National Republican., 1881-08-10
A CnrnorntIon Pnrnsite.

lions OF GONcfnmenJ 10 corporations.
1t sees with regret the wide differences
of opinion as to what is most needed to
correct existing evils. Mr.. Fink, the
great pool boss or railroad game-keeper,
does not quite suit the Tribune with re-
cent suggestion. Mr.. Fink is the man
who makes railroad pools, which are con-
spiracies between the railroad managers
to stand by one another in the wholesale
robbery of the people. The Tribune tells
us that MIR. Fink, who probably repre-
sents more clearly than anybody else the
opinion of the most capable, enlightened,
and progressive railroad managers, thinks
that some legislation is necessary to give
binding force to The arrangements Which
he railroads may make to sectre nARMoSr-
oUs COOPERATION ~
That is to say, the spokesman of the
great trunk lines wants legislation to help
him control his employers and make
them keep faith with each other The
grand pool combinations, whereby all
railroad lines were to exact the last penny
from the shippers pocket which could be
taken without driving him away from
the use of the railroad altogether-the
monopoly feature of railroading, which
kills ompetition-failed in the desired
object. The robbers are robbing each
other. "Cutting Of rates" means that
the law of competition is in operation.
Whenever it is proposed to regulate rates
Of toll OH railroads by law the corpora
ton nunkics, who write for such scrubby
newspapers rs the New York Tribune,
Immediately sing in unison that competi-
ton will regulate the railroad rates best,
rs it does all other business. Then the
competing lines go into partnership and
employ Mr.. Fink to cqualize rates
and business, all to prevent com
petition. Then the partners cheat
each other by allowing drawbacks to
frcightcrs and selling tickets to scalpers,
and Mr. Commissioner Fink tears his
hair and despairingly cries out for laws
to stop these interruptions of his fasci-
mating game. Then comes the Tribune to
the rescue of the railway chiefs against
the assaults of their servant. Mr.. Fink
seems to be devoted to the cause of hon
esty among railway thieves. He is in
earnest in his pool-makIng, honest in his
endeavor to keep all the parties to the
pool up to the extortions to which, under
his direction, they have agreed. He
wants to make the conspirators rob the
people fairly. He wants laws to punish
competition, from which the railway
managers have "swore Off" The
Tribune, always pirate, objects to
legislation of any kind on the subject of
railroad tolls. 1t fears that if the people
should get taste of governing the rail-
roads they might conclude to take their
own part instead of that of some railroad
companies, complaining that pool had
been broken up-might as it were, SYM
pathize with Daniel, rather than with one
of the lions in the den, refused a fair deal
in his flesh and blood.
Says the Tribune:
Few stop to ask whether greater evils than we
now endure would flow from an attempt to regu-
late railroad transportation by the political power
Mr. Fink himself a gentleman who has brought
great ability 10 the patient study of the subject APP
pears to overlook this question. lie would have
the railroads restrained in one direction 1t does
not seem 10 occur to him that the millions of
voters ifever they begin to regulate transportation
by the political power, will not regulate tin di-
rection only perhaps in any such direction that
conservative men can approve. If asked to inter-
fere to prevent harmful competition between rail-
roads the voters may take occasion TO prevent the
earning of any dividends upon present stocks.
This is delightful reading. The dear,
faithful TriJuHei How nobly it warns its
rn; ;lronI ,,octnrc oo,ni net tbair ctnwprIi %
advice He would have the railroads
restrained in one drection;" that is to
say, he would have laws to compel the
members of the pool to keep up to the
high charges agreed on and abolish cut
ting under. But, says the paper founded
by Horace Greeley-the Fourierite and
Communist-the millions of voters may,
if they get it into their heads to regulate
railroad rates at all, take care of them
selves instead of furnishing those who
cheaper rates. Sagacious Tribune! Never
was it truer to its instincts against the
people and to its slavish passion
for sycophancy to the corporations
than in the closing lines of the
above quotations "If asked to interfere
an order 10 prevent HARMFUL COMPETITION
Jetreen rdjlroddS, he rioters may take occasion
10 prerent he earning Of any dicidendS upon
present stocks" This leading organ Of the
railroad chiefs admits that it would be
well to legisate against railroad competi-
ton, because it is harmful Ito the corpo-
rations), were it not for the danger that
the voters might so cut down the rates as
to pay no dividends on present (watered)
stocks.
All the Tribune asks is that the railroad
kings--or, rs President Garfield once
called them, "the modern barons, the
Charlemagnes and Caesars Of our time =
be "let alone" 1t says:
For the rest, the more the railroads are permitted
TO combat freely and combine freely the more
probable ii Is that her OUn interest will force them
10 regulate competition in manner not prcJu-
dicial TO the public welfare.
Which is to say that the forbearance
Of these corporations and their interests
are all that need be considered in their
relations with the public. Theyare only
to practice extortion and conspiracy
against the people up to the point where
their own interest" will force them to
halt Verify, the heavy writer on the
| Tribune IL "A Daniel come 10 Judgment"
---S-
| Hooper Tip, Lucy.
Lucy Hooper says that to be truly es-
| thenc one must have neither backbone nor back
hair. Hooper up, Lucy We are Il hrst. class, bald
| awful headed, Mont Blanc aesthetic, as far as the
hair is concerned, and II this hot weather con-