Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-08-28
OLYMPIA. SATURDAY IOgSIsG, AUG. Is, 1876.
THE RAILROAD AND THE PEOPLE.

THE RAILROAD AND THE PEOPLE,
A recent New York telegram announ-
ces that eli the franchises of the North
ern Pacific Railroad Company, including
the property, was sold under decree
of court on the 18th inst. The whole
was bid in by the purchasing committee,
agreeably to the arrangements made at
a meeting Of the stockholders held in
July. The price realized was the NOM
inal sum of 100000. The sale results
i'm the transfer of all the company's
property to the bond-holders, whose
bonds are to be surrendered for pre-
ferred stock in the reorganized COM
pany in accordance with the terms of
the plan agreed upon at the meeting
last month. This action leaves the new
company free from debt, with 500 miles
completed, and nearly a million dollars
assets to convert into cash for beginning
the extension from the Missouri river.
1t will thus be seen that the prospects
of the company are frightening and
that there is fair prospect under the
new management, the work will grad
ually progress towards completion.
Whether the new management will
adopt different policy from the old,
respect the rights Of the people through
which their route passes, and work in
harmony with their interests, will soon
be determined. It is q question in
which we feel q paramount interest,
and we will await action which indi-
Gates the course to be pursued, with
much solicitude. II the results of ex-
perience have not demonstrated the
necessity for change Of policy; if the
new company manifest the stolid indif-
ference to the wishes of thepeople mani
tested by their predecessors; if they
have not yet learned that there are
bounds beyond which it is not prudent
for the strongest corporations to CO.;
then indeed will result an irreconcilable
conflict, which will only be settled when
one party or the other goes to the wall.
Tits difficult for the individual of small
means, or owning few acres Of land,
to perceive the justice Of an exemption
of the property Of the rich from any Of
the ordinary burdens incident to local
government. They cannot see. how the
charter Of the company can equally
afford such protection, and although
they may acquiesce in an action sup
ported by law, they are no less satisfied
of its injustice, and incensed against
those who have sought and secured such
special privileges. 1t would seem that
company claiming this distinction
would be content with the concession
made, and endeavor as far as possible
to foster and encourage the interests of
the people through whose district their
route might pass. 1t would even APP
pear that their own interests would be
greatly enhanced by such course.
But experience has proven thus far,
that no such idea influences their con-
duct. Legislation has been found liec-
essary to guard the rights of the peo-
pie, Our last Assembly passed very
stringent law to prevent railroad COM
panies from making unjust discrimina-
ton in charges against the people on
any portion of their route, afixing
heavy penalties for the violation Of it's
provisions, still there is not adsy in the
week wherein this law is not ignored
by the managers of that division of the
road situate in this Territory. The
charge for passage and freight to Teni-
no is greatly in excess of the amount
charged for the same service between
Tacoma and Kalama. The people con-
tinue to submit TO the imposition, with
out recourse to . Judicial dissemination
of their rights under the law, in con-
sequence. no doubt, Of very generally
received opinion that laws enacted to
regulate such matters have seldom
been enforced. But such an important
object should not be allowed to rest in
uncertainty. If individuals who have
besn compelled to submit to this ex-
tortion will not take the necessary steps
to decide the question, then the proper
officers of the courts should make such
presentment as viii secure hearing
and discrimination Of the rights Of thu
community under the existing law. Il
the act is itself defective, this is the
proper time for. it to be made known,
80 that the incoming Legislature may