National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-12-29
"Tired OF Contending with Legislative
Bodies"

Bodies"
A rumor is afloat that Mr.. William II.
Vanderbilt will retire from active bust
ness on the 1st of January. He made an
investment several years ago of sixty
millions of dollars in United States bonds,
but consented to hold the sprinkling-pot
for the watering of the stocks identified
with his name for a while longer, so long
as the little aforementioned sum- laid
away for rainy day, could remain in
tact. Mr.. Vanderbilt has had a hard
time in life. Inheriting from his father
wealth measured only by the sub
stance which came within reach of
that lamented gentleman during his life
time, and augmented by millions extorted
from the producing classes to pay interest
on false issues of stock since, he has led
a busy life in the effort to add to these
accumulations all the property of others.
Anxious to be unrestrained in the eX-
ercise of all conceivable contrivances for
exacting for freight charges the full value
given to property by taking it to market,
in accordance with the rule laid down by
Mr.. Albert Fink, Mr.. Vanderbilt has
found it to be necessary to control legis-
lative bodies. There were two ways to do
this: One was to have his own men
elected and the other was TO buy men
after they were chosen by the people.
Mr.. Vanderbilt is believed to have ex-
perimented in both methods. The splen-
did drill shown by his purchased creatures
in conventions and Legislatures have
done credit to his brokers, managers, and
corruptionists. A broker, in an inter-
view with the New York World, after
stating the reported intention of Mr..
Vanderbilt to retire from active business,
says:
II is asserted that the step has long been con-
templated by him, and that his large investment in
Government bonds, though made several years
ago, was by way of preliminary preparation for It,
He is quoted saying that he is thoroughly tired o
cOntending with legislative bodies, and is anxious
to lead life of ease the income from his enor-
nous fortune. II all this is true and he really re-
tires, II will prove n severe blow to Wall street
and to the general business OF the country as well
for the active employment of Mr.. Vanderbilts
wealth has been of great advantage.
The business of contending with leg
islative bodies" will doubtless be con-
tinued at the old stand for the assignees
under the fragrant and familiar name
and style of Hustled, Sessions, Woodin,
Robertson, Depew & Co., and the virtuous
New York Tribune will continue vigor-
ously to denounce all others as lobbyists
and machine politicians.
What day it would be for this coun-
try if the men of New York-her scholars,
statesmen, merchants, bankers, me-
chanics, and farmors-would rise up in
their might in each political party and
drive the corporal On mcnials to the rear
in primary meetings, conventions, and
Legislatures The right of the people to
choose their own State and national rep
resentatives still exists. 1t has been
usurped by the political panders of the
railroad corporations, but it can be again
asserted. The power Of the State and
National governments over railroads is
not the question. We are front to front
with the grayer question of the power of
railroad corporations over National and
State governments.