, 1874-12-19

OF TINT t'arty, then it has no principles and |
party without any principles is len times
moro dangerous tlnn party with bat, but |
openly pvowcil, principles. Those not pre-
parctl to subscribe to DR.. GAnSErrs creed
I4avc no option but to net with the Ropub-
lican party.
TRANSPORTATION SCHEMES IN CONGRESS-.
Congress is bcset from Gll sides for enor-
nous subsidies. Transportation is tho re-
frnin of NIL the petitions. They may 10
divided into two classes: !. Positive or
present steals; 2. Negative or future jobs.
Tho first clnss aro roatlily disposed Of. They
include Ton Sco1rta Southern Pacific job
and JAY CooEE's Nothern Pacific job. These
are unnlitigated swiudles. Congress, in the
face Of tho Paciiio Mail scandal end lilo
universal protest Of tho nation, will hardly
dare to give them serious consideration. II
is ,nnttcr Of surprise that even Toat scoTT
and JAY Cooke should 1,avo had tho " claoek "
to asls for additional Government aid under
tho circumstances. Tho other class of pro-
posed subsidies aro tho more dangerous
because they do not recoivo the absolute
and sweeping condemnation Of tho whole
people. Indeed, Congress seems to think it
necessary TINT something or other should bo
subsidized, since the House Committee on
Railroads and Canals hnvc appointed a sub
committee to ascertain which Of tho subsidy
proposals already presented is tho most mcri-
torious. This would indicate that Congress
sets out upon falso hypothesis. It ID not
necessary, nor even desirable, TINT Congress
should mako any appropriations on subsidy
account. Il is much better that tho entiro
practice be abandoned for the present, and it
was serious blunder not to pass Mr.. HoI-
MANS resolution to that effect. Such q reso-
luton would havo proroguod the lobby and
set tho minds Of the people at rest Oh the
whole subject.
alr. Hun1pur's bill for the Washing gton,
Cincinnati l. St. Louis narrow-gnuge, 8-foot
railroad, it seems, is to bo reported in tho
House. It docs not deserve even this dis
tinotion, anl should never 60 my further.
1t seems that this il a corporation already
chartered by tho State Of Virginia, which
1Ir HuRLDur proposes to mako n National
corporation. Tho capital stock is Sl5,oo0,-
600, and tho proposition is to run q road from
LIZ lJ4ilI4EL VI NOAulAQaA 3bO @4l41C3 " L14p
Ohio River, thence 800 miles to Cincinnati,
thence 800 to St. Louis, and also to construct
900-nli1o "branch to Chicago. Tho Gov~
eminent is to guarantee tho interest on bonds
at tho rate of 817,500 per mile for Z
portion of tho distance, aud at tho
rate of $4,000 mile for the remainder, il
consideration Of which thoro is to DO sonao
reserved right for postal service aud tho rega-
| lation Of tariff. Tho project is full Of errors.
| In the first place, if such a road ba needed at
| all from East to Nrost, it is absurd to mako
| any point on tho shallow Potomac in the Dis
trict Of Columbia the terminus. Thoro Is no
commerce in tho District Of Columbia aud
| never will be. There is no prospect Of ever
making it IN outlet to European markets.
Wo have already well-coustruoted aud we'll
managed road from tho West to Baltimore.
| Competition Is less needed on tho limo
| Of tho proposed route than anywhere
elso in the country. The next error
| ia In making Cincinnati tho terminus
| of the road. with possible "branohes' to
Chicago and st. Louis. If there be any ex-
cuso FOR tho Government to ngAin go into tho
railroad business, 1t is to provide some relief
to the agricultural interest by affording chenp
transportation for grain. Nov, Chicago is the
great depot Of tho grein-growing section Of
tho Northwest, and is the natural western
terminus Of any railroad especially de1igned
to facilitato or choapon grain*transpo
Tho next objection Is the proposed guarantee
Of interest. Tho Government Inns already
guaranteed rs much as 1t can alord; much
moro than tho people want to pay. ANY
further guarantee Of railroad bombs and
interest will inevitably result the same as
tho Pacific Government bonls,--tho fral
payment by tho Government Of both interest
mud principal. The reserved right Of rogu-
lating freight and passenger ratos is simply
delusion. II this condition DO lnaae ut oil
practicable, 1t will only provide another COIL
toution in Congress for tho future between
sections md clauses, IN which tho ,lso ol
money will bo tho most prominent feature.
We aro also surprised thut the salno Com.
mittoo should hayo docidod to recommend a
subsidy Of $4,000 milo for q railroad from
Portlnnd, Ore., to Salt Lakol Or course
tharo Ia 10 earthly demand for such road
If ti,cro wore, it would be built without asls
lug Congress for aid It is but anotlos
scheme to Get monoy out OF the gonora] pub
: llc in ma!tor in which tho general public
llag.. not tho nlightost interest. TAa sa,nt
; Committee hayo also Hgrool to recommend
tho passage OF Lii authorizing Tho con
! struotlon Of q 6hip.canal from Hcnacpin Il
tho Mississippi River. This reeomn,onda
! tion has evidently boon made on the estimate
that tho work would cost but $4,Uo0, 600
which will only construct ANAL ditch to-
, daugl-boats. It IL obvious that 4 nship