The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-06
THE PICIFIC RAILROADS..
The Present Congress Likely 10 30 Just
What the Railroad spectators Want.

From he san Francisco chronicle
WAsuINGroN, Dec. Is. The bill to make
the Burlington and Missouri Railroad In Ne
bfaska branch OF the mon Pacific roed In
order to compel that road to receive and deliver
freight on an equitable basis, was discussed In
the House on Thur.day. This Is the nrst rail
road question Of tue session, and may be re-
gardcd rs significant. indicating the temper OF
the House on this impo tant subject. Several
of the advocates Of the bill urged It's passage on
thr ground that the Union Pacific road was 80
unjust and extortionate as to very greatly Grip
pie the business interests of the state. Freight.
when shipped by the Burlington and Missouri
road. aud carried 30 mil westerly. would not
be received and forwarded AZ any less rates than
the charge from Omina no deduction whatever
being made for the 20 miles of transportation.
On coming Elst the people Of Nebraska encoun-
tered another railroad pool east OF the MissOur,,
Many other kindred facts were stated to sup
pOit the bill. Congress alone could grant them
the relief they desired. motion was made to
recOmn nit the bill, with several proposed amend
M nts. to the Judiciary Committee. One Of its
friends stated tn Y that action would be cduiva-
House. and without calling the yeas aud nays,
1t was ieconmittcd by vote ~ ~ yeas to -
u iys. The discussion and action OF the House
In this case are strongly suggestive of the idea
that any legislation which may he achieved this
winter On Railroad matters Will be favorable to
the great railroad comp rather than to the
government or to the com munilies In whicn the
roads are located.
The Texas and Pacific Railroad bill seems
likely to ensross the carly attention of Congress.
The original Pacific railroad bill Tor the con-
struction OF the Central and Union roads WIS
pissed In 1882, ana the amendment by which the
land grant was doubled and the Government
agreed to take a second NOR gage inste d Of n
first mort gaze. and also increased the amount II
bonds per mule, was passed in 1894. l,pth of
caused by the civil r. At any other period
the provisions OF these laws would perhaps have
been more closely scanned aud uosslbl, the III
terests OF the Government have been more { re-
fully protected. mo prevalence u war and
runors Of wars Is favorable alike to the rapid
lnent Of railroad laws. And so It seems likely
that while the rilden ana HAYES war Ia still
raging IN Congress and the country at large, the
Texas Pacific Railroad bill will be put through
the House, and perhaps the Senate. whether
WE ,e or n Tvs Juit "r unjust In ,ne summer
81. Louis: at which were represented large
portion OF the railroads OF the south and West.
The convention endorsed the measure proposed
by Tom Scott, that of the guarantee by the Gov
eminent Of the interest on bonds to the amount
OF tlO0o'HU FOR the construction OF the Texas
Pacific Road and It's branches. Huntington OF
the Central Pacific came here with a strong lob
by to defeat the bill or at least to postpone ac-
ton ON IT. The hill renamed In the hands Of
the committee until the end If the session. The
bill is not yet printed and the proposed amend
ments are not yet accessible. A variation in the
original route Is proposed which Will run the
western terminus from San Diego direct to Fort
Yuma. The Northern Pacific Road asks for an ex-
tension OF time IN order t. preserve It's lsnd
grant. the other Pacific railroads, 1t Is under
stood, asked for fdyors ana advantages directly
or indirectly. though their demands Will he pre-
sented IN future TIL. II there l. no change IN
ton Will OF course. oppose 1t as dcterminedy as
he did then. But II he and Scott have COM
promised. and the Central Pacific Company
has become largely interested IN the rexls road,
a X reported. there Will be nothing IN lie than
sham oppo 'ition. II that. and there VIII ulti-
matcly he long pull. strong pail and PUN
all together to get the bill through. There ara
several suggestions which VIII OF course force
the uselves upon the minds ~ all though lful
persons In this connection. road built under
these circumstances cannot, of cour-e. become
| IN any sense competitive one as regards the
ha uT4t lar ha
| same management. The wealth of few men,
| received principally from the public treasury.
| already enormous, would be by this bin PERHAPS
doubled rom the same source. lheir lllticfl
| power. already enormous would be greatly on.
| HANGED. The commercial mining. and ayricul.
tural Interests ~ nearly one-ha the area OF the
country would be almost wholly subject TO
their control for veal or for woe. Inc inter-
est on tlo0oooO00 Of bonds for thirty years
would amount to $50. 10000. The interest on
the bonds OF the Central Pacific already issued
viii amount In all t. about $4,000 O00. About
SiDODJOD Of the last named sum has alre adv
accrued and has been paid out OF the treasury
| Of the ton. with no power. app irenily, either
legislative. Judicial or executive to comp the
| two railrO ii companies 10 REFUND the money.
| II must be conceded that II one-half the CONT
nent uni all tue inhabitan;- thereof must be
| handed over to the er-hp ana control of
three or four men. no more clever set Of fellows
| could be found than huntington, Hopkins.
| stanford, and Crocker-none who will accept
| the trust with better grace or with l. more
| mater Oi-c ursc air than they. No whae ever
| swallowed Jonah, or rlce rtIsd, with more
competency than they could swallow railroads
and iailroad franchises. Government bonds and
pubic lands ste mshlp lines ami sieanbnats.
| II Is doubtful whether ON scott WILL II adj
mitted to the nrm he half 80 GENIAL in the ex-
| erciSe II this iccruing Imperial power as the
| California uhtet. By the by, about the year
1888 one strong objection to the movement to
| construct the Pacific X .ilroad, urged In Sacri-
menio, was that Huntington. stanford. and their
associates were not railroad men, and knew
| nothing about the business IL they make as
much hea1way within the next thirteen years
as they have within the last thirteen. they may.
perhap., dispel that delu'ion from the minds Of