Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1872-01-31
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

SuCil Is TIC iiotto lhsSbipSu wv"
arms of the State of Missouri, and
such is the sentiment that should per-
wade the mind. OF her legislators. No
one who has carefully considered the
the curse of events for the last seven
wears, can fail to discover 4 danger
that has been increasing with acceler-
atcd force. | meal the danger of con-
ccntratcd power and influence in the
hand, of corporations, chief among
which are railroad companies.
Capital Invested III railroads is
FESTIVE and aggressive, and has five
times the influence upon the affairs oi
the State and nation that the same
amount invested in land or other
property can exert. 1t is organized.
concentrated. has Il common interest.
an,i effects every public enterprise,
while other capital. with small cX-
ccpiion, is Dispersed I'VE til: country
and controlled by private, diversified
interests. The danger j., that this
immense influence viii Si"Zc upon
and control legislation. 1t even now
! boasts 10 WELD Il balance of power
in this STATE. and claims to control
fifty thousand votes. Fin 50 short a
time th;, power has grown 50 great,
whrt may wy mot cvl.rri in the newt
Twenty-Five years! Had this capital
been brought into the country and 80
= invested. orr accumulated wealf in
3 other RESPECTS, lairht in ono mca
urr offset the ii; but unfortunately
t:hi> j. not the case. The money noe
c~>ary to prepare the road bed ready
for the iron. is invariably subscribed
by the county through which the road
i built. which subscription is paid
hy Il tax levied upon the people. and
III" br.l 81 prepared i mnr;gam"l
for the iron. Under lirs"circumstan-
&c. il i not strange that any public
subscription always amounts to Il
free &ii, To the railroad company. So
il happen, HAT all other property i
taxed to build up Il corporation that
finally gets complete control oven it
all. | would not have il Inferred from
what ! have said. that | am opposed
T.. railroads. Far from it. | am iLllv
aware If the increased material AL
vaa'n@"s they bring. ! believe that
it IS bad policy. and avioiation "ruur
thcory of government to raise II
subscriptions to any enterprise by
taxation. hut So long a> the conStl-
tuition of cur State remains UNI
amended, this evil will exist. But
orr legislature might. by wise lr"i>la-
iio:,. do much to mitigate its cnormi-
~. y law. for instance. might be
PASSED making public subscription,
to railroads Il first lien upon it and
all ilXturr- aiirrwarl attached. This
would not claharra>s Il real mrri-
lnriou- enterprise. but would %cflcrtu-
ally >to,, al wild eat" schemes. got
ten MP for mere speculative purposes.
and wuul,l secure Il repayment OF the
subs r!ptiou "r 4 participation in the
profits Of the investment to those
most deserving. Although | was b.
tore convinced of the great and dam
~crouS influence these immense cor
rurutiou, must exert in the land. vet
Il few days stay ut the Capitol has
shown that its magnitude has been
greatly undcrc.timatcd. The Lc"is-
!aturc III lis wi.horn must devise
some means TO check it. The people
must be Informed and walked up to
it, Importance. and insist upon some
thing being done for their safety. ]
! call urun all ui>ubsidizeh member:
of the press TO into this
matter. and let their voices be heard
for the right.
At present. the eyes of the people
are turned lo the Legislature for de
livcraurr from The corrupt practice:
of the various County Courts. | have
met gentlemen Of standing from al
parts of the State. and the cry of al
i tie same. y bill was passed. a few
days ago. prohibiting County Court:
from making any further subscrip
tons. or issuing any more bonds Il
TO railroad companies without Il vot,
oftinc people first being had. Blu
even yet the power of these conrt> IL
,,, w, ,,-,,,t 81 Len a. INST tI 10th
their power in every matter. beside,
these court. with q few shining en-
c~cp,inns. are composed ofcorrupt mel
who hesitate cot TO use their pnWr,
for their p%rruniarv advancement
We need law Dustin" them all
and providing for new election 81
an early day. The honest one vii
not object to the change. KNOWN:
HAT they can be reelected: Tie other
:. are entitled To no consideration. III,
safety OF the people demands this, an'
!SulN$ p0p"N s"nrCma lee este.
The bill providing for the Dustin:
of our own County Court. which, Il
told YOU in my last. was rcfcrcs
=, back Ia the Judiciary committee, re
, ccivcd 4 majority of votes in its ia
vnr in the committee, and will com
, before the House at an early day
i, What will be its fate ] canilot saw.
our representatives were not divided
upon it. there would be no doubt O
IT, passage. J.
HON. 4. II. STEVENS.