
track, might be Objectionable, though its adj