National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-03-13
AxorHsR AN71.xo1ePoLYeon:

ANOTHER ANTI.KONoPOLYG GOV:
EREOR.
IN special message to the Legislature Of
Aiaissippl Governor AmeA q that State.
has Get an example Of opposition to grasp
ins corporations worthy Of general atten-
taon and universal imitation. Il seems that
during the administration Of his predeces-
sor lsws were passed granting aid to the
Vicksburg and Nashville railroad, and pro-
viding that the road should enjoy the privi-
lege ofpurchasing property without restric-
ton or limitation, together with immunity
from taxation for thirty years, or until the
stockholders received dividend of eight
per cent. upon their Investments. These
unusual privileges were no doubt obtained
by appeals based upon the acknowledged
necessity that the internal improvements of
the State should be encouraged, and the
laws were possibly passed by innocent
or ignorant legislators, with the OBJ
ject to develop the resources of
the community. Tho same excuse
for the biunder of their official promul-
CATION may apply to the act Of their ap-
proval by the late Governor; but an inves-
tigation into the unlimited power which
they grant shows that the result of its un-
principled exercise would simply amount to
the absorption of all the taxable property
in the State. Governor Ames pointedly al
luaes to this possibility in his message, and
might have added that the extraordinary
exemption from taxation would serve as an
inducement to property holders Of any
kind, as well as railroad corporations, to
form an alliance with the company for the
purpose Of avoiding the payment of lesiti-
mate taxes. '-.
The agricultural land scrip recently be-
slowed upon the State of Mississippi by the
United States and accepted as trust fund,
the accruing interest of which shall be used
for the maintenance and support of at least
one agricultural college, is surrendered to
the road by the provisions of the same laws.
They also require that the fund shall be in
vested in the stock of the company. twill
be seen that no security for the return of
profitable dividends on the investment is
assured, as the charter of the road encour-
ages a delay in returning profit greater
than seven per cent. and a fraction for thirty
years. But when it is known that notwith-
standing the great privileges guaranteed by
the laws in question the road is only pro-
jected and not yet built it will be admitted
that the investment in its stock is virtually
q loan Of a sacred trust for the bold and bad
purpose of putting giant monopoly on its
feet. 1t was no ordinary mind in which
this grand scheme of plumber was origin
ated. In these days Of railroad rule. how
ever, when the best intellects of the coun-
try are divided into two classes. one aiding
the railroads to plumber the public and the
other trying to protect the public, it lis
10 he expected that such extraordinary
projects will he forced upon public
and it is fortunate both for the
people of Mississippi and the country o.
large that Governor Ames is possessed OF
the honest temerity required to grnpple
with the question. We do not exaggerate
its importance when we place this Missis-
sippi scheme on level with the Unsuitable
greed of the great Western railroad COM
against which Governor Booth,
of California, bettled so manfully. If the
Legislature proves to be rccreant to its plain
duty and refuses to repeal the obnoxious
laws, the Governor will have the satisfac.
ton of knowing that he has exerted his
power so far as he could to relieve the State
rom disgnceful and depressing incubus,
md that he has placed himself among the
foremost of those who are entitled to recog-
,ition as the practical opponents of the mo-
lopolists. We repeat that his example is
worthy of imitation, and we regret now
more than ever that his duty to the State
If his adoption has taken him from the |
,lacc he so well filed in the Senate of the
United States. If some one of his former |
colleagues in that body would show as
much practical energy in combating with
he monopolies which sap the foundation
Of the nations prosperity as he has in his
assault upon the enemy of a single State,
he country would be benefited more than
t possibly can be by years Of speech making
bout the Finances" 1t will require but
/ fewnaore acts of this kind on the part of
her young and progressive Governor, III
hey meet with success to wipe away the
stain which disgraces the name of the State
If Mississippi, and place it among sarei
brightest and purest in the sciaxy Of States