New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-24
corruption or negligence in Canal matters put
souarely to the present Senate.
MUNICIPAL SUBSCRIPTIONS.

IN this time of general depression, while
evcry other sort Of business il stagnant, II Is
not unnatural that the trade OF experimental
lav-maEine should be unusually active. Every
one recognizes the fact that tho tlncs ure
hard and few are wise enough to see how
little can be done by statute to ameliorate the
condition of things. The immense development
Of orr systems of transportation In late years
has been generally seized upon as one OF the
causes Of the present lassitude of trade, and
the hands of the hw-tinkers have been
especially busy with measures which they
imagine NAV remedy the evils which have
come in the train of railways. We have seen
what wild work they have made OF IL In WIS
consin and Illinois, and other western states
where their interference in railroad matters
has been about as etfectual "a the measures by
which child of active mind sometimes rcSu-
lates his watch, going at it from the out
side with u hammer. In Massachusetts
We should hardly look for any hasty
legislation of this kind, yet even
in that State there is evident uneasneas In re-
gard to the freedom hitherto enjoyed by the
towns 10 run in debt for subscriptions to rail-
roads, and some pretty radical measures are
proposed to put a stop to it. The general rail
road law has. M to this time, authorized towns
and elite, of less than $4,000 by tho census
of 1870 10 subscribe for the stock of any road
living within their boundaries. The Committee
on Railroads, some weeks ago. proposed 10
amend the law so that it should not apply To
any city after it has been asccItaned to have
more than the population mentioned. After
some contest between the House and Senate
as to the degree of restriction to be retained.
the House on Thursday made clean sweep OF
The whole subject and passed an amendment
taking away altogether from towns and Giles
lie power of subscribing, for railroad stock.
OF course il is scarcely probable that this
wholesale disability will be imposed upon the
MUNICIPALITIES of the State. But the vote l.
important IN itself as showing the impulsi'c
opposition which has grown up even 10 con
sentative communities against the mortgaeiDg
of municipal credit in favor of railroads.
In several Western States the effort has been
made to restrict as FAR as possible this specu-
lative tendency of towns AMI countless But II
is found that they, through their Councilmen
or Supervisors exhibit as much ingenuity to
cvulc the sslutary restraints tbus forced upon
them, as scoolhoy, do TO escape their tasks or
the punishment consequent on their trans
grcssions. They have been 50 accustomed to
the reckless assumption OF ob'igat;ons that II Is
difficult to keep them within either reasonable
or constitutional limits. They arc neither de-
tered by pieccpt nor example. In the STATE
! of Illinois, for instance, where the Constitution
| il explicit against the creation OF debt be-
yond fixed and moderate percentage ct the
value Of property in a town or county. seye-
| raj communities are in condition OF flagran'
| insolvency. In one notorious case, that OF De-
witt County, the debt is small. and only the
rlscaty Of "a li.tlo ring of malcOntcnt1
about the Court-H House prevents The pay
nent of it, which will OF course evrntu-
ally he forced by process OF law.
In the Maco,tpin County case, in the
same State, the community owes actually more
than it can pay without complete ruin. The
citizen, and their representatives have greatly
damaged themselves by the Lack of sincerity
and candor which they have shown in the
matter The Supervisors, having refused to
obey the order of the Suprinc Court to levy
taxes for pay ing what they owed, were nned
a thousand dollars apiece. The County PAD
the fines ont of the treasury, aud the Court
properly punished this defiant contempt by
ordering the money TO be divided pro rata
among the creditors Of the County, and the
SupeI,i.ors to be called upon once more FOR the
payment of their own fines. This just aud
wholesome action OF tho Court will have u good
effect us far a. it goes. The debt, it is probable,
will have to be compromised in some way, to
! the lasting injury of the credit Of the county.
and. more or less, to that of the State. One
of the worst acts OF the lato Legislature OF
| Illinois was the passage Of a bill 10 put the
collection of taxes for the payment OF interest
| on bonds issued by towns. cities, aud counties
exclusively into the hands OF local officers, and
to take il away from the officers OF the State.
GOV. Beverage deserves great credit Tor his
veto of this msclicyous bill. Illinois is great
and prosperous State hut it il in no situation
| TO play such tricks with is credit.
The evils of such an ildiscrimiDate system
of running in debt are too obvious to require
mention. The discussion of the best means of
pre-, enting them which is now taxing place Ill
a great many States, may produce good re-
sults. if il docs not lead to factions OK la5ty
| legislation. The result in Massachusetts,, where
Tie matter at issue has received more than
ordinary attention at the hands OF experienced
| and Intelligent Commissioners, will bc r. gIr'ied
With interest in every part Of the country.
--
7UE CASE or DIR. HAMMOND.