The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-08
AN ENGINE or ExTORTION.
Jaw Could Robbins the Travcnfng Public
aud the t.oyernmenf.

move In the right direction has been made by
the House Committee on Pacific Railroads In
authorizing the Introduction of a bill to regulate
the rates which the Union Pacific Railroad shall
charge for the transp ortaton Of passengers and
freight across the Omaha bridge. 1t has been
decided by tho Supreme Court that this bridge
must be considered a part OF the line of the
Union Pacific Railroad, and as such Of course
no extra charge should DC made for travelling
over 1t.
The people will not be satisfied with the fixing
OF a moderate tariff for the Omaha bridge alone,
but II will be necessary for Congress to revise
the passenger aud freight rates on the entire
line before Its full duty viii have been performed.
An almost unheard Of system Of extortion has
been practised upon the travelling public since
jay Gould succeeded In obtaining the control OF
Pacific Mail, and II 10 likely that the screws will
be nut on tighter than ever as soon as Congress
ndjourns, unless suitable action is taken by that
body. II is not only that travellers who are able
to pay are subjected 10 extortion from which
there Is no escape, but the development OF the
country along the line Of the road Is checked,
intercourse between the Atlantic and Pacific
COASTS is diminished, emigration from abroad is
hirdered, and the object Of the people in foster
ing the scheme OF a transcontinental line by
gifts OF land and loans Of money Is defeated.
Instead OF acting up to the spirit OF the agree
ment by which they were made the custodians
OF vast amounts of national lands and money
the parties IN charge OF the Union Pacific are
now conducting the road so that II IL a national
damage instead OF benefit Not satisfied with
levying extortionate charges uDon people who
are obliged TO travel over or send freight by tho
Union Poetic, most strenuous efforts are being
made TO beat the Government out Of the prin-
ciI al and interest OF the lmmen sum which 1t
toanad N hutld nd xVh Ua hou
ell the money used In the construction. 1t will
DO seen without much discussion that extreme
and prompt measures are required to bring Jay
Gould and his stool pigeons to their senses, and
that time spent ia psrleying with them Is utterly
wasted.
The distance from New York to Omaha Is
about 400 miles. The fare Is s3S. This Is at the
rate of about 7-10 cents per mile. The eastern
roads satisfied with Il, and as long az the fare
remains at this ngure, make money and render
returns TO their stockholders. Now the Central
| Pacific Raiiroud. running from San Francisco TO
Ogden, distance OF SEE miles, charge $3.50 for
| nrst-cIass passage. This Ia at the rate Of ~
| cents per mne. The Central Pacific makes money
| and renders good returns TO its stockholders.
| The Union Pacific, the link between the east
| em and western lines, is I,032 miles In length,
| and charges s.7.50 for lrst-cass passage. This
IL 1T the rate of ~ cents per mile. II Is tbroe
| times the amount per mile which Is charged by
| the other roads, and Is twice as much as IL
| charged before Jay Gould got hold OF the prop
! ertv aud went to work systematically to wheedle
| the Government out OF its just claims for oney
advanced, aud TO force the pubic to submit to
| the extoriions OF "a gigantic monopoly.
OF course the number Of people who travel
over the railroad Is greatly diminished; the
| country which 1t was expected would be opened
1 faA cN sautfy in
barren. The communication at moderate cost
between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, which
| would inure greatly TO the benefit Of both sec
| TONS and which OF course VI ud and In securing
tho unity and stability Of the country, is inter
| rup,ed and the original designs OF the projectors
| are defeated.
Gould has really turned a road which was built
| in the main by the money Of the people, and
| which was intended to be run for their benefit,
| Into q gigantic engine of extortion. and nothing
| but vigorous and decisive action on the part OF
| Congress can interfere with the continuance oil
| his schemes OF plumber.
| II every other railroad In The United States
0nds IT profitable to transport passengers. 1fst-
class, at rate OF from two and one-half to three
cents per mile, 1t Is not out of the way TO assume
that tho Union Pacific. which has no competi-
| ton, can do the same thing. The volume vi
travel would be much larger. and IN opportunit,
would he ehordod to eniarants to settle uDoI
tracts Of land which they can hardly reach nov
except at cost which, to the greatest number
represents large part Of their savings.
| The rates for freight, both local and through
are proportionately out Of all reason, and ship
| pers TIRE reduced 10 the niece ssity of either civ
ing M business or of keeping on with the ful
knowledge that the railroad will absorb ever
vestige OF profit. Tho rates which are charged
for ordinary freight are about the same rs thos
which oXpress companies upon eastern lines oh
tain for the carriage Of the kind Of package.
which form the bulk Of their business.
l. cannot be urged In defence OF this system
OF extortion that it is necessary in order To &c
cumulate Il fund 10 pay back the immense sun
which the Union Pacific owes the Government
for 10 provision s being made for this purpose
on the contrary, every dollar which Is obtairo d
Utter paying interest on the bonded debt, Cos
into the pocket Of Jay Gould, who owns most o
the stock. which cost him a high figure, an
which nobody will taKe GA his nds. IL
idea Is that so long as he can keep up this sys
tenn Of piunder, the resulting Iro1ts will hel
diminish the cost of his great line OF stock
regarding the representatives OF the people a
Washington az peculiarly gulliole, lac hopes t
stave Of any regulatory action ON their part unt
he has found purchasers fer his holdings lie W
thea with road IN a desperate financial cond
ton, be only too willing to let Congress get bac
it, money IN the best way possible.
It's quite plain that the move which has bee
made Ia the way Of regulating the tarir Tor pas
sengers and freight across the Omaha bridge
should be foi. .Ied Is asiuilar action in regar
To the rates upon the rest Of the Union Pacitl
line.
IL may be unpleasant for the 1rihilneto chror
cle any such action on the part OF Congress =, IN
/ 1t Is likely that howl would 60 up from th