New-York tribune., 1879-01-06
THE REPORT.
THE DIRECTORS CoNFINE THEMSELVES TO CURRENT
QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS:
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-The report of the
Government Directors of tue Union Pacific Railroad Is
aligned by Charles Francis Adams jr Daniel Chadwick
George b. Smyth, Ralph p Bnckland and Charles
c. Housed II begins by remarklng that the di-
rectOrs were all appointed, with the exception OF
Mr. Chadwick, within the present year. They nad no
previous knowledge Of the affairs Of the corporation
and only general information as to Its relations Win the
Government under these circumstances 1t was Tor
tunate alter their appointment two laws were
enacted by Congress which greatly simpnfed their
WORK. Tue report then says
BY one of these acts the annual payments allow
ances etc to be made to the Government by the
Union Pacific fixed, while by the other a new
bureau was established in connection with the Depart
m,ut OF the Interior for auditing the accounts of that
company among These two measures OF legisa-
ton cfeetuaily relieved the present Government
directors from further considering many subjects
which had engaged the attention OF their
predecessors. For the immediate time be-
ing and at least pending the action
of tie courts in arising out OF the operation OF the
acts referred 10, aud which nOw Is understood
ready dscusson the nn1nc relations of the Gov
ernmen ana the mon faGIno uIs. 1e consueou , as as
definitely settled This subject therefore, calls fOr no
t"e comTang's finances ITS resources and the disposition
made OF them Government has lis own andltor ana
and statistics which 1t would be in the power of
Government directors TO furnish. Neither have tue
yestigate questions OF the past connected with
the construction of the Union Paeihc koad a
contrary deemed that they would best subserve
the purpose of their appointment by strictly cOnining
their attention to questions the present giving the
Department such information as they might he able 10
procure relating to the existing condition ol ,ne prop
erty policy pursued ny the direction I'D the
Infringement OF the cOnpanys affairs. - -, -.
he lal yearly inspection of the road was MADE In
September ana October All of the memners Of tine
bnard took part III II, with the exception OF MI Chd-
wrk VINO WAS prevened from 80 doing by busibess IN
He
of the report derived from personal observation OF tne
nroperty or its management the spot BOtH locally
On the line ana IN the general offices OF the
corporation ut Ncw-Y0rk and Boston. every
obaining whatever information they may have desired
No disposition withhold conceal bds at any time
been apparent GA tne eoh,rary, from the beginning
the fullest investigation seemed rather 20 be couned,
while more than once the teehns has been openly ex
pressed that justice has nor been done elmer 70 e
actions intentions Of those now Responsible Tor ne
management OF the cOmrany's affairs public lnqdlry
al impartial and Intelligent could, II was Claimed
result only To IFS advantage.
20 far AS the inquiries OF the present uoverhmen'
directors nave gone they have Geeu general chaf-
acer and have solely to the two subjects already
referred othe material condition OF the property anu
business polcy of those managing u As Iespe9lS
these also the inquiry has necessarily been both partial
and superficial The CONCLUSIONS arrived a. 30 Iar ss
they are IN many iesiee,s quite ulheient IIo" mna'
the anticipated when the inquiry was Degah
such as they however they could not be avoided
1HE ROAD 10 BE TESTED BY A HIGH STANDARD
In passing upon the material condition Of the Union
Pacific Road the first point to be determined is the
standard BY which 1t shall be adGedwhether by that
in use on Eastern trunk nesor by that In use on the
best OF the Mississippi Valley or by less severe
standard which Is usually applied 10 the newer roads
weat OF the Missouri In OF the facts which 1t ID
unnecessary TO more than refer to, connected with
tia organization and construction Ii seems manfestly
right tnat the Union Pacific should be Judged by the
most standards known among the railroads o
the country. No good reason is apparent why 1t should
not be held strictly tina test why It's owners and
ofnsers should object TO IT. As ls matter OF common
knowledge, the road was practically built out OF
the public money, and the STOCK which now
| the enterprise and energy which the original con
structors put into their undertaking The corporation
on the other hand received r0mhe Government an In
dorsement of Unprecedented berality The road was
designed to be great national thoroughfare-a monl
ment OF public hDeraity aud of private enterprise
Under these those representing the Gov
ernment in the conduct OF Its Affairs weud clearly not
be justified II, In their Inspection, they applied Sny