Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-02-13
The TEXAS PACIFIC.
All About the Stealing Of the Great
EDterprise-The Recent Decision by
the U. s. Supreme Court.
Tom. ScOtt's Change Of Front - The
Next Move - What an Opposition
Paper thinks Of the Passage
of the Bill.
" STEALING A RAILROAD u

Under this startling headline the
Cincinnati Commercial has most blis-
tering article. The occasion is the re-
view of the decision Of the decision of
the supreme court of the United States
in the matter OF the VicksbuTg, Shreve-
port and Texas railroad. After reciting
the sale, and the purchase Of the road
by the parties now in possession, the
Commercial proceeds as follows:
"Strange as it may appear, this enor-
NOUS fraud was sustained through all
the courts of Louisiana, including the
district court of the United States and
the circuit court OF the United States, to
which the case was carried on appeal by
the bondholders seeking to obtain the
rights Of which they had been defraud-
ed. This furnishes another sad COM
mentaTy on the state Of public morals
and judicial purity in that misgoverned
and unhappy commonwealth. The chief
cOnspiratOr in this ring vino stole the
railroad was the Republican chief. Justice
of the State of Louisiana, and the judge
who sustained the robbery was one OF
the Republican circuit judges appointed
by President Grant. After years of
legal controversy the case was finally
appealed to the supreme court at Wash
ingtOn, and, upon a full hearing Of
the case, that court, without q dis
senting voice, reversed the decree of
the circuit court in Louisiana; de-
clared the lien Of the mortgage bond
holders to be still valid upon all the
property Of the Vicksburg, Shreveport
and Texas railroad company; adjudged
fraudulent and void; issued perpetual
iuis1Y1 ofiO1o aOTo Y,ainor fbnp1 fO rofro in
from disposing of any of the property or
effects covered by mortgage; directed
the circuit court of Louisiana to appoint
a receiver Of the property ordered re-
sale of the railway for the benefit, first,
of the bona fde holders of bonds, Sc
cured by the mortgage, and, secondly,
for the benefit of other creditors of the
company and its stockholders. The
cOnfederates were further ordered to ac-
count for all money and property re-
ceived by them during their eight years
fraudulent possession and administra-
ton Of the railway. This remarkable
case is most valuable as establishing the
fact that these railway rings which have
carried things with high hand in this
country for so many years, will at last
receive some check when they come to
the final fountain-head of justice. The
supreme court of the United States is,
happily, above those interested consid-
erations which elsewhere prevail in
high judicial quarters. In spite Of the
fact that these cOnfederates have so long
reaped the fruit of what seemed q sue
cessful robbery, they have at last been
arrested in their career of wrong doing,
and compelled to make restitution to
the swindled owners of the property.
Said Mr.. Justice Strong, in delivering
the opinion of the supreme court:
Were we to sustain such q. sale, we
should sanction a great moral and legal
wrong, give encouragement to faithless-
ness to trusts and confidence repOsed,
and countenance combinations to wrest,
by the forms of law, from the unin-
formed and cOnfiding their just rights
This is an equitable judgment, which
the whole country has cause to rejoice
i'm
TOM. sCOTT'S CHANGE OF FRONT.
1t is believed Tom. Scott has aban-
doned his plan of attempting to secure
the passage OF the Texas Pacific job as
an Independent measure, and will now
devote his energies to secure its adoption
in an appropriation bill. The arrival of
Senator Stewart, chairman of the SEN
ate committee OF Pacific railroads, who
is believed to be unaterably opposed to
the Scott scheme, insures the defeat of
that bill in the senate committee. There
is small probability that the plan to
attach the job to an appropriation bill
can be successful. In the senate new
legislation in an appropriation bill is
possible, but in the house a single Objec-
ton under the rules will prevent the
measure, which is new legislation, from
being attached to an appropriation bill.
The only way to accomplish this would
be to secsre strength enough to place it
on an appropriation bill, under suspen-
sion Of the rules, by two-thirds vote.
1t does not seem probable that any such
vote can be secured.
CHANCES FOR ITS PASSAGE.
Washington Special TO Chicago TribuDe.I
The vote in the senate Pacific railroad
committee on Tom Scott's Pacific rail-
road bill stood to-day five to five. the
committee adjourned to meet Monday.
The Tom Scott people say tonight that
at the next meeting there will be ma
jOrity ia favor Of the bill, as they claim
that Stewart, chairman Of the commit
tee, who is expected tomorrow, i'll
vote for the bill. 1t If extremely doubt
full whether he will so vote, as his per-