New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-28
THE TRANSFORMATIONS QUESTION.

SPEECH OF THE Hon. MONTGOMERY BLAIR-Hls
CANDIDACY FOR CONGREss-THE OPENING OF
WATER ROUTE FROM THE ONO I'd THE CHEsA-
pEARE URGED As a MEASURE OF PUBLIC
UTILITY.
PROM A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON. July 21.-Thc Hon. MOntgom-
cry Blair made notable speech on the subject OF @us
portation Saturday last at Mthenny SprhG' Jarrett
county Mary andhls primary object having reference
IN +le coruuIetigu OF the Chesapeake and OHIO Canal
M Blair is candidate Congress IN the Win District
Of MARYLAND comprising The counties OF Mont gomery
Frederick. Allegany. Washington ana Garrett. Inc
District Is unquestonaOly Democratic aithough Ihe
present Representative, Mr.. Lloyd Lowndes, IT.. was
elected as Republican at the last election. owing to
split by over 1900 majority. The candidates for the
Democratic nomination against Mr.. BLAIR are ex-
Congressman Richie and Judge Lyeser the present
Attorney General OF Maryland There seems to be little
dou that Mr. Blair will be the choice OF montgomery
that MI Richie will he supported by Frederick anu the
other candidate by his county of Washington The con-
test is for Allegany and Garrett with MT BARS
chances rather the best The Republican candidates are
Judge Pearrle who nominated by President Grant
for one of the nine United States Circuit Judges
and rejected by the Senate, ana Mr.. suner, the
present state Senator from Frederick
In his speech on Saturday Mr. Blair congratulated the
people on the revival OF the public Interest IN the sub
iect of and believed that the fact was
portation Committee that line Of water communion
ZION through this region was Indispensable and wou.d
result in the speedy completion of the work II was
the conception Of Gen. Washington and like everything
that came him had stood the test OF time and scru
tiny and though abandoned for season under the mis-
taken notion that railroads had superseded the neces
sity for H. that notion entirely exploded IL
was now apparent that the failure Of WashlngOns fell
lowcitzens TO carry his plan for their aggrandize
IN m
New-York had transferred the seat Of empire and Of
commerce from the Chesapeake TO the North River
The Erie Canal transported merchandise in the six
months II was open annually than all the trunk lines OF
railway from Canada the Belize and single canal
boat carried more fire. ght than the largest burden
train.
Railroads could not. therefore compete with water
lines ia this business but as the means OF transporta
ton of all kinds inadequate 70 the demands OF the
day, there practically no competition Win them'
Hence their charges eXtOTtiOnate and they be-
came great and controlling monopolies in the prime
necessares of life. The effect was runous to the pro-
Queer and disastrous consumer and at the same
time put the Government ltse4I IL Inc MINUS Vi TUG
ID OnOpolists.
Mr. Blair reproduced the facts from Mr.. Windows
report showing the wisdom economy and necessity OF
the works recommended by the Transportation Com
mitee and gave account OF how this particular
line had been included resolutions Of that Com
ittee 10 the great the expenditure would be
IN corpete the works recommended by them IL not
equal TO the loss annually incurred by the country for
Tie want Of them and hence be argued that FOR the
Government refuse to make them on account OF the
expense would be greater folly than for farmer TO
refuse expend Tor reapng machine OF other lmp!e-
uents price whch he would save at every harvest
SO far from the public debt being an objection 10 the
expenditure 10 constituted the controlling reason Tor H.
ecsnse the magnitude OF the debt required mat our
resources should carefully husbanded ana hence tat
rOmpt measures should ne taken 10 put stop 10 tne
IN
uate means OF afforded 10 our produce
and the extOrtOnae charges 20 Whlca is sueeIeu Oy
the monopoly corporations which now control II.
drew with DC political power 10 the ADMINISTRATION
or necessarily involved great corruption and abuse As
matters stood the political power oI me vac
essentially the hands of the Irresponsible corporate
mower could be wrested from TINS power "he at
was elt In the absolute control OF the commerce OF e
country. Hence tar fr0I1 tlls being means "a ue
nrivirg the people OF their power over their Gov
. rument. a paramount cOnslueratlou Win I'm
in supporting the measure is that 10 IS the Ohiy
one which has been suggested 10 enable tAe
naone 10 resume control their Government Ihey
can now combine against the corporate power Hnlcu
has taken possession OF the Government ad -
mem runOusly, only by the agency oi ,he uo'ein
lent as Ihey did IN Gen. JacksOns time III was STAB
ming In the back object 10 large expenditures o In
agency for such purposes me " ~, ~, tbeir
Wonted power for their protection anu 10 argue IN
so clear as this that the Government cannot DC
trusted with the means 70 eno"e .s ,,Ir ~ ,bs oy
ernmeut for tine ends for which II wac lbsttuteu w
have lust spent in the great war lDnDitey sIeatol
where the necessity, thoagh GEAR was 10, ~ a.
n h. here and these expenditures we're necessarily
tended with infinitely greater abuses, because .o "a.
tbe midst or strife untried aud IrfespOhsbe heu anu
while were greatly diseredlted. Inc ,p6 ,aae
nendtures will made in time OF prOiouhd peace'
Under watebfu eye OF the public ana 10y aeents
may be carefully selected Nor y there any qus VIC"
ABOUT the benehcence OF the results Ihey WI" aso NC
liar AM Is ~