The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-27
Railroad Power-A Great Issue
Looming Up.

fict between the railroad companies and the
Post Office Department regarding the mail
service, the Postmaster General expressed
similar views in an interview with our WASH
ington correspondent. After saying that the
compensation for mail service by the railroads
was fixed by law, and that he could not change
the rates prescribed by Congress; that all he
could do now was to prepare for any emer-
genoy; that if the companies will not perform
to control them in the matter-he must wait
and do the best he can till Congress meets,
and then would ask for more power. When
asked what additional compensation the rail-
roads demand he replied. 'They want to
force us to pay for their postal cars such ex-
traordinary prices that we cannot employ
them" In answer to the question
if the government could compel them
to come to terms he remarked
'The extent of the powers of the gov
eminent over the railroads has not yet been
clearly defined; but if the roads bring about
an issue they will find what the power of the
government is. IF it comes to that Congress
will probably decide that railroads, being post
routes, are under the control of the govern
ment and may be compelled to afford proper
facilities at such reasonable rates as may be
determined by Congress, and if the railroads
should refuse Congress may declare that the
Postmaster General shall have power to for
ward the mails by his own post cars and loco
motives as often and as rapidly as the public
interest may require, and then the companies
will be admonished to clear the tracks, and,
not clearing them, the army will see that they
be cleared" Then, after expressing the hope
that there may be no such occasion for exer-
cising the power of the federal government,
he added -''But these corporations, which
have received their franchises from the people,
certainly owe in return certain duties to the
people, They not only owe the duty of trans
porting freight and passengers, but the still
greater duty of transporting the mails with
facility and despatch; and the people will see
to it that their rights are enforced" His con-
GLIDING words indicate what may result from
this conflict, and ought to be warning to the
railroad coppanies:-'f," he says, 'they
persist in this course they'll get scorching
from Congress next December"
The minds of our public men and aspiring
politicians are as sensitive to popular senti-
ment and coming issues as the barometer is to
the weather. Such language as we have
quoted from member of the Cabinet has no
ordinary significance. 1t is responsive to
public opinion and feeling generally that the
stupendous railroad power and monopoly are
becoming overbearing and dangerous The
legislatures and Judiciary of the different
States have been the supple instruments of
this power. The people of this State remem-
Der well the control the New York Central
exercised in connection with the Albany Re
gency, and since, at the State capital as well
as the influence of the Erie Railway magnates.
The Legislature and every department of the
government of Pennsylvania have been the
mere tools of the Pennsylvania Central. In
Illinois lately the judiciary acted so palpably
in the interest of the railroads and against
the people that even Mr.. Washburne, who is
away from his State as Minister to France,
felt compelled to denounce that action and to
call upon his fellow citizens of Illinois to con-
oly We have seen New Jersey struggling
like the laocoon in the folds of serpents
against the power of Tom Scott. Had it not
been for the press, and particularly
the independent press, the Legisla-
ture of that State would have sue
cumbed and have sold the people to the
| railroad monopoly Even now we are not
certain that its money and influence will not
| prove stronger than public opinion Our
readers are familiar with the difficulty between
the New York Central and the federal govern
ment The company has refused to pay what
| is due to the Internal Revenue-has, in fact
defied the government. Even when the Col
lector seized property for taxes the company
frustrated his object. For seventeen locomo-
tves seized the government could only get
seventeen thousand dollars at auction. They
were bought in by the treasurer Of the COM
pany Such are the defiant attitude and power
of this corporation. Need we revert to the
gigantic Pacific Railroad swindle in connection
with the Credit Mobilier, or to the number Of
railroad bills with enormous grants of land
and extraordinary franchises, to show how the
railroad power has invaded and controls Con-
gress? These things are we'll known. To go
through the whole catalogue Of assumptions
of power-of acts of cupidity, intolerance, cor
ruption of legislatures and judges, Of the
| imposition of burdensome rates Of fares and
freight to pay for watered stocks and inflated
bonds, and of all the rest of the arbitrary and
oppressive doings Of railroad corporations
would take pages of the HERALD The rail-
road power in the United States now is the
most corrupting, uncontrolled and dangerous
one ever developed in the history of any coun-
try. Abroad the governments exercise more
or less supervision over it and protect the
people, but here it is supreme.