The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-04-16
Tuesday. April ls. 1878.
THE PACIFIC r. r. FUNDING BILL


The House of Representatives should
lose no unnecessary time in passing the
senate bill in regard to the Pacific Railroad
Funding Bill. 1t is understood that the
House is even more pronounced in favor
OF the bill than was the senate, and that
the great railroad kings have abandoned
all expectation of preventing the passage
of the bill through the House. 1t is also
supposed that the President will sign the
bill when presented to him without hesi-
tation.
The country has reason to rejoice that
for once the gigantic efforts of huge and
INSCRIPTIONS corporations have met an
open and undenlable defeat, and the inter-
ests of the people as such have been
sustained.
1t is the first time in fifteen years that
IN struggle between monopolles and the
interests of good government the contest
has not been won by the money power
For that length of time virtually the legis-
lation of congress has been dictated and
prescribed by capitalists exclusively in
their own interest The railroad rings have
been accustomed to manage committees
and compel majorities in Congress at their
own pleasure. The means of accomplish
ing this were always at hand; the public
are entirely familiar with the process.
There are none of the people so ignorant as
not to have seen and understood the force
and effect upon Congress of Credit
MobllIer corruption, excessive land
grants, and sundry other forms
of jobbery and robbery, The ad-
mlnistration of Grant has an unenviable
notoriety in connection with all these
schemes of public plumber, and it was the
most pleasing sight that the country has
seen since the day of his advent to exc
cutive power when the senate refused to
be longer controlled by the railroad ring.
Small as the compulsory restraint is which
the bill in question imposes upon their
power and their defiant attitude, it is
still so much more than has been done
within almost whole generation that it is
really an event of exceptional and vital
importance. It's effect will be to compel
respect to law, and prevent the roads from
so managing that the aid furnished by the
government shall! be swamped and lost,
as was DO doubt intended, and the road
ultimately passed into the hands of the
ring with loss to the people OF all the
aid ever furnished. all actual monies, in
terest on advances, and a princely gift of
public lands. But in material point of
view, great as 10 fact that really is. it falls
Immensely below the weight of the moral
victory which has been achieved. So strong
and unyieldiUg has been the clutch of this
one immense combination, that very many
had come to believe that it was impossible
to shake off the monopolists grasp. The
monopolists, up to recent date,
have, no doubt, thought themselves
secure of their object and have
believed that their money and the pur-
chaseabIe material at their command in
Legislature halls was all sufficient to serve
their ends. Even during the tendency Of
the present bill, both Gould and Huntipg-
ton we're present, and with open and uu-
bushiug effrontery distributing passes and
button~holiug senators upon the floor dur
ing session hours, and heaven only knows
what appliances were sought aud used IN a
less open manner and in less conspicuous
situations The democratic majority in
the last house of representatives, was the first
indication the ring has had FOR long years
OF their waning influence and power in
congress. The action of the senate at this
time is in accord with democratic senti.
ments and principles. The senate is
already SO nearly democratic, and so GER
tain 10 become such within comparatively
short period, that it is hopeful beginning
for the country, and promise of future
return to principles of justice and right
which the ring will do we'll to heed, aud Of
which the people may feel hopefully ex-
ultaDt. In this connection, the country is
deeply indebted to the honesty, the ability.
aud the faithful exertions of Thurman
Bayard and Edmunds.