National Republican., 1882-12-27
TIE PACIFIC RoAbs.
Demand for IA General Rsduction Of
Their Rates.
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There has been an animated dAjate in con-
gross, covering two whole days, ujon propo-
esition that the Pacific RAILWAYS, built by
government subsidy, shall be pid for their
, services in transporting troops md supplies
for the government only at 80 per cent of
what they are now collecting flom private
individuals for like services. Tie members
| of course, soon became cassed Is partisans
and enemies of the railways and the discus.
sion included the topics of veited rights,
sanCtity of contracts, the powers Of congress-
and the consideration of right, Justice and
equity We read the debate carefully and
with the hope and expectation that at least
one person among the representatives of the
people would have the courage to remind con-
gress of its criminal neglect in this very bust
ness.
Congress in 1864 voted to these companies
SGi 100000 of national bonds as q loan to
enable them to build these railways; at the
same time it voted to them immense grants
of land subsequently il voted to these COM
panies the power to borrow $64, 100000 addi-
tional and give the lien therefor priority over
any debt due the United States. On the first
loan of S6i,000,000 there arc $30,00O,600 in
forest paid by the United States, which in
terest is now due by these roads. The money
grant was equal to the construction of two
roads; one was built, and the rest of the
contributed dollar towards its construction
but ever since it was put in operation have
been plundoring and robbing the public with
u rcmorsclcssness that would shame gang of
Bcdohins commanding the routes over the
desert
The tolls demanded from freight and pas
sengers over the roads from Omaha to San
Francisco are now, and have been for many
years, 80 per cent. greater than would be toll
Grated in any other part of the civilized
world where the government or its officers are
not sharers of the plunder.
During the debate of the present week
much was said about the power of the gov
ernmont to make this reduction of so per
cent on the rates charged for government
| freights The eXtOrtions made by the Pacific
roads were frankly conceded. While every
member of the house was fully aware that
congress had the unquestioned power to fix
peremptorily maximum rate to be charged
over these roads for freight and passengers,
we searched in vain for suggestion or speech
by any member proposing that the rates for
the transportation of freight and passengers
over the roads between Council Bluffs and San
Francisco should, during the year 1855 and
until altered by law, be 80 per cent. what
they were on the first of July, 1889.
The proposed reduction in the rates of trans
portation on government business is very
trifling affair, while like reduction on all
the transportation business over these roads
would be something substantial. The people
of the whole country would be benefited by
the one reduction, while the proposed altera-
tion looks very much like an act of personal
spite on the part of some defeated candidates
for Congress.
We are surprised that in the whole house OF
293 members there was not one man with
courage and patriotism enough to apply the
law and the facts of the cause of the fifty.
four millions of people and in their behalf
demand that the Pacific railway robbery
shall henceforth be reduced fifty per cent
| in its exactiOns