Omaha daily bee., 1884-12-17
THE PEOPLES PROTEST.
I0Wa'S Representatives 10 be Urged to
Oppose The Extension Of The Union
Pacific Charter.
The Document to be Circulated.

The following Is the protest prepared
for circulation among the people of Iowa
against the proposed extension of the
charter of the Union Pacific:
To the Iowa Delegation in Congress-
GENTLEMEN: We the undersigned resi-
dents of the state of Iowa do most
earnestly protest against the passage of
a bill providing for an extension of the
chartered privileges of the Union Pacific
railroad for the period of sixty years, or
for any other period, for the following
reasons:
The management of the Union Pacific
company is now and has always been
~antagonistic to the interests of the public
In general, and of the state of Iowa in
particular. This abuse the people of
Iowa resented many years ago by bring
ing an action in the Federal court, ask
ing for q writ of mandamus to compel the
Union Pacific company to operate its
road in the interest of the public and in
compliance with the provisions of its
charter. The cause was triad on It's
merits and the writ of mandamus was
issued and made perpetual.
This order has never been fully com
piled with. The Union Pacific company
at great expense so operates its lines as
to build up Nebraska interests and retard
the growth and development of Iowa in.
~terests. This, in part, arises from a
disposition on behalf of the Union Pacific
to cater to the prejudice and passion
existing in Nebraska, and from o desire
to appease the people of Omaha and to
avert hostile legislation in that state. A
renewal or extension of the charter privt-
legss of the Union Pacific would only re-
suit in perpetuating this evil. 1t gives
special rates to Omaha merchants, and
thereby di~scriminates against rival and
competing points, among which we might
enumerate st, Louis, Kansas City, st.
Joseph, Des Motnes, Council Bluffs, Lin
coin, Fremont, Columbus, Chicago and
all intermediate points. 1t charges ex-
tortionate bridge-tolls under the privi-
leges of the supplemental bridge
act, and there is ground for
a suspicion that yard expenses
and the needless switching of trains
between Council Bluffs and Omaha, at
great expense Is also charged to the
''bridge account in order to justify these
excessive tolls. Permit me to suggest in
this connection that this question might
properly become a subject for future in
vestigstion by congress. The road was
built and Is being operated under
authority of an act of congress-, which
was violated In Its construction and is
~disregarded in Its operation. Is it not
time for congress to ascertain whether
the capital stock does not exceed the
actual coat of the roadl Is 1t not the
duty of congress to relieve the burdens
of tho public by revising the tariff
schedules of this road, and reducing them
30 a reasonable figure, as congress reserv-
4 eed to itself the right to do? Has not the
bridge fund, by the excessive toll hereto
fore levied upon commerce., been suffi-
cient to have paid for the bridge
twice over, if it had been
applied? And, if this Is true, ought not
the bridge hereafter be operated the
same as any other portion of the Union
Pacific line! These are questions of fact
and ought to be explained fully and sat.
isfactorily before the Union Pacific CON-
pany is granted the privilege of an ex
tension of It's charter. We hold that 1t is
Sot operated in the interest of the pub
lie and the government" as the law spec
lies and requires, but is operated in the
interest of spectators, stockholders and
%plunderers of the public treasury. If this
be true, it would be a betrayal lof the
people and the government to renew or
extend the charter of the Union Pacific,
for any period, short or long.
We therefore most earnestly protest
against such a measure, and most respect
fully ask that thorough investigation be
made in order that the public may be
better served and the government treas,
ury better protected in the future. AL
OF which is very respectfully submitted