The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-18
The Subsidy Hunters.

The approach OF a session OF Congress Is
always behcraldcd, in our day, by cluster
ing Of subsidy hdntcrs. under the impressive
title Of commercial convention. As il is
the early bird that catches the worm, the
birds Of the subsidy feather flock together
betimes, in place Of awaiting the opening of
Congress- to ilutter and chatter around the
Capitol, and To establish their nests in the
Hobbies.
During the past week such q convoca-
ton Of subsidy harplcs has been held at Chi
cago. Its purpose seems to have been to no.
tify all the grabbers and jobbers who propose
building private railroads canals, and
steamship lines at public expense, TO pool
their issues and unite in Il general swoop
upon the public purse
So barcfaced was this project Of joint
raid that a minority Of the Committee on
Resolutions presented a report protesting
against recommending that special schemes
should be subsidized, TO the exclusion Of
Others there should be fair play, and a
share Of the plumber foT all the coniederates
But the majority OF the Committee, and
also Of the conclave, were evidently there TO
strike an offensive aud defensive alliance
between half dozen Of the chief subsidy
accordingly these were specially COM
mended, in the resolutions passed, 10 the
consideration OF an enlightened Congress.
We find, then that the schemes thus an
bounced to be- in league are the Texas Pacific
Railroad, the Northern Pacific Railroad, all
The various steamship lines in want Of an
ocean mail service between the chief
ports OF the United States and all i'm
..f.I q
South America in American built and owned
ships, and the Virginia and North Carolina
coastwise canal lines. The support, or at
least the neutrality, Of minor subsidy hunt
ers Is invoked by IA general resolution that
Congress should "aid in the opening and
Improvement OF such lines of transportation
by land and water as are Of general and ma
Eonal Importance
or course the purpose was not thrust
Extensively TO the front, first, last, and
all the time, in the session Of this Chi
eago Convention. Fine speeches were made
on the triumphs OF commerce and Industrial
mergy, compliments paid TO American en-
lerprise and invention, and aspirations
breathed for the binding together Of all
mankind, at least on this side Of the globe,
with the gentle ties Of trade. There were
letters read from HAYES and HAYEs's Cabl-
net, and from some of the standard bearers
and champions OF subsidy grabs In Con-
gross last winter, commencing the COnven-
ton on lofty and patriotic grounds But the
resolutions have told its meaning, which is
that OF league Of Treasury raiders, united
by n common purpose of public plumber,
Such vicious combinations Of subsidists
furnish their own condemnation by showing
that each scheme Is we'll aware that IL has
no chance Of success save by being tackled
10 half dozen others in the same plight.
There be land rats and water rats, but all
can aid in gnawng into the public grain
cribs. The trading Of votes between land
schemes and water schemes will not be en-
barrasscd by any incOngruity or want of
logical connection. Still, the managers may
find that the few big schemes must give
more than general promises to the myriad
minor schemes. These latter also intend Ia
go in the first boat The Atchson Topeka
and Santa Fe Railroad, for example, was
sacrificed Mt Chicago for concentration on
the Texas Pacific. but It may not consent Ia
dccapitation in Congress. The Virginia and
North Carolina canal scheme was picked
out for mention At Chicago-but that may
not wholly dispose Of the james River and
hanawha Canal Company, which last ycaI
asked Congress for guarantee Of its bonds
10 the extent Of sixty million dollars; the
Atlantic and Great Western Canal Company
which asked for n guarantee Of nifty mil
lions tho Florida Coast Canal. which asked
for twelve millions; the Fort St. PhniI
Canal Company, ten millions; the Rocl
Island and Hennopin Canal Company, thir
teen the Niagara Ship Canal Company
iourteoni and the Oswego Canal Company
twenty-five.
After all. this early action Of the spbsid.