The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-02-24
NEW JERSEY AND MONOPOLY,

been 80 monopoly.ridden as New Jersey.
During a period of more than forty years
she was known to the country as the
Estate of Camden and Amboy," and
Commodore Stockton, one of the mon
opoly chiefs, boasted on a certain occasion
that he carried the gallant little State in
his breaches pocket. While the Camden
and Amboy monopoly continued in &C.
tive existence it ruled the State with a
rod of iron. It's money and its influence
created governors, judges, and legisla'
lures and all were it's servile tools. When
compelled by the force Of circumstances
to lay down ita sCepter it transferred it's
powers to the Pennsylvania Railroad,
and that corporation to day holds the
State as in the grip Of a vice. Within
the past few months it has dictated the
election of one ofits own legal counsel
as Governor. Still later 1t has succeeded
in electing one of its own paid employees
| to the United States Senate.
These seryile matters, together with
the oppressive course pursued toward
the tax payers of the State by the Penn
sylvapia and other corporations, have at
length aroused spirit of resistance
which may end in bringing about bet
ter order of affairs. The amount ofprep.
erty owned by railway corporations in
Hudson county alone-largely in Jersey
| City-is variously estimated from $780,
600 900 to $45 600 900, the latter sum, per.
haps, being more nearly correct. This
immense amount of property escapes
county and municipal taxation, and
throws an immense burden upon private
property. holders. The grievances which
the people have restively borne through
many years has led to the projection If
an" an"Anti-Monopoly Union" by the voter.
The association originated in Jersey City
where q constitution has been formed
and more than 1000 good names signed
to the plan of union. A committee of
organization has been appointed to or
ganize not only Jersey City but also
every one of the sixty Assembly districts
in the State All that has been acComp-
lished thus far has been done quietly by
individual work, but within few days
mass meetings will be held in further
anCe of the plan.
The Anti-Monopoly Union of New Jer
sey denies the competency of any Legis-
lature to make an "irrepealable contract"
1t holds that the right to tax is one of
the clearest and most essential preroga
tives possessed by the State, and that the
State cannot disarm itself of this power
1t is denied that any charter can operate
prevent succeeding legislatures from
subiectng all property under It's protection
TO eqlLal tdGdtion II is COntended that, at
all events, no exemption privilege can
be extended over property acquired after
the passage of an exemption act, even if
any legislature possessed the Constltu-
tional right to exempt property held at
the time when the law was passed. These
ideas are in accordance with the recent
ly published opinion of Judge Black, of
Pennsylvania, on corporation rights aud
the powers of the Safe.
The action in New Jersey, coupled
with movements to be made or already
being made in other States confirms all
that the LEADER has recently had to say
with reference to railway and telegraphic
monopolies. Railroads and teegraphs
we must have. They are essential to
every productive and business interest.
But when they become oppressive to the
people, and dangerous to private and
public welfare, they must be restrained
and made to subserve the interests for
which they were specially created Griev-
anCes have been growing year by year,
and now, in view of the agitation every.
where going on, the corporations will do
wise thing to take reform into their
own hands and thus disarm the hostility
of the people. Will they do itP- CleUe
land Leader.
The Leader makes no reference to tar
if monopoly, certainly among the very
worst and assuredly the most insiduouE
aud iniquitous. The only rule in legis
lation is to dispense equal and exact
justice, and this will give no special OF
invidious privileges.