The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-06-07
The Autobiography Issue.
New York Star, May 24.l

In response to request from the men,
bers of the District Committee of the Elev-
enth Assembly District, Hon. John Kelly
delivered an address at their headquarters
last evening on the Anti Monopoly Ques-
ton. The hall was tastefully decorated
with bunting, and was taxed to its utmost
to accommodate the crowds who sought ad-
mission. In opening his address, Mr.. Kelly
said:
II have come tonight to say few words
on the question of Autobiography, which is
of vital interest to the people to-day. There
is st present pending in the Legislature a
bill for the appointment of Railroad Com
mission, through which business men say
they will be enabled to receive justice
at the hands of the Railroad Compa-
MES This bill, as originally introduced,
gave the power to the Governor of
this State to appoint Railroad Commission
without regard TO political affiliations. An
amendment offered by Major Haggerty pro-
vides that the Governor should appoint a
Commission of one from each political party
and one from the business men of the State,
SO by that means the business men and peo-
pie of the State might succeed in obtaining
from these railroad corporations that justice
which was due them. We have no objec-
ton to railroads or other corporations so
long as they deal fairly with the people,
whose duty it is. however, TO keep a close
eye on the conduct of their representatives
in the Legislature, aid see that their inter
ests are properly protected Dy them"
Mr.. Kelly then traced the history of the
railroad system from its inception till the
present day. He characterized it as grasp
ing and tyrannical, which arose from its de-
sire to accumulate wealth at the expense of
the people, and particularly the poorer and
laboring classes. First a man gets one
million; then he wants two, and so on until
he gets hundred million-every dollar OF
which he grinds out of the labor of the peo-
pie and no way else. There is deadlock in
the State Legislature on this very Railroad
Commission, and there is nobody who will
not readily conclude that it will be the
means of stopping the appointment of this
Commission; at least, think 1T looks that
way"
The speaker then Analysed the monopolie:
in kerosene, coal iron, sugar, telegraphs and
even medicines and the present banking sys
tenn, all of which he condemned roundly
and showed by statistics the fabulou:
amounts of money taken from the people
wear after year under the uDrelenting hand
of capitalists and monopolists. Returning
to the railroad monopoly question, he said
Look at the Central Railroad. In 1866 the
Harlem Railroad was not paying any divi
dend; but after the death of Dean Rich
mona the elOer aHueFOllb SecuTeQ COnIrO
of the Central, and Immediately succeeded
in forming a combination. AT one Jump hi
increased the capital to 81, 900, 600. Thil
matter was Investigated, and the Treasures
OF that road swore, under oath, that during
the year 1867 the sum OF $500, 900 was ex
pended in the Legislature, which was, L TAX,
it, very cheap after all. seeing that the Har
| lem stock, which was once at ten cents, Ger
tainly not more than twenty-five cents. vii
on Change to-day bring 5000 share, Will
the Central is paying from s to 10 per cent
But these railroads are owing somebody 10
day S., 600, 0O0 900; the money is owing eithe
here or abroad, and somebody in the en-
will suffer-"