The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-13

burg destroyed large amount of prop
erty. The railroads refused to indemnHy
shippers, but endeavored to make the
people of the state lab e to the railroads.
They tried 20 buy bin through the leg
islature saddling several millions of dol
lars upon the public. Their usual method
of bribery was employed, but was detect
ed; and E. j. Pelroff, member OF the
legislature, with several accompliees.
were tried and found guilty; but here po-
litical influence was brought to bear,
United States Senator Don Cameron leav
ing his seat in the senate and going home
TO look after things and they were par
doned
That last winter the railroads of New
Jersey united in an effort to secure the
entire water front of Jersey City under
the specious guise of confirming the
boundaries of map. This infamous bill
was such a fragrant disregard of public
rights that the governor, although elected
by railroad votes vetoed it. The senate
again passed it over his veto, but the
assembly hesitated, and bribery, the usual
monopoly weapon in such cases. was
resorted 10. An Investigation was or
dered, and the committee reported that
the bribery was fully proven, and that
John j. Cromer was the man who did it.
He has not yet been tried, and it remains
to be seen whether Jersey justice is equal
to the task of Furnishing a corporation
briber.
That in March last two members of the
Ohio legislature were arrested for bribing
Others in the interest of railroad com
pany,
That the congressional investigation of
the Credit Moblier swindle showed that
SAT ,26l 900 profit was made by syndi-
cate of congressman aud other public
men; and it is a we'll known fact that
many of our public men have become
very wealthy without any visible means
of doing so.
That congress is packed with corpora
ton lawyers and other representatives of
monopoly interests; measures in the in
terest of The people are retarded, smoth
cred or throttled, while those IN the inter
est of corporations are consummated
without the slightest difficulty
That public sentiment has for several
years demanded the enactment of an ada-
4uate law for the regulation of Interstate
commerce, but it has been postponed and
throttled without the slightest considera-
ton.
That the last congress not only refused
to restore to the public domain the lands
which had beSn forfeited by the Northern
Pacific railroad, but on motion of Con
gresham Reed. of Maine, gag law was
enforced, and Congressman Caswell of
Wisconsin, tried to prevent the vote going
on record.
That a large portion of the public trav,
Ell on free passes at the expense of the
rest of the community, and free pass
issued by the New York Central railroad
is in the possession of the Autobiography
League, which specifics that it was issued
on account of the supreme court.
That a committee of the New York
legislature, Hon. Alb. Hepburn, chair
man, after investigating the management
of railroads in that, used the following
language: '''Fhe abuses in railroad man
egenenr exist so glaring in their proper
tions as to SAVIOR of fiction rather than of
actual history.
That TO perpetuate these abuses the
perpetrators thereof are now seeking to
control the thought of the nation. Lead
| ing Journals are purchased with ill-gotten
gains, and the ablest editors are engaged
To preach peace on earth and good will
to-men" in one column, while misleading
innocent investors and vilifying patriotic
| citizens in the others.
fiFese are undisputed aud indisputabit
facts, and only few of the many straws
showing which way the wind blows.
q