The Labor enquirer., 1884-03-22
some taxation, but also large amount
in freights and fares.

some taxation, but also large amount
in freights and fares.
The city governments should contro
and operate the street railways in like
manner; and the revenues in most cases
will be fully sufficient to pay the munlc
lipal expenses.
If not. there are other means of raising
the funds, without taxing land such a:
licenses, water taxes, fees, etc.
The result of the change would be tc
absolutely save the people all the pres
ent burden of taxation. 1t might pat 8
few wealthy bondholders to earning
their living, but the country can stand
that. The people would pay the usual
postage and less freights and fare, and al
the same time be paying the expenaes oi
government.
There would also be uniformity and
fairness in charges. There being nc
competition, the fare from New York to
Chicago would not be 81 one day and SIS
the next. Freights would not be down
one week and up the next. There would
be no pools, no extortions, no favors
No rich firm or corporation would be
granted special rates over the small
dealers.
There would be an immense amount
of money saved in the management Of
the railroads. Every little road now
must have a president, at a princely sal
ary, who generally does nothing but act
as dignifed fgure-head. There must
be vice president or two, to tell some
of the managers how to manage the
road. And SO on down through all the
stages. While the man who manages
the whole postoffice department of the
United States government gets less sal
ary than the managers of some of the
smallest railways.
If it is said that the government will
mismanage the railroads and telegraph
system, We point to the magnificent
management of the postoffice system
and to the bankruptcy and bonded in
debtedness and gross mismanagement OF
the railroads as they are now controlled
If it is said that the railroads will be-
come political machines, we point again
to the postoffice system, and show that
the country has never suffered, nor is
likely to suffer, from that cause. And we
also point to the political influence at
present exercised by means of bribery
and corruption the most foul, by the i'm
mense corporations of our land over our
legislatures and even our congress.
With the determination of all corpo-
rations, there will be an determination
of the worst influences which have eff
fected and destroyed the credit of the
legislation of the land. If the govern
ment shall control the railroads, how
can it effect the honesty of legislation
The party in power may appoint its own
followers to the railroad Offices, as it
now does to the postoftices; but they
are held to a strict accountability by the
voters Of the land for their honesty.
And the old Jacksonian doctrine, that
ito the victors belong the spoils," is fast
becoming obsolete. The intelligence OF
our time has decreed that that party re-
tains power the Longest which Is purest
and honestest in all its doings. But
there need, at least, be no more bribery
of congressman and legislators by corpo-
rations with immense interests at stake
The German government has been op-
Grating railroads, and it has both de-
creased frelghts and accumulated a large
profit. What more do we want? The
people don't want anything better than
that. But the railway officials, the rail.
way stockholders and bondholders want
to continue to corrupt our legislators,
and to outrage and bleed the people.
Shall they be permitted to do it?