Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-09-26
Oh Consistency!


1t is amusing to witness the eff
forts made by the Seattle Intelligent
Ger to keep the fervor up to fever
heat on the forfeiture question. 1t
has apparently abandoned all en-
deavor to keep in that straight line
once regarded as the only course
that could command confidence or
respect. A short time ago, in its
comments on the proposed lease OF
the Oregon Railway Co.'S road by
the Northern Pacific, it promised as
follows:
THE road from Spokane Falls to Ia
coma, via the Columbia river, must be
made profitable enough to pay int rest on
fixed charges, rent to the Oregon Railway
aud Navigation Company anu dividends,
If possible. 70 build road across the
Cascade mountains will cost $500. 600.
The money must be borrowe /, and must
draw an interest of not less than $3.50, 600
per annum. The new road must earn this
net sum, and its proportion of the divi-
dend, If any are declared upon tho capital
stock"
And then followed this unequivo-
cal expression of opinion:
"But the country does not afford bust
ness enough for all this and will not for
years to come"
There is no ambiguity about .his
language. 1t is plain and explicit.
The country "does not" and" will
not afford business enough to pay
interest on the cost of construction
of the Cascade branch for "years to
come" Regarding that matter as
settled by this oracular assertion,
how surprised we were. and how
astounded must have been oil true
friends of consistency who read the
Mtelligencer, when, few days later,
it was found harping on this string:
1.-The land grant to that company uhe
Northern PacIfic) is Is GOO acres for each
linear mile of road constructed, worth at
even 81 % per acre $1,000 per mile. Nei-
lutI tuC ttCtSSllltS vi the country I1Of %.
railroad construction demand such sub
sidy. Thousands of miles of railroad
have been built in the past five years
through far less fertile sections, and con-
necfNg far less prosperous and ropulous
communities without dollar of subsidy,
of either lands, money or pledge of pub
lie credit This is the only fair way of
building railroads. With equal justice
might our local railroads claim subsid;
tor extending their lines. Subsidizing
railroad corporations in Washington Ter
ritory to-day 10y gifts OF public property is
simply outrageous"
Observe the disparity between
these two extracts. Can they by
any possibility be made TO agree :?
One affirms that the country ,c,N not
for gears TO come afford business
enough to pay interest on cost of
construction of the Cascade branch,
which is doubtless true, and the best
reason why the road cannot be built
without the land grant. The other
asserts that Thousands of miles of
railroad have been built in the past
five years through far less fertile
sections and connecting far less pop
ulous communities without any sub
sidy." 1t declares that this is the
only fair way to build railroads, but
just where the fairness comes in, the
Mtelligencer does not attempt to ex-
plain, doubtless being tired by this
tile of fighting windmills, and is
simply contenting itself with shaking
its lance rather than to engage in
futile combat.
But our contemporary s not whit
more inconsistent than was the Sc
attic Board of Trade, its City Coun-
Gil, or the King county Commissions
ers, who blew hot when Willard
stroked Seattle, and blow cold while
Wright pats Tacoma on the back.
90. what tangled web we weave,
When first we practice To deceive"