The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-09-06

Burt, general manager OF the COM
pany.
Col. VIM. Elliott, is spending a few
days at Taylor also.
Democracy and M0nOpOIies.
[Pall Mall Gazette
No one who has paid even the most
cursory attention to the tendencies Of
the times can have omitted to notice
the strong current that in all Demo-
cratic countries is running counter to
the excessive privileges and preroga-
tiveS which have hitherto been en-
joyed without serious question by
great public companies. This tenden-
cy, which is most perceptible in the
great Democratic communities across
the Atlantic, is manifest enough in
England to have excited the alarm of
at least one shrewd and sagacious adj
ministrator of railways. The railway
passengers duty bill is mild meas
ure enough, but its stipulatiops in
favor Of the public convenience have
elected from Sir Edward Watkin
a vehement protest against what
he regards as the unfairneSS with
which railways are generally being
treated. "This kind of unjust inter
ference with the capital outlay, the
management, and the taxation of rail-
way companies" he declared, chad in
creased and was increasing. *
The poison which the bill contained
ought to be entirely eliminated; but
he feared that some of it would re-
main. i + y Railway property
would soon be in the position of
body on an inclined plane, with dis
honesty at the top and confiscation at
recommended his hearers to join with
other equally ill-used individuals in
the formation of a shareholders asso-
citation for the maintenance of their
rights. We do not need to stop to
point out either the extravaganza of
this assertion or to demonstrate the
chimerical nature of the dread that
an English house of commons,
crammed as it is with railway direc-
tors.and railway shareholders is likely
to eonfscate railway property. 1t is
sufficient to note Sir Edward Watkins
protest as an illustration that the rep
resentatives of the people even in
Finland are disposed to look more
sharply after the interest eff the gen
eIal public than was formerly the
case. We do not rave about the tyr
amy of industrial feudalism, as do
our neighbors across the Channel, but
there is great and growing inclination
to exact an adequate quId pro quo
from the great industrial and financial
organizations that have obtained from
the state concessions of monopolies
by which they have been able to con-
vert the increasing traffic resulting
from the industry and enterprise of
the whole community into source Of
private gain.
But it is to France and to those ad-
yanced Radicals who form the politi-
cal association of M. Clemenceau that
we maSt turn in order to hear the
most emphatic denunciatiops of the
system by which a successful adven-
turer or a lucky corporation is able,
by means OF careless concessions, to
exploit for an indefinite period the in
dustry and labor of the general COM
munity. The debate on the conces-
sionS concluded by the French gov
eminent with the French railways
has afforded an opportunity for an exs
preston in the tribune OF the modern
democratic Jealousy of monopolies,
which merits more attention than it
has yet received. The spectacle of the
necessities of the state being turned
to account for the beneft Of the pri-
yate corporations, has aroused the
wrath of the Extreme Left, and it is
this which inspired remarkable
philippe, delivered last Wednesday
by NJ. Nader de Montiau, against
the railways and the '.fnanz
o s fsB Bl#s the S moNgt hdis sRge S5ey
enemy: according to the speaker, Of
Nothing that has ever been Seen in
islature can compare with the picture
drawn by me Radical orator of the
fate awaiting the French chamber
systematically led asGray, alt directors,
shareholders. agents, creatures of the
companies. Already, he tells his fell
low-members, "you are lowering the
standard of public credit, of our dig
nifty; our liberty, the power Of the
state befoTe the companies. So en-
tfreIy have they entered into your
hearts and taken possession of you, so
well have they discovered the way, by
means of their great following, sheir
imposing power, TO impress their will
upon you, to make you fear them, and
! reject as madness the idea of strug-
gle with them"
The French Radical's fear of the
railways is probably exaggerated, as
| the English directors fear of the state
is exaggerated, but there is some rea.
son in them both. Undoubtedly the
monopoly of the means Of commune
cation, as of any object of universal
necessity, by individuals, may become
detrimental to tile public interests
and even by the reaction it is likely tc
create danger to public order. Tn.
doubtedly also it is tendency Of tint
state, as its constitution becomes
more Democratic, to watch such mo
nopolies with increasing jealousy, an6
to seek either to take them into its
own hands or to restrict their pro6ts
in the interest OF the public. NJ
Nader de MnotJan's notion is thai
railway charges should be so fixed a.
just to defray the expenses of worl
and maintenance. Even interest or
capital is Tot to be allowed a palpabli
absurdity. But for ali tina
the principle after which h,
| and his party are somewha
eonfusedly groping is one which, al
| ready recognized IN some cases-oql
own gas and water companies, for in
STANCES destined to be still further
extended. 1t is the principle of ap
plying all profits, after the paymen
of certain moderate interest upoI
capital, to reducing the expenses t.
the public of the service which tn
monopolists are empowered 70 lender
The companies are to be entitledt
3ajr remunefatio for their service:
but no more. Whether, if this princi
: pie is accepted, it would not be bette
for the state to take the business o.
tirelY into its aWa hands, NAV h- =
open question - ar. mat the choic
!, WIN ultimately lie between one {
these two courses seems increasingly
probable. The process may be a sl0]
and a difficult one, fer there's no civ