St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-28
MR. DAYS CoRRECTED.

Hon. G. X. Davis addressed the young
mems Republican club on Friday night He
is one of the most effective speakers in the
Republican ranks, and should never permit
himself to descend to the level of the ordi-
nary stump orator by disappearing the
facts of past history. 1t is impossible to fol-
low Mr.. Davis through his entire speech on
this occasion and we will content ourselves by
correcting him in only one particular. He
says:
''There are in New York city wonderful ele-
waited railroads, on which you can travel from one
end of Manhattan island nearly to the other for
ten cents. A bill in the interests OF poor people
who must use the roads to get out into the
cheaper suburban homes was proposed in the
Legislature of New York to make elevated rail
road fares five cents. The lower house passed
this bill by 125 to six, and the senate by twenty
four to seven. This act was not oppressive. 1t
did not abuse the franchises of the roads. This
act the Democratic candidate vetoed He thereby
stamped himself as the friend of monopolies-
the enemy of workingmen."
Now these are the facts:
The elevated railroads of New York city, IN
der their charters, charged a uniform rate of
fare of five cents from 5 80 to 80 a. m. and
! from to p. m. in which the great body of
workingmen go to and from their homes, and
ten cents for the rest of the day. In 1888 the
legislature passed bill to make the rate of
| fare five cents throughout the day. This bill
the Governor vetoed, upon the ground that it
| involved a breach OF faith the part of the
state. The general railroad law, passed in 1850,
| and for nearly quarter of a century, declaring
| the policy of the state had promised that the
| legislature would not reduced the rates of any
| railroad until its reduced rates should produce
| profit of ten per centum on the capital actually
| expended. The Governor declared that until the
] do haa,.
ascertained to exceed the limit, the policy of
the state forbade the reduction. A subsequent
! examination by the railroad commission, con-
sisting of one Democrat, one Republican and
one Anti Monopolist, showed that the earnings of
the roads were not such to justify the pro-
posed reduction of fare, thus justifying the &C
| ton of the Governor.
Another reason for his veto was found in the
express provision of special acts applicable to
these roads. 1t was therein provided that the
| company should under bonds pledge itself to pay
a certain percentage into the city treasury which
should constitute agreement IN the nature o.
| q contract between the city and the constructing
company, emitting the company TO the legalized
rates of fare, lCjtic shall not be changed Without
the mutual consent Of the parties"
The railroad company having made these pay
menIs TO the city the Governor considered that
under those terms of this act there had been con-
stituted san agreement IN the nature OF q con-
tract between the city and the company, which
the state could not in good faith abrogate.
1t also appeared that still another contract in
| writing, to the same effect, had been made
between the rapid transit commissioners and
the railroad companies, before the roads were
built and to induce their construction, thus con-
shutting third promise on the part of the pub
lie which this bill proposed to break The Gov
ernor did not believe that the people of New
York its legislature, when brought to a
knowledge OF these facts, would desire the
ha so Gircr NTH
its obligations, and so in q message so explicit
mitted to the assembly the reasons why he was
unable TO approve the bill. The effect justified
his estimate OF the honor of the state and OF its
legislators. "A majority voted to sustain his
veto, while twothirds would have been necessary
to override it, From every side came express
sions of commentator for the scrupulous atten-
ton that had been given to the maintenance OF
the public faith, and Though there was dissent
from the Governors conclusion that contract
existed), none doubted but that this being honest
conclusion, he was by his oath bound to disap-
prove the bill. This admitted sincerity of his
conclusions derives additional support from the
soundness OF the reasons set forth in his mes
sage.
The veto message is within easy reach and
an able lawyer like Gov. Davis should read
it, when he will be convinced that Governor
Cleveland's course in the premises was EN-
inently right and proper. 1t is not queer
that the able speaker had not word to say
as to the honesty of his candidate.