The anti-monopolist., 1875-01-07

sssassapssss
vested Rfxhss -got Inaiienablo-A
Great Questisa AblY Discussed.
ST.. Paul, Dec. 26, 1874.
MR. EDITOR Talk to = monspolist
about any reform of abu>ses practiced
BY corporations, and he replies, ''vested
rights ''impairing The obligations Of
contracts, ETC. The key note Of anti-
monopolists must be, ssthere are no such
things as vested rights against the sew
ereignity Of the people," or in other
words, no legislature or city council
can irrevocably bind its successor
This doctrine will be deemed by many
as fearfully heretical and it certainly is
radical in the fullest meaning Of that
term-going doun to ths root. We
mean by this. that whenever the proper
exponent Of the peoples will shall de-
eide that contract entered into by
prior municipal authorities is prejudi-
cial to the public welfare, that such
contract shall be annulled. Put the
question in its strongest light. The
present legislature charters company
to build and operate . railroad between
here and Yanckton,a and in the most ex-
plicit terms, gives to that company the
perpetual right to charge what it may
please from time to time for the trans.
portation Of passengers and merchan-
disc; grant that the contract
entered into is As binding and
as constitutional and as sacred as any
contract can be conceived to be.
Twenty years from now and the people
OF this State are convinced that that
contract is highly prejudicial to the
b est interests Of the citizens Of Mime
sota Is there no remedy? Tke. mo-
no2olist murnurs vested rights and
declares there is none, that we have
made mistake and must abide bE it,
we must lie in the bed VIC have made.
If that be SO, what becomes O. the,
right of the people to rule shemselves?
Republicanism does not mean merelv
that the people shall make, the laws.
that govern them, but that this present.
generation shall govern this present.
generation and not merely administer
upon the estate LETT by previsus gen.
Grafton. Let us suppose question.
The Common Council Of this city, wisely
or unwiscly, honestly or dishonesty.
conveys through condemnation, or in
any other manner, to certain railroad
corporations every foot Of land either
the city, bordering upon the river. and
extending back for half mile. Years
roll by and we are metropolis
with population Of half: .
million; now everybody, but the cor.
porations holding that.property, admits
that the continuance Of that contract
10 great injury to the city, is really =
nuisance, that there can be no COMPETE
ton in the matter Of. elevators, or
transportation, and that the welfare
and safety Of the city. demands that
the railroad business should be removed
to West st. Paul. We ask, have we no
remedy Again; suppose that our
streets are completely undcrlaid with
the pipes Of four water companies, whs
! consolidate and charge us exhorbitant
Ipsicss for water. There may not b
room for competing company to lay
iss pipes, and if it did, might &C. As Z
competitor only for short time.
Would we have no remedy?
+ If vested rights are inalienable, Z
city in its infancy may forge fetters fos
|, all coming generations. Would such
generations be called self governing
The fact is the people Of to-day ar
heirs Of all the property existing to-day
and have the right to govern
Esuch property as thsy may see fit, sub
ject to those limitations which theil
fathers imposed in the form Of consti
tutions, which constitutions are only
binding because the sovereign peopl,
do not see fit to amend them. No ont
can doubt that the people. At theil
; pleasure. can 10 alter our State consti
tuition Is to implicitly declare the alien
, ability Of so-called vested rights. Tn
people Of the Union can make the COZ
responding change in tho Federsl con
stitution. The menopslist grants thu
: this can be dDns, for popular nigh
can do anything, bat that then thi
country would Be mere despotisn
throwing no protecaien around proE
= erty.
!. We do not think that this would
: despotism. The Federal constitution
. Ill State constitutions, al laws and. D
: dinances ass- binding on this prsssl
generation, not because they were dul
enacted years ago, but becauss. thl
have been practically re-enacted
those nov living under them. O,