New-York tribune., 1877-08-06

criticism which cannot result, If fairly made
altogether in its favor.
TO help the woriingmen is the ayowed OBJ
iect-a most excellent one. But how9 If the
methods are inadequate or manfestly I'M
proper. We must pause a little before accept
ing this sympathy as most creditable thing
in a political party. The methods are this
stated:
IN sTbat Congress establish National Bureau ot IN
"dustry." .
II is unpeasantly obvious that the aforesaid
National Bureau will cost money. Whether 1t
VIII be worth what it will cost, or any other
sim. we must Judge from its proposed objects.
uI That Congress exert its authority over all national
bic,yays of trade by prescribing and enforcing such
reasonable regulations will tend to promote the saiety
OF travel fair returns for the captaI l"'os7'
"and fair wages employees, preventing nlsmaasem'h
Improper determinations and the aggrandz ncnt OF
officials at the expense OF Stockholders shippers anu
"empOyes."
The power of Congress to do the many
things here contemplated Will be by many
cool-headed persons seriously doubted. Inc
wisdom of exercising such control, If Congress
has the power, is not by any means clear
Practically, this resolution demands that Con-
gress shall take the management OF railways
into its own hands. Framers OF the resOiu-
ton will protest that they meant nothing OF
the Sort but men of fair minds may properly
be asked to say what tho declaration does
mean, if it does not mean that. 10 pre-
"scribe and enforce reasonable regulations
"tending to secure fair wages to the capital In
"vested and fair wages to employees means
nothing if it does not mean absolute leglsla-
-. IN he charged
sengers and freight, and over wages to be
paid to hands. We sincerely wish that some
1nterpretation less calculated to call III ques-
ton the good sense of the Republicans OF
Ohio might be made, but must take the reso-
luton in its obvious meaning.
Has the Republican party of Ohio considered
that the power of railway managers anu rali-
way capital is quite great enough already
How many States already elect Senators and
Representatives ut the behest of railway kings.
But Is it seriously supposed by any man that
the same shrewdness the same gigantic com
bnation of interested capital, the same artiul
adaptation of laws little understood by The
public TO the needs Of great corporations, VIII
not be prevalent whenever the very existence
of railways depends upon their control o. Con
;rossl VIII they do nothing, then, to elect
men Of their own sort VIII they lave no
lobby at Washington, then Are corrupt de-
Wees unknown among men, or likely soon to
become unknown7
Whenever the Government cOmpels the rail-
WAYS to decide whether the Government shall
control them in matters so essential to their
very existence as the charges for rates and the
pay Of employees, win it not inevitably follow
that the railroads will control the Govern
mcnt? The power of these corporations is
already vast. Danger to the common interests
of al will surely unite them. The enormous
caDiial which they can command will not be
poverless. Are we to believe that the Repubii-
can party can attempt to control the railroads
without becoming the mere tool and instru-
ment of the railrOads9