Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-09-26
DAILY -INTELuGENCER.
AZ ConpETuTIex ALLOWED.

division Of the spoils, Rlimpses OF tue
manner ia which the svag IL diTloeo
Ia afforded their helpless victims the
ueople. When the Northern fscine
Railroad was completed 10 "alluia'
and. by junction with the Oregon kaiI'
way a. Navigation Company's railroad
WAS afforded access TO tide water ano
an opportunity for Transportation OF
through freights, it was very naturally
expected that. through competition BE-
tween it and the other transcontinentai
lines,there would be Darkes reduction
in freight and passenger tariffs across
the continent. 1. vas known that tie
Northern Pacific Railroad penetrated
more productive regions than either OF
the other lines; that its way trafne
would he greater, that II was line
less expensive TO operate, and tha'
i.s managers had pledged themselves to
Operate the road for public relief aud
benefit. II was alse remembered that
this railroad company had been signally
favored by the United States Govern
ment that the period for completion
of its lines had been extended. and that
il had been endowed With land grant
largely exceeding in value the legimate
outlay for construction OF iss road. The
fact was also called 10 mind that one OF
the main reasons urged for this Dunifi-
cent endowment, was that 1t would by
competition with the then chartered
Union and Central Pacific Railroads,
relieve the people Of the inter-mountain
region and Of the Pacific Coast from
the evils inevitably arising out of a
monopoly of transportation facilities
All these matters were considered,
and when rail connection Was made be-
tween Portland and the great Eastern
cities. shouts Of Joy and welcome greet
ed the first train As II triumphantly
swept across the continent. The relief
long hoped for was believed 10 have at
last arrived. The iron grasp held ty
the Central and Southern Pacific Rail-
road Companies upon the people ard
commerce Of the Pacific Coast was 10
be- broken. Promises were to be kept.
Everybody was jubilant. The milieni-
um had arrived.
This feeling of exultation and Of re-
lief was shert lived. Almost immedi-
ately convention Of representatives Of
the transcontinental lines was called to
meet in San Francisco. For what pur
pose? Was it to arrange for a uniform
reduction of charges, as had been prom
Used and justly demanded by long suf-
fering publiof Not by any means. That
meeting was called for tbs purpose
not Of readjusting and reducing existing
freight and passenger tariffs upon the
railroads therein represented, but for
keeping them up to the old sxtertionate
figures. How was il brought about a?
Easily enough. The Northern Pacific
declared itself able TO carry freiehts
across the continent for a less amount
of compensation that had been thereto
fore exacted. Ii threatened to reduce
its charges TO such q figure that San
Francisco merchants could obtain goods
from the East via Portland at rates as
low, or lower than over the other lines.
What was the outoomel Merely this:
A bargain was made by which the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company
pledged itself TO maintain existing
rates, on condition that the other lines
paid IL certain annual subsidy, the
amount of which was stated at 900, 600.
In other words, this benevolent mon
opoly" obtained from its competitors
for business, half million dollars per
annum for aiding them to keep in forcs
the then and now extoftionate rates of
transportation. II accepted bride to
defeat natural, legitimate and beneficial
competition.
There has beea wrangling ever since.
The public grumbles because the bene.
fits expected have not been received.
The parties TO the infamous bargain
have continually Rrumbled. Even the
doctrine of "honor among thieves" has
net been efhoaoious. Recently this 90
partnership of public plunderers as
ssmbled through their several repre-
ssntatives in Chicago 10 consider the
situation" The telegraph among other
things gives IA the following deleotable
morsel of news; "A proposition was
made 20 concede to the Northern Pa
cific ak per cent of the through busi-
ness, on condition that it would remain
out Of California. This was opposed
by the Southern Pacific representatives,
who thought that the Northern Pacific
ought TO oouceae that route somethi
10 keep oat of the Oregon business"
That 10 10 say, the Northern Pacific de-
clares itself able to compete with the
other roads for California business, and
demands bride for not doing 80; while
on the other hand the Southern Pacific
asserts a similar ability with respect so
Oregon business, and puts in its claim
for an undue proportion Of the booty.
Meanwhile in what condition are the
people for whom this business IA done,
and who foot the billsf IL there any
discussion of measures looking to an
abatement of the heavy taxes levied
upon the public for a service absolutely
Indispensable Is there any PROPOSE
ton having in view cheaper rates of
transportation Not at all. This 10 no.
ono of the matters discussed by the
plutocrats who wrench tribute fron
half continent. Upon one sentiment
and policy they are all united-vix.. 10
exact from their patrons all that the
traffic will bear" Their only differ.
snces arise when the loot is TO be par.
eeled out. All this in spite of the fac.
that these railroads are public servi,ors;
that they exist by public consent that
they were created for public benefit;
that each of them has bean srap.s.3 "a