Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-31
S:,,eryi.ion of RaiIroad,.

greSs providing for national supervision of rail-
roads, anG it is more than likely that some law
OF this nature will be enacted. At the last ses-
sion Of the 45th Congress, Representative Rea-
gan's bill to regulate Interstate commerce by
prohibiting railroad companies from discrimin-
ating against persons or localities, and preScrib-
ng that a uniform system of rates should be
adopted and enforced was passed. The bill
was buried in a Senate committee, but it might
have become law had the Senate had an op-
portuntty to vote upon it. One of the bills in
PRODUCED in the House--by Mr.. Sapp, of Iowa
proposes TO establish national railroad COM
mission of nine members, who shall have ST.
preme control over all the railroads, prescribe
schedules OF charges for transportation OF
freight and passengers, and enforce these Sche-
dulles. ANY railroad which charges more than
the schedule prices, shall be subject to heavy
fines, and the officials to imprisonment. In at
tempting 10 enact a law that will protect
the people from what Is ordinarily
termed " railroad eXtortion," due regard to
the rights of property should be had. Men who
invest their money in railroads want to control
1t as much as those who invest in merchandise
though they do not succeed in doing so. Very
frequently the parties who furnish means to
construct railroad soon find themselves with
out any voice in its control but thlt Is accom-
plished through the ordinary business channels
1t will not do for the law-making power of the
land to ignore the right that the stockholders
and directors have to control the railroad they
own. What Congress wants to prevent. chiefly,
Is the custom OF forming combinations between
railroad companies for the maintenance of ex-
tOrtiOnate rates. These combinations are di-
rected against the masses who patronize rail-
roads. II a law can be enacted that will prevent
Them its effect will be to force every railroad to
depend for patronage upon the legitimate busi-
ness 1t caE build up. This will establish active
competition between railroads. and, as ''compe-
titiOn is the life of trade" it will regulate the
evils now complained Of
---->SS
The Boston Herald is apprehensiye lest the
disposition manifested by politicians to obtain
the presidency next year, something after the
manner that has recently been employed in
Maine, may cause trouble. 1t says:
THE vote has to be canvaSsed by Congress
the majority OF the members Of which firmly
believe that they were prevented, by technical
of political victory. Are these men likely to be
scrupulous to observe the spirit, as well as the
may gain what they lost at the last election?
Already the leading newspapers of the party
are preparing for this event, as is noticeable in
which says: We take great complacency in
saying that there will be fair count next
time-a democratic count. Both branches of
SohSlCSo WI NC INTELLECTUALLY Wucu tut CDuuU Is
made, fact worth recollecttng' Now what
does this suggestive reference to The party
mean other than this; that before the count
be partisan, only the gain will come to those
who were the losers on the previous occasion?
Clearly the coming Of the presidential election
can be contemplated with unallOyed satistac-
tion."
The extent Of the list in THE STAR of those
receiving tomorrow shows that New Year Will
be duly observed 1t is understood that many
OF the ladies will, as on last year, aim to dis
courage the use of intoxicating liquors; SUBJ
shutting coffee, tea, chocolate and other mild
beverages In New York a society OF ladies
have undertaken to organize a reform in the
matter of setting out spirItuous Liquors on
New Year tables and have succeeded, it Is
stated in enlisting the cooperation of large
number of Influential ladies, who will be able
from their standing In society to set the fashion
In this respect.
The returns from New York and other large
cAes, north and west, show that the personal
tax Is practically nullity. The same is true
here. In the whole District of Columbia but
315 persons make return of personal or in
visible property, amounting to only S1,5a2, SOY
and only about one-half of this number pay the
tax. 1t is evident that there Is something de-
IecClVe ABOUT m0ue or taxation, which falls
only upon few particularly conscientious
people.
The freedom with which reputable medlca'
colleges slash iRto human bodies with the seal
pei, when they need subjects for dissection, Is
likely to receive some wholesome ventilation
from case just made public in New York A
poor man died in Bellevue hospital and when,
by accident, his family learned the fact and de-
manded the body they received it in fragments
1t had been used to enlighten the students of
the Bellevue hospital medical college in their
study Of anatomy. The sorrowing wife COM
planned to the authorities, and public opinion is
loud In rs condemnation Of this outrage
0SO%
The English railroads beat our American lines
In fast time. The distance from London to
Swindon, on the Great Western railroad, is II
miles. and the express train makes the distance
In one hour and twenty minutes-being
at the rate Of SO miles per hour. Perhaps the
nearest approach to this time is between Phila-
delphia and jersey City, on which line the light
ming express travels 4s miles per hour.
The Springfield Republican applies the term
''Garceloning" to the process of political de-
CaDitation Instituted by the governor of Maine