The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-16
The Texas Pacific Raid on the Treasury.


The more that is learned regarding the
Texas Pacific compromise bill, which is
said to have received the unanimous APP
prevail OF the House Committee on Pacific
Railroads the more clearly it IL seen to be
the most iniquitous measure of the kind
that was ever forced upon Congress. In
order TO get tho scheme favorably re-
ported in committee. the most extraOr-
binary log-rollng has been employed,
and not only was Mr.. HuNTINGToN of the
Central Pacific road let into the job on his
own terms, hut provision was also made
for holders of deprecated or entirely
worthless railroad stock in real and imagi-
nary branch rofds to the amount Of many
millions of dollars, thus afording an
ample basis for Il corruption fund of cnor-
nous dimensions.
1t would seem that from the beginning
the most troublesome questions arising in
the committee did not relate TO the neces-
sity of the proposed road and the wisdom
of voting subsidy, but to the best means
OF distributing the spOls among the hungry
crowd of cXpectunts. The misunderstand-
ing between Col. SCOTT aud Mr.. UUNrINa-
ToN having been settled by giving the lat
ter all he asked, another cause of differ
cnce arose from the pertnacity OF Senator
WEST OF Louisiana, who demanded sub
sidy in the shape Of guarantee OF interest
upon some Sl1, 00O0 600 Of bonds for defunct
concern known as the Backbone Railroad,
for which the Carpet-bag Ring in New
Orleans got n charter elk years ago, ana
which, of course, was never built. This
rs merely n swlnding scheme, and 1t prob
ably would never have been heard of again
Ind it not been for the opportunity afford
ed TO galvanizo Its bonds by the expected
passage Of the Texas Pacific bill.
The proposition TO subsidize this paper
railroad was vigorously opposed by the
managers Of the New Orleans Pacific road,
bona fide enterprise conducted by citi-
zens of Louisiana, who propose building
with private capital a road to connect the
Texas Pacific with New Orleans. but in
sist that if any such connection is to
have Government aid, their line Is en-
titled TO preference. In this matter it is
said that compromise was finally effected
by leaving the question as TO the conflict
ing New Orleans branches open for the
action of the House.
II would seem almost incredible that the
prop osal to grant n subsidy to such q noto-
rous concern rs the dead Backbone Rail-
| road should receive the slightest attention
from the committees; but il appears to
have been the policy of those having the
bill IN charge to enlist in its favor all the cor
rupt influences possible and Senator WEST.
| who Is the Chairman of the Senate Com
| mt'ee on Railroads, and KELLOGG, who
| has just been elected Senator TO succeed
WEST by PAcKARD's spurious Legislature.
are both believed to be largely interested
in the bonds Of that supposititious road
Indeed. the New Orleans Democrat dis
tiuctly asserts that large number of the
Backbone bonds are deposited with n
trust company in this city, to be paid over
to WEST and KELLOGG in case they sue
| coed in having the deiunct concern in
| cluded In the Texas Pacific bill; and that
| SG00000 il the share that will fall TO KEEL
LOGO alone. There is nothing in the char
acter Of either WEST or KELLOGG to render
| this story improbable.