The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-05
THE WAR or THE GREAT RAILROAD
RINGS.

WASHINGTON, Feb 4-One good result Il
likely to follow tho personal warfare which
Scott and Huntington 80 vigorously waged be.
fore the Committee on Pacific Railroads of the
House during the past week. If they did no.
thing else. they succeeded in exposing the mo-
tves and the policy of each other thoroughly
so as to satisfy all fair-mndnd men that neither
Is to be trusted. and that both their schemes
ought to be discarded. Scott charged Hunting
ton with seeking to establish monopoly in the
interest OF a corporation Of which he IL one Of
the chief owners, and that the so-cnlled South
ern Pacific is really but another name for the
Central Pacific, whose cxtortionate rates he
cited. to show what would be In store for bust
ness. If the new project should be favored
On the other hand. Huntington charged Scott
with being the head Of n Ring seeking to get
forty or fifty millions OF Government bonds for
Il road which he himself offered to construct
for the land grant, and alleged that his whole
career had been one OF jobbory. This exchange
Of compliments on the part Of these two chiefs.
each seeking to promote a special interest. was
rather instructive to the spectators and to that
portion OF the committee not identified with
either faction. But fierce as the mutual crimi-
nations WERE Scott and Huntington are fully
capable Of eating their bitter words. and shak-
ing hands over compromise, In this era Of
reconciliation.
Any bargain they NAV agree to make. or that
may be made for them. Is a bargain TO be dis
trusted by Congress. no matter under what
auspices ii shall be presented. As the matter
now stands. neither project can succeed in the
House OF Representatives. The subsidy men.
pure and simple, will not vote for the Hunting
ton scheme. and the rival interest will not vote
for the Scott job. Combination alone would
give now bin the least hope OF success. and
that is difficult OF attainment from jcalousles
and Earring motives 81 action. Hence present
effort to reconcile tho conflict. which makes de-
feat inevitable. n followed up as it has begun.
The strong vote on the anti-subsidy resolu.
ton is not by any means such bar 10 these
jobs as might be supposed by the unintiated.
That resolution was inspired by objects. which
are not revealed in its language. and was voted
for by many members VINO. il fair opportu-
nifty offered, would be- found siding with sub
sides and supporting the largest grants. On
the other hand. Il number OF southern members
voted against the resolution who are in favor
Of a road TO the Pacific. which shall be distinctly
Southern. but who distrust SCOTS scheme Us
being only Southern in disguise.
When these different projects are stripped OF
their false pretences and their fabricated fig
ures. jobbery is found behind every one of
them. One is entitled to no moro consideration
than the other. for they all seek TO draw upon
tho Treasury. and to Increase the strength Of
that formidable corporate power. which has.
year after year. been tightening its grip on the
throat Of the Government. corruptinc It's agen-
cics. iuyng Senators, Representatives, AMI
committees in Congress. and which. more than
any other single agent WINS Instrumental IN
cheating Mr.. Tildon out OF the Presidency
through the fear Of his determination and
ability 10 arrest the growth Of this dangerous
element IN our politics.
When the decision Of the Ele storal Commits
sion was known 10 depend on a single vote the
railroad kings and the chiefs Of the lobby gath
cred at Washington. like so many vultures
ready TO pounce on their prey. They knew that
the confirmation Of Mr. rildeas already perfect
tie would reyoutioniz- the corrupt cystem By
which they had been enriched. and through
which they had directed the legislation Of Con-
gross IN subsidies. itnd grants. and. IN concert
with another combination, the mighty opera
tions Of the Treasury. Il irds Neb cOite Ndf
spoke NTH Irdd.eys tongue. o1t u ,rps Meir act
~ whrh Hayes ,rns falsely and Prominently de-
clored 10 be ITeside'i. over the votes OF the
people and vi the Electoral Colleges.