The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-04-25

enforcement Of the law by the Government, can
protect the public against the love OF gain which is
inherent In human nature.
The truth is recognized by the bill of the Texas
and Pacific Company reported by the majority OF
the committee and stringent provisions are therein
made to hold that corporation within the
bounds of justice and law; very unusual safeguards
being provided for consideration of the fact that
the Government Itself really required by the bill
to furnish the means necessary to build the road
and give to the projectors an additional bonus of
$780, 600 OG0 Restrictions and conditions III char
ter can be enforced by the machinery of the law
against one corporation as well as another.
WILL THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC COMPANY BUILD THE
ROAD?
We submit that it viii work great wrong to the
Southern Pacific Railroad Corporation to the great
South and Southwest, and to the whole country to
reject this bill and to enact the bill recommended
by the majority of the comm tee in the interest q
the Texas and Pasihc Company, or to reject this
bill under any circumstances. This measure does
not antagonize, nor did the Southern Paciao rail-
road antagonize before us any railroad project
branch, or connection east sf the Rio Grande
1t simply asks to bud 800 miles e e railroad. hale
way lrol1 W. Colorado to Fort Worth, the present
westerly terminus of the Texas and Pacific Com
pany, and ninety additional miles in California; to
complete the San Diego connection, without any
public aid and subject to all reasonable restrictions
grant, but we do not recommend it, because we be-
heve that this corporation will build the road with
out.
Should the representatives of that portion of the
country chiefly to be benefited not by the subsidy,
but by the road, defeat this measure it is difficult
for us to see how they can reasonably expect the
rest Of the country to consent to burden the tax
payer and enrbarass our policy With the most dam
gerOus precedent, which would exhaust the treasury
with hundreds of subsidies throughout the unrnit-
ed future of the nation.
1t would seem impossible for any man to justify
himself to his constituency and to his country at
jy
all that is desired is atainable without expense to
the people.
VIEWS OF MEssRs. LUTTRELr AND BLAIR.
Both the act and its amendments required as
condition precedent that the work should be prose-
cuted simultaneously from the eastern and western
termini. BY the act of 1872 there were required to
be completed not less than 500 miles on the main
line in Texas and not less than 10 miles IN Califor-
MIA by May a. 1875 whereas, in fact less than 200
miles of the nain line have been completed westerly
from the Marshall terminus in Texas, and not one
mile or even foot, from San Diego easery. There
has been marked failure on the part of the COM
pany to comply with the terms which the lands
and franchises were granted. This contingency of
failure was by the caution of Congress. foreseen
and provided for in both acts, proViso that
"Upon failure to so complete it, Congress may
adopt such measures as it may deem necessary and
proper to secure its speedy completion"
In this attitude OF affairs it represents that it
would be great hardship to be compelled to wait
indefinitely upon disabled company for connect
ing road from the East and asks OF the privilege
Of continuing its road eastward through the Terri
tories to the Rio Grande and aa much farther as
might be necessary to meet the Texas roads within
six years. Such is the desire for an outlet to the
East which shau admit is to participation in through
overland traffic that it offers that if its request be
granted to construct line to San Diego harbor in
addition TO it's present ocean termini and to prorate
on through business with all Eastern connections
to San Francisco other points, and to allow Con-
gress to impose the rates and fares on the line be-
tween its Eastern and Western terrnini at Pacific
ports. States
which it Is not its advantage for Congress to grant,
This is rather than 1t is within the power of
the ether company to offer. No good and satsfac-
tory reason is found why this proposition should
not be promptly and cheerfuay accepted.
FROM BUSINESS STANDPOINT.
Two propositions are before us looking TO that
end. One of them, the Texas and Pacific, seeks to
retain its land grant from the United States
amounting to 100000 acres, to obtain two years.
additional time, and special and extraordinary
grant OF the credit of the nation in the form of an
Endorsement upon S38, 750,O 600 of the company's
bonds pedelng 1t to the payment of per cent gold
The ether, the Southern Pacific asks only our
sanction to continue its road eastward across the
Territories within the same time, but without any
other or further assistance than the contiguous
grant of lands now at the disposal of Congress-
Which of these two propositions guardians OF
the public interest can we adopt? Which of these
two candidates, practical business men, ought
we to intrust with this undertaking? We should
select the proposition most favorable to the good OF
the people. It would that by the charter the
grant Of land along the thirty-second parallel line
in the Territories was made double that of the pio
neer line by the 3orty-frst parallel if in lieu of
future aid in money or credit.
Were we administering our own private business
could we for moment hesitate between these Of
fers ono of which, besides being undeserved favor,
involves grave responsibilities, dangerous precedent
and great risks while the other avoids all commit
ments all doubtful policy, and 1nsures all its prof
fered benefits within the time without the
risk of a dollar of the peoples money crsdit2
We conceive we are not here the almoners Of the
bounty of the Government to it's citizens or corpora
tions, but as guardians of the public welfare and
trustees of its property and credit of the nation,
sworn to obey the constitution and prctect the best
interests of the people, and in this view cannot
concur in the report Of the majority, which pro-
poses to grant subsidy or guaranty of $38 1904 900
OF the peoples money or credit to corporation.
s. ANTI-sUBsmY VIEWS OF ME- MORRISON.
The Texas and Pacific Railroad Company seek to
obtain the guarantee of the United States for the
payment of the interest $685. 900 of ffty-year
per cent bonds to be issued by said railroad COM
pany, and used by it in building and extending it's
railroad from Fort Worth, in Texas, to the Pacific
ocean at San Diego in California The road to be
constructed is AGO miles in leagh the bonds to be
issued amount to $27 678 per mile; and the interest
guaranteed to be paid by the United States used
sinking fund.- and invested in Government bonds
bearing the same rate of interest, would pay $780,
000, 900 Of the public debt.
POWER OF soNGRRsg DOUBTFUL.
Has Congress the power to authorize the coveted
guaran tee? II it has, then power has been con-
ferred upon Congress to make gifts of the public
moneys and public property private corporations
and individuals. Has any such power been granted
by the constitution, is it necessary to the
ton OF any power that 1t is granted? 1884. 4
This railroad, when built, will be the private
property of the shareholders. 1t will be military
and post-road in the same sense, and to the same
extent, and none other, that ali other railroads of
Che country ever which the Government may trans
port Its mails, troops or supplies for reasonable
compensation, are military and post-roads. 1t is
submitted that the power has not been conferred
upon Congress to make she United States a party
in such an enterprise by subscription to it's capital
stock; or more, to authorize the construction of
the road out Of the resources Of the people to be
made gift to the railroad company. 7t VI q
The attempt to derive such power, the power to 4
build and give away railroad from the power to
establish military and post roads, is in the opinion
Of the undersigned, an attempt to prevent the OBJ
vious purpose of power intended for the public
good to private ends. The United States are
bound to provide for the general defense, but it
does not follow that they may construct operate
railroad for the exclusive benefit Of private cor
poration, because they may ultimately and in some
possible contingency want to use it for military
purpose, any more than they may go into partner
slip with stock raiser because horses are neces-
Sary in war. The United States have mower to req