The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-09
Pnriies and Subsidy Jobs.

Signs multiply that the Texas Pacific and
the southern Pacific OF California Have COM
promised their differences. The bills intro
duced by Senators JONAS and JOHNSTON and
by Representative CHALMERS all point in
the direction Of union between the rival COM
panies. The Texas Pacific, acting on the
maxim that half II loaf is better than no
bread. has come TO terms with 1.-THE great
monopoly" OF the Pacific coast, and aban-
doning all pretence of purpose to establish
an open highway. surrenders to the South
ern Pacific its land grant beyond the State
OF Texas, and accepts instead a subsidy OF
$4,000 per mile, with which to build its road
from Fort Worth, the present terminus, to
FL Paso. We do not. refer TO the subject
for the purpose q argument one way or the
other These various railway schemes in
the Southwest are more thoroughly under
stood by the country than any OF tho sub
sidized enterprises ever were before. II Con-
gress shall either now or hereafter see TT TO
ratify the articles OF agreement between
those high contracting parties. In which the
property of the United States seems To be
the main subject OF the trade. and to give
Mr.. HUNTINGTON, on the one hand, the lapsed
land grant OF the Texas Pacific, and Mr..
ScoTT. on the other, n new bonus OF $4,000
per mile, the members will do 1t with their
eyes wide open to all the consequences.
But it may be well TO remind the Demo-
cratic majority that the Republican minor
ity are watching most narrowly and warily
for any error OF Democratic conduct on
this great question Of subsidies from the
Federal Treasury. II is nothing TO them
that the whole corrupt system grew up aud
! nourished hugely under their auspices until
| public opinion condemned 1t and them to-
! gether. and turned the tide in favor OF the
Democrats in consequence oft. They have
drilled the Northern voter to believe that
the South has returned TO power with an
Unsuitable appetite for plumber, and they
will not be slow TO take advantage OF any
msstep in the direction OF subsidies They
know we'll the power Of that leverage to
! hoist political partY-for they were lifted
! by it themselves-and they will improve the
first convenient opportunity to get it under
the Democratic engineers.
Senator EDMUNDs sounded the trumpet
along the line when the JOHNSTON bill was
introduced the other day. II is plain that
the Republicans are manGuvring for po-
sition on this subject, and as they have al
ready appropriated the Democratic doctrine
of hard money, and thereby made an i'm
mense deal OF political capital to which they
were by no means entitled, it will not be
surprising to see them parading in the
next campaign as the only original and ST.
mon pure opponents OF subsidies.
At all events, the Republicans mean to
hold the majority to strict account and
every mistake will be made 10 tell strongly
in the desperate struggle Of $780, In this
instance Mr.. EDMUNDs-fresh from a eau
Gus which decided that HAYES might send
troops into a State without regard TO
the State authorities-began the miserable
farce by appearing as strict construction
ist and sticker for State rights. He raised
the point, which no one Is likely TO dispute
and which would have come not only with
force but with grace from the mouth OF any
one but a rabid Fcderalist. that Congress
could not authorize the building Of railroads
between points within the same State On
the granting Of subsidies he was very clear
and emphatic:
He thought il had heretofore been declared by gentle
men ON the Democratic side, and affirmed IN theil
legislative action that there were to he no moro subsi
dies and yet in time Of public distress and at called
session OF Congress bin introduced from that side
and sustained By the influential Senator from Virginia
the passage which would saddle the Treasury
told and unmeasurcd liabilities"
This is slight indication OF what the
Democrats may expect in $780, II they should
ever abandon the solemn pledges they gave
the country in the passage OF the HOLMAN
and tho BAKER resolutions