Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-10-30
The Facts.

Says the Los Angeles HERALD: "While
Tom SCOTT Is lobbying with senators and
Congress smen for an appropriation more thau
equal to twice the cost of building the Texes
and Pacific road, and while his newspapers
and subsidized canvassers are laboring with
might and main for the attainment of the
same eni, the Southern Pacific is stretching
Eastward steadily and without the slighte
indication Of faltering by the wayside." Now
the HERALD knows that 1t Is lying. IL knows
that Tom SCOTT is not lobbying for an "apprO-
prlation"-never has asked an "appropria-
tion" of one dollar In money or bonds for the
Texas Pacific road. 1t knows that Tom SCOTS
knows that the thing asked for is that the
|. Government shall guarantee the intere't at
the rate of five per cent. per annum on the
company's bonds-the company not In issue
more than S35.i0O per mile OF said bonds; and
that for the security of the Government for
this guarantee of interest The company gives
nrst mortgage upon its property.-Sa', Diego
Union.
If the HERALD selected its words
from the vocabulary which seems to
be favorite with our San Diego CO.
temporary we should say that the
Union lies when it says Tom SCOTT is
not lobbying for an appropriation, but
as We do not sully our columns with
slang terms and blackguard epithets,
We will merely remark that when it
makes this statement 1t asserts what
1t knows to be untrue. The fact as ad-
mitted by the Union is that SCOTT is
lobbying to secure the passage of a
bill which binds the Government for
the payment of the interest on the
bonds of the Texas Pacific railroad to
the amount of S35, 900 per mile. Now
we have the authority of able civil
engineers that one-half of $4,000 per
mile will build and equip the road.
If this is SO what is to be done with
the remainder? Does it not look as
though there was a large-sized pri-
vate speculation secreted in this prop.
osition? If the Texas Pacific road can
be built for Sis, 900 per mile, and its
bonds can be turned into cash at the
rate of $4,000 per mile, it is probable
that those who pocket the $1,000
per mile overplus will not care about
into whose hands the road falls. AS
security for the money paid out as in
terest, the Government is to have the
first'mortgage on the road. Then we
suppose a second mortgage will be is
sued as security for the payment of the
So, 200 per mile bonds. If it cannot
be shown that the Government is
responsible for both the principal and
interest, who will purchase these
bonds? 1t may not be that SCOTT is
lobbying for direct donation or sub
sidy. The Union says he Is not, and
the Union speaks asSCOTT directs, but
can the Union prove that should
SCOTT succeed In passing his bill he
will not realize net profit of $4,000
on every mile of track he builds and
ultimately leave the Government only
partly worn-out road for the S35, 900
per mile and interest it has been made
responsible for? 1t looks to us as
though it would come to this at last.
The HERALD is not disposed to throw
obstacles in the way of the Texas Pa
cific road. On the contrary, we desire
to aid its construction by all honor
able means in our power. If the
SCOTT party are only desirous for
Southern overland railroad commune
cation, why are they so determined to
have monopoly of the whole route,
when by operating in conjunction
with a Pacific Coast company the OBJ
ject could be attained so much sooner?
Why such strong manifestation of
the dog-in-the-manger principle? The
opinion is widespread that the SCOTT
party are not acting in good faith and
that they have not the remotest idea
of building the Texas Pacific unless it
can be done at profit with the peo.
ple's money. The HERALD sees no
reason for abandoning the position
assumed some months ago, that the
first locomotive that awakens the
echoes around San Diego Bay will be
owned by the Southern Pacific Rail-