The Baltimore County union., 1883-06-02
A STATE ISSUE.

Froa' he Bahi@or. Amsricaa.
There l. more than probability that a move.
men, for non bipartisan municipal government
may take shape in this city before long. Il has
been - successful in other cities that strong
feeling in its favor exists here. The taxpayers
and voters feel that there Is no real necessity for
voting upon National politics In choosing mem.
bers Of the City Council, and that city policy
alone should form the Issues Of municipal eIec.
tons, just as National politics should determine
National elections. But though there has been as
yet no indication of a non partisan movement for
State elections, there are issues before the people
Of the State vastly more important In their busi.
aspects than any question Of partisan politics
could possibly be. In view Of tho recent decision
Of the Supreme Court, which sustained the right
Of State Lcgislatures to Ga limitations and restric
tions upon railroad fare, and freights, the ques.
ton Of the relations Of the business interests Of
this State 20 the railroads may become lssues'A
greater importance than the political complexion
Of the successor TO Senator Groome.
In n series Of decisions Of tho Supreme Court
the right Of the people Of the State TO protect their
business interests against freight discriminat
is fully established. The abiest arguments that
eminent counsel have been able 20 put forth In de.
fence Of the claims Of the railroads to charge dis
eliminating rates have been heard by the highest
courts in the land, weighed and found wanting.
The counter principle 10 established, that railroad
franchises are granted by the State and cannot be
exclusively private property. Every right has
its eorreaiye duty every dollar Of railroad prop
crty IL charged with q public trust. The right
which 10 granted TO n railroad company 20 con-
demn private property Is granted only upon the
theory that the right Of way thus acquired is for
public benefit. II the road thus created uses
the franchises thus acquired not for the benefit,
but for the injury Of the local INTEREST," then Il is
the right and may be the duty Of the citizens Of
- -
proper legislation. Through freights and through
fares very desirable things for long distances.
and the long trunk lines may well compete for
them tut they should not DO made TO s,rangle
iRtcrests Of the agriculture, tho mines, the quar-.
ries, tho timber, and the manufactures within our
own State limits.
Such legislation need not be hostile TO the rail
roads Of this State. No rational person would de-
sire 10 injurc any ono VI great lines Of trans.
portation. But IL is possible 10 protect our own
business interests and build up our own local
towns and villages, and yet not injure the rail.
roads. There are lines of railroad by which the
local trade and travel have boon fostered, where
great manufacturing cities arc strung closely
along its lines and the road looks almost like one
long continuous town or village. The receipts
from the local trade and travel Of such roads arc
enormous, and fully repay tho management ,ha,
built up those thriving towns and cities.
But, IL that the case In Marylaud1 Are ve not
In the wilderness almost soon as We pass the
city boundaries! DO not such manufacturing viii
lagos rs manage to survive do their own hauling
10 and FRO with wagons and tcamsl DO not the
quarries Of Maine furnish the granite for our new
pOstofice cheaper than Maryland quarries twenty
miles on furnish Il IL not our coal trade very
seriously prcjudiccdi IL not agriculture In this
State seriously hindored BY tho costs Of transpor
ting heavy fertilizers aud the heavy local fregh,s
on grain and -four This IL true not Of one road
alone, but nearly all. Tho geographical position
Of Maryland is such 10 place her at n disadvan-
tagc. IIcmmed In by the larger States Of Penn.
syIvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Chic. she
IL helpless against unjust discriminatons, unles,
her citizens .toutiy contend for their own right.
A proper adjustment Of the interests Of the rail.
roads with the interests Of the people Of this State
would advantage both. The magnificent manu-
featuring possibilities Of Maryland, set free frsln
the stinibg grasp Of harmful Determinations,
would develop spiendidiy into busy towns AMI
villages, and busy mining centres backed by .
smiling agriculture.
These questions ara moro important in State
politics than questions on any strictly National
Issue. The National issues Of tariff, FREQ trade
Democrat and Republican, belong properly 10
National elections. But the relations Of the rail.
roads 10 tho people who chartered them IL an
urgent matter of State politics pure and simple
and will probably before long unite all parties or
at least form them upon new lines.
Common sense In politics requires that in
National elections wc should vote on National
questions; In city elections upon municipal ques.
tons, and In State politics upon State questions.