, 1875-02-10
RAILROAD NEWS.
Effect of State Control on Illinois
Lines.
Tho Freight Agents.
STATE INTERFERENCE.

STATE INTERFERENCE. r.
rrs EFFECr on ILLINOIS nA11!oAps.
20 The Editor " The Chfcago TRIBUNE:
DusuNE11, ILL.,, Fob. 8.-lacBiding 1t point
tntorsccted By throo railways, two Of which hnro
lately passed Into tho custody OF 1ocolsers. 1t has
boon = subject Of study with mo to learn tho
cauBos OF this doubie bankruptcy, and Why two
should be taken and tic third ilut.
l find that tho Toledo, Peoria Il WarHnw. and
tho Rockford, Hoels 1aand 4 81. Louis linea,
rrior to the Inauguration OF the Railroad Inv.
were carl, DUNG bl,aincss cuntnonburase with
,ts facilities, and enjoying tho hopoful rrbspcet
OF working out its financial salvation. from the
day When this crude mud i1-conceyod statute
tnnde theso mon, without experiences OF tact for
learning, absolute mnstcrs of tlio railway intor
rats Of tho State tlicac ruads lost patronage, mid
accumulated lobts, which ]savo augmented With
'.pro-rata" stcadiness, nud thrown tlio roads
into default and insolvency. And tho record Of
these roads before the law and umdor 1t is the
record Of at least eight or ton other nnEortlinato
roa,ls within tho stato Which hase fnslnl it in,-
practicable to thrive under heavy debts. nfl tilo
ad,lod load Of tIctntion by ignorance, loyal unly
to tile prei1diced class wlicE. conceived Tho Inv,
Rntl gavo cxihtot!cc to dangerous aud subHef-
Went Rni1road Commission.
It is a. unnecessary to enter into the particular
steps by which tlsehe disastrous reslth layr been
rpacl,ed aB 1t is useless fur tho Commission to
attempt GxriallAt1hli. lnG multitude Qk fkilfHAQ-
futures dating their decllue within the life OF
the Commission provo tho tttle, a1lt conlpnl tho
co1lclls1on tint thepo caainitcs to tile rul1H,
End to lilo poop'o who 1lnnk them. are CLEARLY
hud aololy chargeablo to state interference with
ther management. .,
Tho only question remaining for solution,
therefore, is this: Why is the Railroad Cot,-
mission continued lis conduct has destroyed
many OF tho peoples old fnciiticB for trallnpur-
tation. aud impnacd an almost total esnppago
Upon tho construction of now tAcflites. 1t
laa brought tho stnte no revenue, It
expenditures fnr ralares, printing, attor-
&2u0 oou. while tue damage IT has wrought to the
corporate funds ia beyond calculation. , Why,
legitimate answer is q double one: When law
has beon enacted with mighty flourish Of tru.n-
pets, aud in Obedience to the clamofouB dictaten
Of cIaHn prejudice. that ptejudiced class ts slow
to confeAB lts blunderH, however visible, aid
still stower to correct them: anothor and moro
Immediate evil influence to retain it in power il
tie sa1ary-grabbing Influence. ERCh Commits
Hiur,er getA lis S:, 600 for duties too light to i'll
fringe upon his private Affairs. ind horde OF
attorneys and other parasites fattcn oil tho State
by leave from tho Commissioners. The only
legitimate reason, therefore, for the perpetnity
OF she Commission il TINT preildiea and wids
system Of sef-intarcat in Official spoils cousplre
10 retain the error that was born OF prejudice
the most egrngious aud disastrous orIor lcgis-
lation which, this ago Of governmental mo1dlo-
somenoGs has enacted and enforced.
Z, A. ".