National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-03-25
. THE RAILROAD LOBBY.
ways That are Dark ana Tricks that ara
Vain"

Vain"
TO the Editor OF THE RsruBLtcAN:
see you state the railroad lobby is here in full
force. or course II u.s. And the same may hayd
been said truthfully at any time since
1876. In that or the following year they began
by attacking the patent system. THEY
first move was to get the now famous
Minister to Peru, Mr.. Hurlbut then on tho
Committee on the Judiciary IN the House, 10 re-
port bill virtually destroying the patent system
without any one knowing anything about ~
Under prctense Of desiring to amend the bill Id
moved It's recall from the committee, and when It
camo before the House he Immediately moved 10
put II on its passage, and then moved the previous
question to cut of amendment and debate. Mr.
Sampson OF Town, stated that II was agreed that
when the bill came up for lie passage he was "a
have chance to offer an amendment, but, not
withstanding, Mr.. Hurlbut refused to permit IL
and the bill was rushed through under the previ-
Gus question. Then to mislead the public, wheH
II went over TO the Senate, duplicate copies werd
introduced, one being referred TO the Committee
on Patents and tho other to the Committee on the
Judiciary the idea being that while the orpn-
nents were looking amer II before one committee
THEY WOULD INDUCE THE OTHER
committee to report II, and thus got II passed but
fortunately the Committee ON the judiciary. ins
Guiding such men as Senators conkling and Ed.
munds, refused to be party to such fraud, and
law, and therefore belonged to the Committee on
Patents, their committee would not consider II,
He then went to the Committee on Patents, and
there began the struggle that lasted for three on
four sessions the arguments becoming 30 impor-
tRnt that Congress finally ordered the publication
of 5000 copies. (sce Mis-. Doc. No. 90, 18th Congo
I'd SESSION. II you will examine that you will
see that the railroad companies were represented
by Mr.. Raymond, secretary and treasurer Of tho
Western Railway Assoeiation-an association
which, as he stated to the committee, was COM
posed of eghty-one railroad companies, owning
and operating 80 900 miles Of road, running from
line drawn through Buffalo, N. ", and Knoxville,
Tenn, north to 81. Paul, west TO San Francisco,
aud south to Georgia and Texas" adding, what he
afterward left out Of the record, that he wanted
the committee to understand that they were
power in the land and had the whole Granger in
fuence at their back, and that II Congress did moi
amend the patent law to suit them they would
send mp TO Congress body Of men men, who S, would
abolish the whole system IL Will further od
found that
THE RAILROAD NoNoPoLisTs
were represented by Niessrs. Hurlbut and Eli
bridge, one Republican and the other Demo-
cratic ex- member of Congress, and who took tho
position that labor saving machines were an III.
Jury to The public aud e cause % poS SO many
attorney of the Railway Association, and how
many others / do not know. From that day "a
this there has not been an hour during the session.
of Congress that the monopolsts have not had
their representatives and secret agents here, and
you do well, Mr. Editor 10 sound the alarm, both
| to Congress and the people As Republican \
say to our members and Senators they cannot
afford to support these monopolis!s In their insoi
| lent demands. Already Congress has given them
| l56,5l4,99I acres of the public lands, until tho
cream of II is all gone, aud the settlers are driven
to the mountains and arid plains in search OF
homes, TO shy nothing OF the s30,000,000 of Gov
eminent bonds on which they refused to pay the
interest, leaving the people to be taxed therefor,
The Republican party has gone just us lar In thai
direction as tcan afford TO Ro, for whatever party
hereafter becomes the tool OF the monopolists II
bound to be crushed out By the people; And
while on this subject want TO say further thatthS
| people who pay the taxes are not In favor d
| guaranteeing the payment Of interest on thirty n
hfty millions for the benefit Of private companiei
| TO build either
| A SHIP RAILWAY on CANAL
in foreign countries If these projects are Of such
| value and Importance to the merchants and specj
ulators OF the seabOerd cities as is pretended and
are sure TO DO profitable they also assert the1
| let these parties put their capital into them and
| build them. Uncle Sam has use for all his spart
change i'm improving the highways Of our ow9
country and In paying the honest claims Of oui
own citizens Be Just first, and liberal TO othen
afterward. ANTl-MONOPOLlST.