The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-09-22
The TranAportation Question.

The Committee OF the u. .. senate are
prosecuting their inquiry into matters per-
tanning to The carrying trade with great carr
estness and vigor. After two prolonged ses
sions in the City of New York, at the latter
of Which they listened attentively to the rep
reservations of the great central lines of rail-
way they have been making the tour OF the
lakes, with the evident purpose of informing
themselves as to all feasible methods of i'm
proving the facilities of communication with
the producing states by water as well as by
land.
We may look, at the beginning of the next
session of Congress. for an able and exhaus-
tive report upon this great subject, the i'm
portance of which cannot be exaggerated. In
the language of Senator Conkling SIN the
East and the West the problem Of creating
channels for Commerce will assert itself and
hold supremacy, until it is successfully solv-
ed.' The inchoate organizations which, un-
der the name of Oranges, are Grawinga new
force into the politics of the country, have set
on foot an agitation which will not cease until
every agency is utilized which can bring pro-
Queer and consumer nearer to each other.
There is no stimulant so potent as sell-inter-
est, in directing the thought and action of
the masses, and in this matter, every man
woman and child in the nation has practi-
cal concern.
Still, it will not do to ignore or underrate
the difficulties which lie in the way Of The ac-
complishment of the objects in view. There
1o,lo 80,
in the minds of the American people, that it
is without the legitimate function of the nas
tona government to undertake broad sys-
TEN of internal improvements.
Governments are proverbially inefficient in
the transaction of business. They are sub
jected to limitations which literally deprive
them Of the free exercise of choice in the Sc
lection of their servants. Corporations and
private capitalists compete for the best talent
they can find and reward great ability with
correspondingly large pay. Their scale of
salaries fills a long range from very high TO
very low. Governments necessarily establish
an arbitrary and infexibe rule of compen-
sation and the con sequence is extreme in
equality of salaries, and driving away of
eminent ability to empfoyments in which it
can find appreciation and adequate recon-
pense
Apart from this consideration it is not to
be denied that there is a growing spirit in ia
vor of curtailing rather than enlargne the
powers of government. The State should be
made no stronger than it must needs be to
afford ample protection to life, liberty and
properly. All beyond that is an excess f
power, susceptible of abuse, and Therefore
not to be delegated to any ruling class by
free people jealous of the eLcroachment of
executive authority.
The greed Of railway proprietors is another
and serious hindranee to a wholesome reno
walton of the carrying business Of the cour-
try. The railway interest in the Uuitt
States mas developed into gigantic power
1t has controlled State Legislatures, elected
Senators, and enacted and repealed statutes
at will IN several of the largest common
wealths Of the middle and western sections
of the Republic. The Rail is king, and its
dethronement will cost struggle. Even the
work Of subjecting ii to reasonable supervis-
ion will not be comprised without effort. Its
shareh .ers are numerous, and many of
them influential through wealth aud position.
But the exigency out of which this useful
agitation has arisen is the strongest guarantee
thai it will not cease until adequate practical
remedies are devised. The proposition in
voved is that the food of the world must find
direct, continuous and uninterrupted course
to the people that are to derive sustenance
from it, through any and every channel that
nature has made, that art can make, or that
both together can render available. 1t is very
simple and yet very momentous. We are
glad that so able a representation of the Sen
ate has this problem under discussion, and
that the committee are devoting themselves
so assiduousIy to the task of its happy solu-
ton.