The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-12-01
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION AND
HARD TIMES.

CHEAP TRANSPORTATION AND
HARD TIMES.
The two subjects which bid fair to oc-
cupy considerably the mind Of Congress
for some little time, are cheap Transpor-
tation and remedy for Hard Times.
1t is very freely advocated by the Ad-
mrnistration Press that both these sub
iccts can be effected at one stroke, and
at the same time, the Republican party
can achieve for itself such popularity,
that it will Immediately eclipse all oppo-
nents. and once more take n front stand
in the politics ofthe country.
The plan proposed is that the general
Government take hold of, and build, or
be mainly instrumental in building, some'
or all, of the great schemes of Internal
Improvement, now being agitated.
Thus it is maintained, cheap tranSporta-
ton will be obtained; employment for
hundreds now suffering be secured, and
the coveted popularity be gained.
Now this scheme does have n very
pretty appearance. Most assuredly the
great West needs facilities for getting its
crops to market at living rates; the hum
grv..multitude needs, money to supply its
natural cravings, and the administration
party sorely, needs popularity.
But let us look into it little while.
In the first place:-The propriety of the
Governments interfering in the building
of National works of internal improve
ment, has long been contested ques-
ton. Certainly any such proceeding is
fraught with great danger. Every act
of this nature has tendency towards
Capitalization, and the establishment of
a strong Government. This, of itself,
would be a terrible calamity, and is d.
rectly in opposition to the spirit of the
Republic Besides which, the progress
wnlCn We nave dIItauy lHauc III th'7
direction, has given us II sad experience
of its working. We have seen an
archv, confusion, trouble and blood
shed brought about, when, had the will
of q people educated under different
system been respected, nothing of the
kind would have occurred. Surely this
ought to have taught us how dangerous
it is to place any further weapons in the
hands Of the general government to
enable it to exercise greater power over
the sovereign States.
In the second place-it is estimated
that the government would have to e1-
pend in carrying out these plans, about
SlOOOOO,OOO. Now We are already labor
ing under burdensome national debt.
1t is easy to see how greatly general tax
alton must be increased to meet this adj
ditional burden. 1t is hardly probable
that the benefit anticipated would be
sufficient to repay the whole people for
the heavy drain upon their resources
which would be thus entailed.
In the third p!ace-those enterprises in
which the Government has heretofore
been engaged, do not have very credit
able histories. They have really been
the means of enriching few favored
individuals at the expense Of the people
The Credit Mobilier swindles, and the
Jay Cooke failure, are things not yet
quite lost to memory, as the panic and
the present hardness Of times we'll do
testify. 1t is hardly to be imagined that
what has been so disastrous in the past
can be sources of prosperity in tho flu
ture.
The second object proposed to be gain
ed: the giving employment to SO many
idle hands is also, in reality. nothing
Besides the fact that the employment
given would be . mere drop in the
bucket compared to that which is re-
quired, every one who has ever been en-
gagged in such work, knows how evanos-
cent and precarious is its nature. At any
moment, unforeseen obstacles may rise up
to cause suspensions, which throw all out
of occupation without moments warn
ing, while the wages paid rarely admit
of any money being put away for "a
rainy day."
It's very time that both these objects
IRE praisewerthy and ''consummations
devoutly to be wished" but the plan pro-
posed for securing them is not good.