The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-12

Defeat of the Great Railroad Ring.
At last, and after n long struggle, q new
departure ia public policy may be said to
have begun in the first great blow at organ
lied corporate power which for fifteen years
has dictated legislation at Washington and
through its mighty combinations virtually
controlled the Government.
The passage of the THURMAN bill by the
Senate which requires the Union Pacific and
the Central Pacific Railroads to set aside
one-fourth Of their net profits as n sinking
fund for securing the advances of bonds and
payments Of interest by the Treasury, is an
event Of exceptional Importance. But vslu-
able as this measure is in IA material point
OF view, IL IL as nothing compared with the
moral triumph achieved over the Rings.
which have been accustomed to buy COM
mttees and to run majoritcs in Congress
through Credit Mobilier corruption, land
grants, and other forms of jobbcry. The
independent press and "A sound public opinion
demanded halt, and the Senate has obeyed.
cordially in some respects and reluctantly
In others. The infusion Of new elements in
that body has improved its tone, and made
this victory possible now which was impos-
sible before the change.
JAY GOULD. HUNTINGTON, and their allies
have for two years past been fully sensible
Of the danger that hung suspended over
their heads. A Democratic majority in the
House Of Representatives OF the last Con-
gross was the first note Of warning and
when that was followed by change which
left the Republicans with barclya nominal
majority in the Senate Of the present Con-
hax Epa bn nj L. ~ 70 r..ff
Hence all their energies and resources were
concentrated TO defeat the Judiciary bill, as
the last chance They did not depend upon
the powerful lobby Of both sexes, under the
direction Of stationary agents and counsel,
skilled in all the ants OF their calling; but
they personally superintendent the opera
tions and applied the persuasive argu-
mcnts which had hitherto made success
easy. After failing before the Judiciary
Committee, they invoked the aid of the
Railroad Committee, and got the MATTR Ews
bill reported, to antagonZc the THURMAN
bill and to furnish the basis ola compromise.
That scheme was so palpably Of Ring origin
and in Ring interest as to alarm some of
the patriots with constitutional scruples,
and it was discree;ly withdrawn.
EFFIGY SARGENT and CHAFFEE were
charged with amendments to be pressed at
mn opportune moment, if the chance offered
but the rally was made upon one ingenious
~ contriVcd and innocent on the outside +,
but a. Mr.. THURMAN said, il was like prus-
sic acid TO the genuine bill, which Mr..
BLAINE had TO manage. 1t proposed to
make the present legislation final, and to
divest Congress OF any future power over
hfg Mr T. t.a.l
the fault, against which TALLEYRAND
warned young diplomats, of exhibiting too
much zeal, and bringing JAY GOULD almost
bodily in presence OF the Senate as an in
lured patriot
Before the debate began ON Tuesday il
WIS known that the THURMAN bill, pure and
simple, had a certain majority to sustain it
against all corners. That fact, OF course,
gave it increased strength, SO that even after
Mr.. BLAINE had modified his amendment
adrutly, as II tO meet crushing objections
raised by Mr.. EDMUNDs, he found himself
deserted 10y Senators who were confidently
counted for JAY GOULD, but who abhor Il
minority and hate censOriOus criticism as
nature does II vacuum. They swclled THUR
MANS majority, and were seemingly the
most eXutant AT his success, though he was
well informed that If there had been votes
enough 10 turn the scale, BLAINE would
have received dies" warm calculations.
The senate was not near so full as when
the adjournment was carried last Friday,
which was considered an inferior trial Of
strength between the opposing forces. On
the main test, the yeas were % and the nays
30, showing majority 81 II against the
BLAINE amendment. Seven Democrats
voted with BLAINE, and nine Republicans
against him. OF the eighteen absentccs,
fourteen were paired, and the remaining
tpur were impaired condtiOnally or other
wise After BLAISE's defeat, the THURMAN
hi gained five converts with remarkable
zeal for their new faith The agility with
which they threw themselves from one side
T. Ca" other Was worthy Of professional
ucrpLuls.
The sentiment Of the House Of Reprcscn-
tnlNcs le more pronounced on this subject
imam THAT 81 the Senate The Committee ON
h'lli"ad7 mad ON the same morning recon-
hlehd'd the InrRMAN bill with only two
U'7S'Nl'hS votes, ono Republican aud one
p'in"'fht' The corporations Will make n
IAol ertud There but with little home of ar
resLnn the bill Worse than all. JAW Go,,rr