The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-08-09


him what it might of popular favor he sat
himself down and after long and patient
investigating of the law he came to the
conclusion that the act could not stand.
1t was brave act and it ought to and
will commend him to the people of the
country as person into whose keeping
may be safely placed the reins of The
government. The man who had the hon.
esty and independence to do as Grover
Cleveland did will make president after
new and better order in this land.
Now as to the reason of his veto The
general railroad law of New York under
which the elevated roads were organized
provides that:
'The Legislature may when any such
railroad shall be opened for use from
time to time alter or reduce the rate of
freight, fare, or other profits of said road;
but the same shall not, without the con>
sent Of the company, be so reduced as to
produce with said profits less than 10 per
centum per annum on the capital actually
expended; nor. unless upon examination
of the amount received or expended. to
be made by the State engineer and sur
veyor and comptroller. they shall ascer-
tain that the net income derived by the
company from all sources, for the year
then last past. shall have exceeded an an,
nual income of 10 per cent upon the cap
| ital of the corporation actually eXpend-
ed "
In the case of the elevated railroads the
reduction was sought to he made without
any such examination, or any proof that
the profits exceeded the prescribed limits.
| Governor Cleveland held that this could
not be done and still preserve the intcg-
rity of the general law and the honor of
the State. His objection was that the
rights of capital invested IN the elevated
railroads under certain guarantees ought
TO he respected. His plea was for the
good faith Of the commonwealth. These
are his words:
But we have especially in our keeping
| the honor and good faith Of great State,
and we shall see TO it that no suspicion
attaches, through any act of ours, to the
| fair fame of the common wealth. The
| State should not only he strictly just, but
scrupulouSy faiT, and in its relations to
/ the citizen every legal and moral obliga>
1 ton should he recognized, This can only
be done by legislation without vindicl~
tiveness or prejudice, and with firm de.
termination to deal justly and fairly with
those from whom we exact obedience
| | am not unmiudful of the fact thai
| this bill originated in response to the dc
+ mand Of large portion of the people OF
New York for cheaper rates of fare be-
tween their places of employment an(
their homes, and fully realize the desir
ability of securing to them all the mi
vileges possible, but the experience o
other States teaches that We must keen
within the limits of the law and gooC
faith, lest in the end We bring upon TIT
very people whom we seek to benefit ant
protect hardship which must surel,
follow when these limits are ignored
Subsequently the Legislature instruct
ed the Railroad Commissioners to inyes
tigate the affairs of the elevated railroads
which after several weeks of investigation
found that their earnings were 81 per cen
on their capital. And the Hon. Johl
ODonnell, the antimonpoly member, spec
tally report edthat the passage of 5-cen
fare bill would reduce the earnings con
siderably below 10 per cent In addition
to this the veto was sustained by the leg
istatnre, in which there were only fou
votes opposed to the bill on its origina
passage.
Another misconception about this bill
that it would have benefited the laborin
men. This is not true, for under the lay
then and now the fare tC them during tn
hours they use the roads is > cents.
The reduction bill was passed as til
result of popular and unreasoning clamC
without regard to the merits of the case
The roads were owned by detcsted cap
itaIsts, who were justly oh noxious
the people. Governor Cleveland coul
have won a cheap applause by signin
the bill, or he could have shifted the IT
sponsibility on the courts. He chOs
f rather to brave obloquy for the sake {
doing his duty, and his brave course ha
I strengthened the public belief in his nor
f esty, independence and courage.