The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-04-25
y1Ews or MEssRs. LurrREIL Anp pLArR.

VIEWS OF MEssRs. LUTTRELL AND BLAIR.
Both the act and its amendments required as q
precedent that the work should be prose-
cuted simultaneously from the Eastern and West
ern 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 ITO miles in CALI
fornia by May 2, 1878, whereas, in fact, less than
200 miles of the main line have been completed
Westerly from the Marshall terminus in Texas,
and not one mile, or even a foot, from San Diego
Easterly. There has b. en- a marked failure on the
part of the company to comply with the terms on
which the lands and franchises were gs nted. This
contingency of failure was, by the caution OF Con-
gre.s, foreseen and provided for In both Acts, by .
proviso that
adopt such measures as it may deem necessary and
proper to secure its speedy completion
In this attitude OF affairs it represents that 1t
would be great hardship to be compelled to wait
ing road from the East, and asks Of us the privilege
of continuing its road Eastward through the Terri
tories to the Rio Grande and as much farther as
might be necessary TO meet the Texas roads within
six years. Such is the dtstre for an outlet to the
East, which shall admit it to participation in
through overland traffic, that 1t offers that it Its re-
quest be granted to construct q line to San Diego
Harbor in addilisn to its present ocean termini, and
to prorate on through business with all Eastern
connections to San Francisco or other points, and
to allow Congress to impose the rates and fares On
the line between its Eastern and Western termiDi
at Pacific ports, although asking no aid OF the United
States, which 1t is not its advantage for Congress to
grant. This is rather more than it is within the
power of the other company to offer. No good and
satisfactory reason is found why this proposition
should not be promptly and cheerfully accepted.
FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT.
Two propositions are before us looking to that end,
One OF them, the Texas and Pacific, seeks to retain
its land trant from the United States, amounting to
IS 600, COO acres, to obtain two yesrs' additional
time, and q special and extraordinary grant of the
II IS ~. 49, u 4hz -. zF ~. nn1araapnonk
upon S3s, 750. 600 of the company's bonds, piedglng
it to the payment of five PR cent gold interest for
fifty years.
sanction 10 continue the road eastward across the
territories within the same time, but without any
other or further assistance than the contiguous
graut Of lands now at the disp sal Of Congress.
Which of these two propositions as guardians of
the public interest can we adopt7 Which of these
two candidates, as practical business men, ought we
to inIust with this undertaking? We should select
the proposition most favorable to the good OF The
people. IL woild seem that by the charter the
grant of the land along tie thirty.second parallel
line in the terri lories was made double that of the
pioneer line By the forty-frst p%srallel, as if in lieu
OF future aiG in money or credit.
We're we administering our own private business
could We Evr q moment hesitate between thess offers,
eneof which, besides being an undeserved favor, in
veiVes grave responsibilities, dangerous precedent
and great risks, while the other avoids ali commit
ments, all doubtful policy, and insures all its prof-
fered benefits within the same time without the
risk of a dollar of the peoples money or credit
We conceive we are not here as the almoners Of the
bounty OF the government TO its citizens or corpora,
tons, but as guardians of the public welfare and
trustees OF its property and credit of the nation,
sworn to obey the constitution and protect the best
interests of the people. aud in this view we can not
concur in the report OF the majority. which pro-
POSES to grant a subsidy or guaranty Of Ss8, 10000 Of
the peoples morey or credit to a corporation.
ANTI-sUBSIDY VIEWS OF Mk. MORRISON.
The Texas and Pacific Rlilroad Company seek to
obtain the guarantee of the United States for the
payment Of the interest on S3S, $50, 900 OF ftty-yeal
five per cent. bonds, to be issued by said railroad
company, and used by it in building and extending
its railroad from Fort Worth, in Texas, to the Pa
cifc Ocean at Sau Diego, in California. The road tt
be constructed is l 400 miles in length; the bond
10 b. issued amount to $k7. 67S per mile and the III
terest guaranteed. to be paid by the United States
used as a sinking fund anu Invested in government
bonds bearing the same rate OF interest, would pa,
$500, 000, 002 of the pubic debt.
POWER OF CONGRESS DOUBTFUL.
Has Congress the power to authorize the covetet
guaranteef If t has, then power has been confer
red upon Congress TO make gifts Of the public
money! and public property to private corporation
and individuals. Has any such power been granted
y the Constitution, or Is it necessary to the exscu
This railroad, when built, will be the D iyat
property of the share holders. 1t will be q militar,
and post road in the same sense, and to the sam
extent, and none other, that all other railroads o
port its mails, troops, OR supplies for reasoDabl
compensation, are military aud post roads. 1t i
submitted that the Pc @er has not been ~conferret
upon Congress to make the United States q party il
such an enterprise by subscription 10 its capita
stock; or more, to authorize the construction o
the road out of the resources of the people to b
made q gift to the railroad company.
The attempt to derive such power, the power t.
build and give away a railroad from the power t
establish military and post roads, is, in the opinion
Of the undersigned, an attempt to prevent the OBJ
good ts private ends. The United States are boun,
10 provide for the general defense, but it does no
follow that they may construct or operate a railro,
for the exclusive benefit Of a private corporation
because they may ultimately and In some possibi
contingency want to use it for a military purpose, an.
more tnan they may 90 into partnership with astoc'
raiser because horses are Necessary in war. I'm
United States have power to regulate foreign com
merce and miner between the States, but it doe
not follow that they may indorse the notes of
shiP-buiidsr or maIchsnt By way OF stinulatin
able to perceive any distinction in principe between
these cases and the demand Of the projectors of thi
railroad for a loan Of the government credit to tn
extent of many millions. with which to prosecute
private speculation.
DANGER OF SUBSIDIES.
The railroad company which asks for this esor
nous appropriation of credit presents no claim upo
the. public which entities it to exemption frtm th
general rule. The enterprise is essentially a pr
vate one, and the company has already receive
from the United States and the State Of Texas
~tufhcient basis of credit to have butt the road ha
its assets been prudently managed.
The undersigned Is not unmindful of the fact tha
, at q later period a different rule OF construction pre-
!, vailed from that which in the earlier days of th
Republic, and watch is Low here insisted upon.
Undelegatsd power is necessarily unregulated an
uBrestIained. Power usurped never was and neve
will be honestly administered.
+ But it is submitted that this belief affords NO sui
: fcient justification for the guarantee and subsid
! asked. Fur were it rendered, as it is not, that TIL
! enterprise is essentially of the Southern characte
: with which it is attempted TO be stamped, no res
/ son can be built upor the fact which may not /
urged with eUual f0rca as a reason why the govern
: should equalize between the lately contending Sc,
: : items all the losses resulting from tour unfortunai
= civil disturbances"
Q RECORD OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
The statement Of the majority that the Cover
t ment of the United States in view of the quauti,y
Q lands given teit by Southern States, has been vi
S just to the South in the bestowal of ~bounties, is b
leved te6nd its Iefutation in the Character OF U
I men who before the war represented that sectio
d They were too sensitive as TO the rights Ct their Sc
C tion to be satisfied with less than what was RICH
9 fully theirs. The undersigned is not advised as
t how the Texas and Psci6c Railroad Company q
quired the franchise and right of way by which
Q is authorized to construct its railroad from Fo
Worth to Ell Paso, in the State of Texas, wheth
by grant from the State of Texas or by purcha
from or consolidation with the Memphis, FL Pa
is and Pacific Railroad Company, under the four
section of the act of March 8, 1871, entitled, -
act to Incorporate the Texas Pacific Railroad Cor
pany, and to aid in the construction OF its road I
J. other purposes"
In the case of Davis VS.. Gray, 16 Wallace, pa
e 2s3 United States Supreme Court decided that t
Is Memphis, Ell Paso and Pacific Railroad was q 81
yiving corporation with all It's property 10 p
l. session, and ali its faculties uuinpaiIed. This fra
,e ehise and right of way the company propose
D. mortgage to indemnify the government for
lie guarantee. 1t becomes a material fact, therefore,
m know if it was ever acquired in either Of the moo
l. suggested, or otherwise, asd whether it has be
forfeited or lost with the Texas land grant I
undersigned expresses no opinion upon this q,
IN ton, which was not considered by the commit
+ but submits that due regard for the intere IS OF
D. government demands that before any guarantee
ic made, based in part on a mortgage of the said M
at chise and right of way, the House should be
le formed and advieed SIS to the title to what Is p
D. posed to lie mortsaged.
Bob Burdette Swinging Around.
burlington Hawkeye.l
y Az rlorboy;lla Missouri loft