The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-02-04
EADs, ENTERPRIsE.
&c IL q Big Thing for Mexico,
but Bad for the United
states.
Worse for this Country Than
a French Ship Canal.

New Yo k, S.-TTules' Washington:
1t appears from an examination of the
concession made by thu Mexican gov
eminent 10 Captain ESds, that the sub
sidy clause is not the only Objectionable
feature of the bill which he is urging
Congress TO pass. In consideration for
the United States guaranteeing the pay
ment Of per cent. interest on S50,000,-
600 Of bonds, the till proposes to allow
Congress 10 provide certain regulations
In reference to the general management
of tho company, and the operation of the
ship railroad rs to the tariff of charges
for freight and passengers. By the terms
OF the Mexican grant no such Concessions
as are proposed by Captain Eads. esa be
made without invslidating the Mexican
grant. The government of Mexico re-
tsins exclusively for itself the right to do
all that Esds proposes shall be done by
the government of the United StateG.
Among other things the Mexican conces-
sion provides that no tax or contribution
Of any kinds shall be levied upon the
capital stock of the company, or its prop
erty, nor upon its lands or buildings, in
dispensable for the service for the rail-
way. The sums of money which it may
chase of material necessary for the opera-
rs for the payment of interest
aud dividends, are made exempt from
export duty, but the Mexican govern
concerning the disposition Of the money
comforting authority to collect tolls, pre-
no ms Wis AZ Of koll oh
shall be charged for freight and passen-
gers, and also provides that silver, in
bars or coined, gold In bars, in dust or
coined, jewels 10 precious stones, shall
pay / per centum Of their value, and
seize and detain any vessel in case the
owner or agent fails to declare these ar
ticles are carried, until payment of 10 per
centum is made in the shape of q pen
atty. Article II binds the company to
carry gratuitousIy all written or printed
matter dispatched by the Mexican gov
eminent, and to transport, without
charge, the troops, employees in the pub
lie service, vessels, and all things belong
ing 10 the Mexican government. Article
10 provides that passage over the railway
shall be free to the vessels of all nations
ment of the repub ic binds itself not to
close to the commerce Of any nation the
ports Of the railway during the time OF
this concession, except in case Of war. 1t
will be noticed there Is no exception made
in articles IA and Is Of the concess
in favor of the United States, and that
il the United States and Mexico were
involved in wa, Eads would be bound
hn nd
Of the Mexican government,
petent for the Mexican government to
close the rsrts Of the railway against the
U nited States during the continuance of
the war between The two countries.
Article II forbids the company to exer- |
ci>e any power or privileges in relation
to the issue Of bonds or other guarantees,
that may be in conflict witn the pro-
visions of the laws of Mexico, and the
second section OF article % specifically
provides that for granting TO the United
States these concessions, which Captain
EAds has proposed in his bill, the Mexi-
can grant shall be null and void. The
section alluded 10 prescribes, In distinct
terms, that for alternating, transferring,
or mortgsging this concession or the
rights derived from it to any foreign
State O. Government, or for admitting
It as partner the concession made BY
Mexico shall be void Under this section |
3 contract such as Esds proposes with |
The U nited States would make his grant |
from Mexico absolutely worthless. In |
order to enforce the Abrogation of the |
as provided by article Is, it is |
provided in the succeeding article of |
.hs concession that "If the voidanca
should have been caused by alteration,
or transfer to foreign govern |
nent, or because of its becoming q part |
her in addition to the working Of the |
nullity Of the act or tie voidsnce Of the !
present contract, the nation shall enter /
1t once into possession Of the control Of |
he road, its accessories and lands, with |
out the company having the right to in
Identification Of any kind" That the /
Mexican government, in making the con-
eession 10 Eads, determined TO maintain /
absolute control Of the proposed railway
s shown by article %, which reads az
ollows: 1.-The company shall be MeXi-
IAN, even though some or all ofits
be foreigners, and shall be
subject exclusively to the jurisdiction Of
he tribunals of the republic in all mat
ers Of which the cause Of action shall
AXE place within tho territory. The
company itself, as we'll as ell foreigners
and their successors taking part in
he enterprise, whether as shareholders,
employees, or in any character whatso-
aver, shall be considered as Mexicans in
III things relating to the company, nor
IAN they even allege with regard to title
% property and other matters connected
with the company, rights as foreigners
under any pretext whatsoever. They
hall have those rights and the means of
making them valid which the laws Of the
.epublic offer on Mexicans, and eonse-
Iuently be subject to interference on the
part Of foreign diplomatic agents." 1t
will thus be seen by the very terms Of the
Concession made by the Mexican gov
that Eads ia asking the United
States to contribute money for an enter
Prise which, when completed, would be
,ntirely under the control of the Mex
can government, and which could not
'nly be used by that government against
he United States, in the event OF war be-
ween the.tw countries, but which would
)ecOme the property absolutely Of Mex