The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-07-19


bonds Of railroads generally have been
stolen, and the owners thereof cannot
claim the protection due innocent pnr-
chnsers.
Hundreds OF millions Of capital have
been absorbed In the ficticious, illegal
and dishonest manner, and when the
bold and defiant gamblers become cor
nered by their stnpendons operations,
they demand, and generally succeed in
having the doors Of the treasury opened,
and money advanced to carry them over
for fresh and new spoliations. and add
other millions with rapdity that
makes the story Of "Alaldm's Lamp"
dull.prose.
Empires Of land donated by Con-
Press, bonds given and interest gnaran-
teed. State, county, municipal and pre-
cinet nil, would ordinarily insph. gem
erous treatment Ia the donors. How
different!
In the first place. shrcwd attorneys
for the corporations prepare bills which
become laws, with well-cons dcicd
loosencss and designed ambiguity, 50
that the companies can claim in the de-
pnrtments and the courts additional
advantages or release from any condi-
litions or forfeiturcs.
They obt in the best legal ability,
particularly ii that can he found in Con-
gr,ss. or closely related to the depart
mcnt or the President.
Then those Who should he the defend
.rs too often become the hetrasers. no
matter whether il bc hy sharing the
plumber or from political and other ad-
yantagcs.
Under the full glare If IN aroused
public sentiment. both old political
parties have resolved that no more Of
the public domain shall be donated to
railways or other corporations, mean
ing. of course. that Congress and the
departments of Government shall be
watchful and prudent. not only in not
giving, but rescuing that portion Of the
public domain to which the spoiler has
lost all right and title.
Yet note the position Of two forfeited
land grants to-day. The New Orleans,
Baton Rouge and Nicksburg in 1871
received grant Of lands. with the ex-
press proviso that said company shall
complete the whole of said road within
five years from the passage Of this act, :
The five years pass not n mile OF the
road built the road not even definitely
located. The company did nothing ,N-
cep. issue bonds to the patriots having
it in charge.
Five more years elapse, when the
people would think the grant twic,
dead. In 1877 the Legislature oi
Louisiana annu.ed the forfeited char.
ter. but United States Circnit Cour,
| decided that the act of the legislatur,
was unconstitutional and therefore Vol 1
ST. the dead, forfeited grant remained
until 1850, ten years, when the con,pan.
| which had aone nothing hut issu.
bonds, had the insolence to transfer its
| dead grant and franchises To u road
called the New Orleans and Texas. n
| syndicate which had made millions hs
shrewd manipulations. This company
built between the points but not ON til.
line originally intended, and then de-
manaed the dead grant. For ten years
| this land had been withdrawn from set
| tlement and had escaped taxation. Th.
grant was forfeited and no power but
Congress could vitalizr il.
The matter of forfeited grants of this
roa, and others was in Congress- last
session, but not reached for action.
Outside the railroad corporations
their attorneys and heneficiarics. ninety
nine one-hunarelths Of the American
people would refuse to yitalize the grant
absence Of any action by Congress vet il
the vitalizing or annulimg. the corpora
ton makes application to tn, depart
ment,and the department surrenders tn,
land and recognizes the validity of tn,
grant, based upon the opinions of tn,
Attorney General. An attempt viii
soon he made 20 iloat millions of bond.
upon the security alone Of the forfeited
grant, The vigor and honesty of Con
gress can alone prevent the eonsumma
tion of this ,illainy.
So. in 1871, land WAS granted to the
Texas Pacific for constructing roai
through New Mexico and Arizona,
conditioned for completion in ter
years. The road was not built
that company came to Con
gress asking additional AID by making
guaranty Of their bonds. This was re,
fused, The Southern Pacific protested
AMI proclaimed to Congress and tn.
country they would build through the
same territory without bonds or land
and they did, and then obtained trans
fer from the Texas Pacific of the un
earned and forfeited land-grant, rely.
upon the ease with which which Con
gress and the department are con.
trolled. to have the same vitalized
They now unblushingly come and ask
for n grant of nearly l5,0oo,ooo acres,
with no more right to the same than
the Emperor of Russia.
1t is time the people became aroused
and when they do, it will be no wonder
il their action proves a vengeance
against extortion and wrong, Organ
ICED, specially protected capital assume.
to he master of the people: everywhere
tariffs give the benetieiarfes great
wealth,
The owners of few pine forests are
more potential than the mass of tn.
people, who must continue to pay from
81 to S3 tax on every 1000 feet Of lum.
Der, most OF which goes to still further
enrich the wealthy.
Last winter the internal-revenue Ia,
was taken from matches. aud the monop
oily engaged in the manufacture hay,
determined that the people shall ha,.
no benefit, that they shall pay the ia,
all the same. which will go into theii
oseriiowei pockets, and not the publ,
treasury. When the attempt shall h,
made at the next session to pepeal tn,
tariff on foreign matches, SO the masse
may be benefited, then note whetheJ
this defiant and arrogant monopoly vii
be more powerful than the millions.
The object Of legislation is too mucl
to protect capital, leaving labor to 1T
tender mereies, while labor in its tariff
duties pays more than its share Of til,
expenses Of the Government. The poo
man pays the same amount into til,
treasury on a box of matches, a pape
Of tobacco, and pound af sugar a
does Gould or Nanderbilt-all undel
the guiso Of protecting infant industries
until the infants have seized and hols
Congress with Il giants grasp,