Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-02-12
COMMUNICATED.
RAILROADS,
THEIR PRESENT POWER AND
WEALTH.

w EALIU.
Mr.. Edltor-It is most difficult task TO
convince !; man that he is being plumber
ed when lie does not directly miss his
losses, nevertheless experience and his
tory teaches that such is fact In 1862
and 1864 adroit managers Of railroad
schemes succeeded in getting acts passed
by Congress, authorizing the issuing and
loan of siXty-four millions of dollars of
the Bonds Of the United States Govern
menJ to aid the Central Pacific, Kansas
Pacific, Union Pacific, Central Branch
Union Pacific, Western Pacific, Sioux
City and Pacific Railroad Companies to
construct their roads and the Government
is bound to pay the interest OH these
bonds scmi-annually for 80 years, ut the
expiration Of this time the Government
will have paid TO these Companies, OF THE
PEOPLES MONEY, the enormous sum OF
nearly two hundred millions of dollars;
there is to be added to this sum a subsidy
of millions of acres Of public land granted
by Congress, the value of which Will
more than pay for the construction OF
these roads. With these millions OF dol
lars, supplemented with this empire OF
territory, populated mainly with foreign
immigrants, uninstructLd and unattached
t. our forms of government, and ur C.
the patronage of these LUCRE monsters,
are we not fostering most dangerous
power.
Senator Thurman of Ohio backed by
few patriotic men in the United States
Senate, has been endcavOring to check
the progress of these monsters who are
plundering the people financially and
who will eventually attempt to subyert
them politically. We have an instance
in the result of the election Of United
States Senator in our own State, the de-
feat of Mr.. Hereford was mainly attribu-
ted to railroad influence. Mr.. Hereford
was supporter of Mr.. Thurman's bill,
and we have some assurance that not
outstanding he is so shortly TO be climi-
mated from legislative power, yet with
fcrvent attachment TO the rights OF the
people he will exercise his remaining
strength in efforts which may eventually
restore to the people much Of their plum
dercd property, by introducing bill to
compel these companies to pay to the
States this sum OF near two hundred MIL
lions of dollars, in proportion TO Their
population, to be applied to educational
purposes. A bill with such provision
could not or should not fail 10 prompt
every citizen white and black, democrat
or republican, to vote for men as repre-
sentativcs who stand pledged to support
such a bill for its provisions, Innufe, rs
they should to their personal relief ana
benefit, for every cent thus realized tends
to lesson the State or direct school tax.
The powers exercised by these corpora
tons, are not confined to the legislative
branch of our government, but they arc
seeking to obtain control of the judicial
power. The great and persistent efforts
which are put forth in support OF Mr..
Stanley Mathews for Il seat upon the
bench of the Supreme Court of the Uni
ted States is due To railroad influence, as
lie is known to have opposed the Thur
man bill. We venture TO predict that
Mr.. Hereford will vote against his con-
firmaton and Mr.. Davis for it, thus vcri-
fying the old adagc that birds of feather
flock together.
This subject of railroad power and
wealth should command the serious con-
sideration and vigilcnt surveillance OF the
people, for wealth claims and mostly III
forces its own protection, to accomplish
that, it only requires concentrated action,
which we are admoniShed by almost daily
occurrences, can easily be attained. The
best and only method left to the masses
of the people is their ballot; vote in the
future, irrespective of former party ties,
for no man who will not Internationally
avow and pledge his eternal opposition to
monopolies. Who are the millionaires OF
the present day: Railroad presidents and
those who manipulate railroad stocks !;
Vanderbilt, Jay Gould, Huntington,
Ncwcomb, Garrett, r. II. Wilson and
many others. Why arc they called rail
road Kings? Because they arbitrarily
tax the people, and control legislation
both State and national. The United
States Auditor of railroad accounts states
that the net earnings Of the railroads for
the year 1880 has increased over IL per
cent. and yet our legislatures hesitate to
restrain these monopolics i'll their arbitra-
nv, extortion and cXactiOns, upon the
producing and consuming communities.
This is reversing our theory of govern
mcnt b. legislating for the benefit Of the