The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-03-04
BEGINNING TO TAKE FORM.

diS DcCOlHHIS didfHHcO 1t GtIe pOOl-
ing system" now becoming so COM
mon with the great corporations for
the purpose OF combining against
competition in business. An anti
monopoly league has been organized
and large mass meeting was held in
New York on the 21st inst, presided
over by Peter Cooper.
MIR. E. S. Chittenden stated briefly
the objects of the league, asserting its
origin to be the outgrowth of the "a
buses of corporate powers, and urg-
ing the necessity of universal organi
zation-on some universal basis by the
entire tax paying elelnen. of the coun-
try. Judge Black, of Pennsylvania,
was introduced. He spoke for over
an hour, and in the course OF his ad-
dress, of which the keynote was the
legal and constitutional aspect of the
transportation question, considered
at length the relations Interpretations
to the public. He said that the
course of these institutions had been
tending steadily towards complete
monopoly. Their ultimate designs
We're fraught with the greatest dan
ger to the States, and unless lenisla-
lures would step in and aid an OPP
pressed people, the whole machinery
of Government would be thrown III
to the hands of monopolists. These
men, said the speaker, are not salts
fed with their possessions, but want
to absorb the property of others and
tax producers at their own caprice,
and by consolidation of railroads and
union of telegraphs, snbversion of
laws and Insecurity given corporate
proprietors by their refusal to recoe-
nize minorities of shareholders, they
have set at defiance the rights OF the
public and individuals, prevented
| beneficial competition and trampled
on the spirit of the constitution and
laws of their country. He advocated
that railroad men should be turned
ont Of Office under Government. and
their duties compelled. as well as
rights observed, under interposition
/ of law. Constitutional methods, by
which the people might be protected
in their rights, were discussed, and
authorities quoted to demonstrate
that relief lay in the hands of the pub
lie itself. 1t was shown that by the
power of their wealth, railroads had
obtained large share of control of
supreme and state courts and various
legislative bodies. and that judges
were elected and representatives Sc
lectcted with special reference to their
fitness tor advancing the interests of
the corporations they represented.
Railroads were rapidly assuming an
influence disproportionate to the rel
ative position they occupy toward
other bodies. The character and ex-
tent of snch laws which should be en-
/. acted was explained, and their adop-
ton strongly recommended. The
speaker was frequently interrupted
by applause, and at one time when he
asked the question, What shall we
do with the corporations ?" man in
the audience shouted, 8. Confiscate e
their stealings." "Well," was the
answer, we would like to, but they
have carried them out Of sight"
Senator Window sent a letter dep
recating the soclalislIc tendency and
treating at length OF the abuses which
exist in the management of railways
and telegraphs, and laid much stress
on the danger OF single man con-
trolling the educational power OF the
press. by the ownership of the tele-
graphs, and strongly advocated the
postal telegraph and government re-
straint to be exercised over the in
crease of corporate powers without
such restraint. The letter read !:
"What is there to fix the limit of ex
action of corporate powers OH the peo-
pie? What is there to hinder these
men from depressing or initiating the
value of all kinds of property to suite
their caprice or advance What
shall be said of a free people who will
submit without protest to be bound
hand and foot ?"
A Washington special to the Chi
co InterOcean says: A distinguish
ed army officer, who has been in the
Chagres river country, said to its cor
respondent: 1t took ten years to
lay the track of railroad across the
IsLhmus, and the result was dead
mems homes enOuoh To nave the rail