The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1874-02-12


the & per cent. fund arising from the sales OF
nnhl;c lands. in. aid of the construction 81 Inls
road and also memorializing Congress az inc
same session for Congressional aid to the en-,
ternr;se In pursuance, then, OF the genera
sentiment Of the people, of the expression OF
State and Territorial Legislatures, OF Conven
tions of both political parties, and OF the de-
sire of the company, all acting. as beleVe, 10
accord and in what / conceive also 10 DO tno
true interest of the Government with references
TO the important questions OF economy anu TO-
trenchment in the public service, ana III VIVA,
| know to be the true interest OF an lsoia'ea
and pioneer people. scattered as they are alo"s
the rivers, all over the valleys, and on the noun
tain sides of as rich country az ever met .le
eves of man, and who are to-day suffering not
merelv for the want of cheap transportation,
"a is the case with many of the people OF the
Western States east of the Missouri river, but
from the absolute absence of all means OF trans.
narration. / submit this bill to the impartial
and candid consideration of the Senate.
II provides, in brief that the Portland, Dailes
and Salt Lake Railroad, as l have already de-
sipnated it, shall be military and post road
and that said road, or the company controlling
mr. operatins it, shall, for all time, transport
over the same the United States mail. all army
and Indian supplies, aud perform al other Gov
eminent service usual for railroads to perform,
including the transmission OF all Government
dispatches upon such telegraph line, free oi any
charge. compensation, or reward. IL Iurther
pro;ides that said road shall be OF the Darro"
gaupe: that the work shall be commenced on
the division between the Columbia river ana
the eastern terminus, IA distance of about five
hundred miles, within SIX months from Tue APP
prevail of the act, aud completed for that dis
, fhran
tween Portland and the intersection of the
eastern division with the Columbia river shall
| h. commenced within six months from the pas
sage of the act: that the portions around The
| Cascades and the Daes ot the Columbia shall
| be first completed and that the western diyis-
| ion of about two hundred miles. between Port
| land aud the intersection on the Columbia river,
| shall be completed in two years from the pas
sage of the act.
The bill has n provision that strikes at the
abuses so prevalent among railroad companies
Of the present day. and which has rs much as
any other one cause aided in producing the
present opposition Ia these companies; and that
Is nh unjust and oppressive discrimination IN
freight aud passenger charges, both as To per
sons and sections, 1t provides that the com
pans shall not use any means that SHAH discriih
mate in freight aud passenger charges III favor
Of or against aLy person or corporation snip
ping or passing over said road nor for or against
any particular town or place "n the line oi such
road: and that all charges Tor freight or pas
sage over the same between regular stations
shalt be- pro rata with the usual charges for like
service over the whole line This IL 4 proiec.
tom fl the people. aud is insist. prupus ilan
that Congress may constl;utional!y aud right.
iully submit to any company. and which. II ac-
ccptrd by such company. will has" the binding
force, Ut law that cannot be successfully ques.
toned either by rival companies az ,ndls duals,
n il does not ~ my Judgment touch thc inooi-
al Question ~ IL the right or power ar policy
uf the General Government Ia regulate ar con.
troll freight and passenger charges ou railroads
This IL another and quiic different prop"si.
ton. in reference Ia which, al present. do not
propose IL Intimate any opinion. much less dis.
cuss IT, When that question comes up 1t Will
be TINE enough io meet II.
Tie bill further provides tina. the company
NAV issue its bonds Ia the extent at $1,000
per mile and uo more. and III denominations at
II .0tu each. running tweuiy years. payable IA
United States gold coin. H. aid IN the cuusIrnc.
ton of lis read and Telegraph line such bonds
Ia bear interest al per cent. per aunum. pay.
able semi.annunly in like gold coin; aud Ia
secure the payment of such bonds Ia mortgage
property of all Kinds and descriptions: that IN.
ierrst coupons shall be attached, signed by tn"
treasurer of the company. aud Whenever and
as often ~ such company shall complete twenty
ar more consecutive miles. or. in the discretion
Of the Secretary of the Interior. u les number.
aud the same shall! have been examined and
accepted nj the expense al the company. by
commissioners appointed by the Government.
and that fact shall be certified to the Treasurer
of the United States by the Secretary OF the
Interior, such Treasurer, upon the presenta-
ton oi such companys FIRST mortgage bonds 10
the extent of $4,000 per mile Of such com.
peted portions. shall countersign the interest
coupons thereto attached and deliver the bonds
aud coupons attached to such bonds. and there
upon such coupons shall be due aud payable Mt
the Treasury Of the United States according
to their tenor and effect.
1t is further provided that the company shall
annually report condensed statement show
ing its net earnings. and that % per cent. of
these shall. Mt the end of the year. be invested
in United States Understanding bonds, and
shall constitute n sinking fund with which to
purchase or redeem at maturity the principal
of the said first mortgage bonds.
These are the substantial features Of the
measure: and it may now be asked, inasmuch
rs it proposes that the Government shall assume
the payment of this interest to the extent in
dcated, where does your idea of economy or
retrenchment come in! How is the Govern.
ment to be compensated for this annual ex-
pendture! What are the credit and debit
sides Of your account between the Government
and the company: and what are your balances
ut the end of the year; and in what manner is