, 1873-02-14
showing the amount Of duties collected at the Custom
House at Chicago foreign inportationa during the
year 1872. bv unonths:
RAILROADS PUBLIC CORPORATIONS.

To the Editor Qf The Chicago Tribune:
Sm: In your issue Of Feb. 7, you say that
ssthe only public safety is found in the broad
principle that Government must abandon all
business Of q private rsture.'' The reasons you
urgs for the position IT,, that Government is
liable to be swindled, and our agents in the Leg
islature and Congress corrupted Now, this ap-
pears to mo to be- an objection to all Govern
ment,-5or no Government can exist without the
use Of money, and some parties must have the
use and power to appropriate this money
While it may be true, "a q general prln-
ciple, that Government should not enter upon,
and Interfere in, business Of q prlrdte
nature, do not accept your conclusion that
building railroad and running steamboat is
1ripnta huainaaa. l. river and road arc public
highways; they are used for the public welfare.
They are institutions OF such general uae, and Of
such public mature. that they shond nerer be
made priuaie property. The endeavor to mako
railroads private property has resulted in the
most gigantic swindlng and robbery ever com
have prevented that competition which e1ista
between other branches Of business. The prop
ertr Ct the.country is invested in cities, towns,
villages, aud farms,. contiguous to these rail-
aged for the public welfare, and that freight
and passenger charges would be fixed at reason
II, oayinE rates. It WAS general belief that,
xrhan - Esd more railroads., competition. il
nothing else, would bring freights down to a fair
PRICE: In Ill this we nsSe been decetTod, and Vo
hnnest i9n1 T than men in public business; and IS
crasninc after power and wealth "a political
agents and politicians ,oau 4..+ -a;,x,sda
are private coEpoEat1ons< n,te. we say 'hSs bSs
nnblIc woifsre, and subject to the control Of The
Legislature fn all their operations. Iho Leg1s-
1aff1re must have controlling influence, so a6
to nrotect the people, and see that railroads are
naneged for the public gooa. wy, %nSn a'ord Pr.
nuisance and at5atca-' Now, no state Or country
nm ever prosper when it has surrendered the
intarnal commerce of the country to- a few cor
norations, and these corporations are allowed to
band together to fix thor own tariffs, Watnont
nv limitation except the ability Of the people TO
Again, Mr.. Editor; deny your proposition IN
toto Tint freights cannot bo regulated By stat
uto, There is principle Of Justice and equity
in =! husnoaa, and this the statute can oeter-
nine and he oes5 enffg nness eo ao hnTe
Invested IL public corpofation5,, they must sub
III To nnblio control. Railroads are pes;2saary
to the business, to the progressive civilizstlo,a
ct che country; and the people propose to con-
tinue their use and 70 maze ~ the en- stas ose
the thav rnnst BE- placed under different manage
men mennt.-under tie control ot. the State. :. =,
The management Of railroads is Part OF !, IN. !,
ternal commerce, wlich belongs entirely to the
Sites in which they lie; and this eontr u should
@ nevaf 81 s. given qp TO- the General Government
which Is jusF NOW. developing its incapacity fol
the % management n Of railroads; anq jig large CO
capity for bribes, railroad and steamship subsl.
dies. and ali the iuiqulties OF Projection, ps
which tbs few are enriched at the expense OF the
| many. Yours truly, ". H. ..