New-York tribune., 1879-01-06

openly and truthfuy, matter how much what is said
may hurt. Neither s II agreeable 10 do pubic uuIy
faithfully and at the same time TO scoept the money
the duty even though that one be a corpori ition.
Yet the Government director who does his duty must,
under the law as II now stands either do TINS or 80
wholly unpaid As long this system continues !,
practically inevitable that services OF purely lolnai
character only be looked for The active Govern
ernment director Is at best but an honorable spy -
In saying these things. am aware that l may seem
somewhat 10 reflect colleagues who have taken
different view of subject and have not felt calico
upon join present action IL is very far ron n
tenen personally well as officially have been oil we
pleasantest nature and have caused me TO leel tne
utmost resppct for them. Naturally. however. LOT
unnecessary to dwell upon, the burden of the
work has deyo we'd upon me- 10 tne orues W "p pf
pontments was designated as the CHAIRMAN 1s,r Ua
the beard, and 1t has been their Pehsui,e
that should continue to act in that capacy: MY Gor
leagu moreover, would naturally NOT sec nese hd
with my eyes, is there any reason why 'ney %
Men of intelligence OF business cspac&,S & al" d"tics and
ghest integrity they have PERFORMED ,elr . ua cau
will continue to do as well AS tLose duties oad can
be performed under system as defective, and ihseu,
impossible to work under as this seems ,d ~ % "a ! for
have, however Of them been occupied, rs ! iui
61ssi,"ns Under these circumstances may even say
thai they have looked to me for guoahce anu 'n an
exncnditure Of time aud labor which cannot aoru 70
make So far rs /, therefore, am concerned ne Posi
Is one utterly false ana must nave u my
In doing so however would like to render my year.
What seems TO ne TO proper course for the Gov
ernmeDt pursue III It's dealings WIN , NUS ram o
PARTNER. SUPERVISOR AND LAW-MAKER.
Tn the first Mace the fact should he appreciated that
Government stands in three wholly distinct relations
toward them. Ii is at once partner or creator al
nouisitor or supervisor, and the supreme law MAKER
II it acts intelligenty and Ill the way oest
calculated to accomplish desired results, IL must
in each OF these characters act through a
different description of machinery In none OF them,
in nv opinion should 1t make its appearance IN
the shane of n minority representation i'll board OF di
rectors First its character OF business partner inc
Government, like any other creditor, obviously
needs 10 be informed Of the financial con-
diton OF the corporation, Its earnings, It's
expenses and lis assets 1t also requires to know now
the property is All this is secured through
the Government authorship created by the present
Congress. competent inspector only is needed to
make that piece OF machinery complete and 80 far as
can see, we'll adapted to the work 1t has 10 do.
The nqusitorial supervisory function OF Govern
ment is OF another character This function respects
these railroad corporations may well remain as hereto
how II can be made effective through minority
representation u the Board OF Directors unless lts
representatives selected and compensated
IN some which has not yet been devised and which
unable to suggest To do their work properly me '
v ould have TO bo spec alists 10 devote tnemseve.
wholly II, and 10 be so pl ced as 70 De IN constaht
communication wtn each other To ne tnectiIe' me
! independent of the CORPORATION Ills the Whoe
exprrieI &C OF the Government IN It's connection with
the Un,on Pacific would 10 have demonstrated.
the posture or affairs III regard 10 WHAT IL
now known the pro rata question nus
/; yot further. The essence ol GOverhhentu SUI
pervis0r, far railroads are concerned ~ arbi-
tratOn whether upOn quest 0nS when arse between
conflicting corporations between corporations ana
portions Of the public 1t is certainly too mucn 10 expect
HAT direct rs IN tne pay Of corporation aud occupying
seats at is board every species OF indirect Obl-
CATION 10 II, should voluntarily be accepted a ar
bItratOrs in any issue IN which that corporation
~ concerned 81 also poets ahu es These can al
WAYS be reLledIed juicaly and from the outside
Tue position in board OF directors of one seeking to
follow tn IN M from the inside VIII almost assuredy De-
that Ie mast necessarily proceed under great disad-
vantage Tis apparent that il hardly requires TO
rFWaly OF the supreme law-making power. While the
Otner Ners b. effcctlv ~ USED must be delegated,
tns cannot. n can be exercised Only by Congress
itself, ana recent experience would seem to indicate
that IL frequent exercise Is lar from Dehe-
sIyt in IFS presence reserve force behind
tue yatent inlu. of the m.der supervisory func-
lions. Fran point of view, therefore, when am
OF maci merry the present board OF Union Paclhc
directors Anything possible 10 be done thr0ngh
it could he done much more eneetu, iho,L 4
those directors continued in the most undgniiied po-
sitiOn hitherto ana now occupied by them III they
are represent the Government they should
stoned of on tue treasury OF the corporation II
tney are 10 look after investment OF $40
OOO,OOO, they should be required to give some
Cree regular attention to it, Finally, tuey are u
iDfuse an element public spirit INTO The commercial
Dol cy Of a tTanscOntnental line or railroads, they
should be enabled give some adequate study TO the
considerations which dictate thal pOilcy. III otht
words, as the result OF one years service on tue
board, 1 feel very clear that II II Is not 10 pe
abolished ii stands pressing need OF immediate ana
thorough reorganization. No matter who compose it,
pecled il III the shape 1t now bears: l nave the
honor to be, etc, CHARLES 4. ADAMs,J il.