The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-05-04


asks to build 600 miles of railroad half way from the
Colorado TO Fort Worth, the present Westerly
terminus Of the Texas and Pacific company, and
ninety additional miles in California, TO complete
the San Diego connection, without any public aid
and subject to all reasonable restrictions in the pub
lie interest True 1t desires the land grant but
do not recommend 1t, because we believe that this
corporation will build the road without.
Should the represen3ativ Of that portion of the
country chiefly 10 be benefited, not by the subsidy
bat 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 embarTass our policy with the most dan
gerous precedent, which would ex haust the Treasury
with hundreds Of subsidies throughout the unlimited
future of the nation
1t would seem impossible for any man to Justify
himself TO his constituency and TO his couGtry at
large in a course which depletes the Treasury wnen
all that is desired is attainable without expense to
the people.
VIEWS OF hEssRs. LUrTRELL AND BLAIR.
Both the act and its amendments required
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 so miles on the main
line in Texas and not less than ITO miles in Califor-
mia by May g. 1873 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 foot, from San Diego Easterly. There
has been marked failure the part of the company
TO comply with the terms on which the lands and
franchises were granted This contingency of fall
ure was, by the caution of Congress- foreseen and
provided for in both Acts by a proviso that
Upon failure to 80 complete 1t, Congress may
adopt such measures as it may deem necessary and
proper to secure its speedy completion"
In this attitude of affairs 1t represents that IT
would be great hardship to be compelled to wall
indefinitely upon disabled company for connect
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 much farther as
might be neces airy to meet the Texas roads within
six years. Such Is the desire for outlet to the
| East, which shall admit it to participation in
through overland traffic that it offers that If its re-
quest be granted TO construct line to San Diego
| HarbOr In addition to its present tpTmlnl and
| to prorate through business with all Eastern
connections to San Fran cisco other points AID to
allow Congress to impose the rate and fares the
| line between its Eastern and Western termini at
Pacific ports, although asking aid of the United
| States which it Is not advantage for Congress to
grant. This is rather more than 1t is within the
| power of the other company to offer No good
and satisfactory reason is found why this PROPOSE
ton should not be promptly and cheerfully ac-
| copied.
FROM BUSINESS STANDPOINT.
Two propositions are before looking to that end,
One OF them, the Texas and Pacific, to retain
its land grant from the United States amounting to
| 49, 600, 900 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 $3S 900 OF the companys bonds pledging 1t
to the payment of five per cent. gold interest for
| fifty years.
The other, the Southern Pacific asks only our sane
tion to continue its road East ward the terri
tories within the same time but without any other
or further assistance than the contiguous grant of
lands ow at the disposal of Congress
Which of these two propositions as 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. 1t would seem that by the charter the grant
of land along the thirty parallel line in the
territories made double that Of the pioneer line
by the fortyfrst 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, one of which, besides being an undeserved
favor involves grave responsibilities, dangerous pre-
cedent and great risks, while the other avoids all
commitment all doubtful policy, and nsures all its
proffered benefits within the same time without the
risk Of dollar of the peoples money credit? We
conceive we are not here as the almoners of the
bounty of the government to its citizens corpora
| tons, but as guardians Of the public welfare and
trustees Of its property and credit OF the pation
interests of the people, and in this view cannot
concur In the report of the majority which proposes
to grant subsidy GUARANTY OF $685. 10000 Of the
| peoples money credit to corporation.
| ANTI SUBSIDY VIEWS OF MR.. MORRISON.
The Texas and Pacific Railroad Company seek to
obtain the guarantee of the United States for the
pay ment of the interest S35, $50 600 of ftyyear
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 rexas to the Pa
cifc Ocean San Diego in California The road to be
constructed is / 400 miles in length the bonds to be
issued amount to $27,67S per mile; and the interest
guarar teed to be paid by the United states used as
| a sinking fund.and invested in government bonds
bearing the rate of interest, would pay $780,,
| 00J, 600 Of the public debt.
POWER OF CONGRESS DOUBTFUL
Has Congress the power TO authorize the coveted
guarantee? If has, then power has been conferred
| upon Congress to make gifts of the public mon US
and public property to private corporations and in
Constitution, is it necessary to the execution of
| any power that it is granted?
| The 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 all other railroads Of
| the country over which the government may trans
| port Its mails troops, supplies Tor reasonable
| compensation, military and post roads. 1t is
submitted that the power has not been conferred
| upon Congress to make the United States party
in such enterprise by subscription to its capital
stock; more, to authorize the construction of the
road out of the resources of the people to be made
| gift to the railroad company.
The attempt to derive such power, the power to
build and give away railroad from the power to
opinion of the undersigned, an attempt to prevent
| the obvious purpose OF a power intended for
the public good to private ends; The United
fense but it does not follow that they may con-
struct ope railroad for the exclusive bene-
ultimately and in some possible contingency want
to use 1t for military purpose: any more than
| they may go into partnership with a stock raiser
| because horses are necessary for war The United
States have power to regulate foreign commerce
| and commerce between the States but it does not
follow that they may indorse the notes of ship
| builder merchant by way Of stimulating and en-
| couragipg business The undersigned is unable to
perceive any distinction in principle between these
cases and the demand OF the projectors OF tn1S rail-
road for loan of the government credit to the ex-
| tent of many millions, with which to prosecute
| private speculation.
| ANd GER OF SUBSIDIES.
| The railroad company which asks for this enor-
| nous appropriation of credit presents claim
| upon the public which entities il to exemption
| from the general rule. The enterprise Is essen
| TALLY private one, and the company has already
received from the United States and the State of
Texas a sufficient basis of credit to have built the
road had its assets been prudently managed.
| The undersigned is unQiiQdful of the fact that
at later period different rule of construction
prevailed from that which in tie earlier days of
the Republic, and which is now here insisted upon
| Undelegated power is necessarily unregulated
| and unrestrained. Power usurped never was and
| never will be honestly administered.
But it is submitted that this belief affords
sufficient justification for the guarantee and subsidy
asked. For it rendered, as it is not, that
this enterprise is essentially of the Southern char
reason can be built upon that which may not be
urged with equal force as a reason why the govern
| ment should equalize between the lately contend
ing sections all the losses resulting from our
| fortunate civil disturbances"
RECORD OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
| The statement of the majority that the Govern
ment Of the United States in view of the quantity OF
lands given to 1t by Southern States has been I'M
Just to the South in its bestowal of bounties is be-
leved to Ad its refutation in the character of the
men who before the war represented that section.
They too sensitive to tine rights of their sec
ten be satifed with less than what rightfully
theirs. The undersigned is not advised as to how
| the franchise and right of way by which it is
| authorized to construct its railroad from Fort
Worth to Ell Paso, in the State of Texas, whether
| by grant from the State of Texas or by purchase
| from or consolidation with the Memphis, Ell Paso,
and Pacific Railroad Company, under the fourth sec
ton of the act of March B. 1871 entitled, An act