Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-01-24
UNEARNE0 MILLIONS
which Railroad MOaopolisfs are Strtv.
ing 10 wrest From the Public.

which Railroad MouopoIisfs are striv.
ing 10 wrest From the Public.
Special TO the Register.
WASHINGTON, January 23.-I have sent
from time to time considerable matter ex.
Ilanatory OF the position OF the House
Committee on Public Lands for the reason
that do not know Of any more interesting
controversy before the present Congress,
nor any struggle which appeals more di-
rectly to the sympathy and admiration Of
the country than the gallant fight this
committee is making to reclaim the un-
esrned millions which the Pacific railroad
corporations are striving to wrest from the
public. The report of the committee in
the matter Of the Texas Pacific land grant
which is
Now Claimed by the Southern Pacific.
was furnished yesterday. Ia addition to
recital OF the opposition made by the Hun
tington interest to Soott's project which
resulted in the failure Of the Texas
Psc;fc project, it shows that such
opposition vas successful only because
HUI tington represented the Southern
P.cihc as a competing line to the Central
and the Union, one which it was proposed
to build without the intention, expects
on or hope of recovering dollar OF aid
or acre of land therefor from the Govern
ment, and that by ivaSou Of such represen-
tatsons alone il succeeded in defeating the
Scott road at one time contemplated by
Congress. 1t goes on to show that thy
Southern Pacific now is not only controlled
by the Central, but that the next route
rorth of this, the Atlantic and Pacific, is
controlled by the Central Pacific west Of
the Colorado and by Mr.. Gould east of it !;
the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific,
I with Mr.. Gould's connections east OF
Omahs, control the middle route; by sub
sidizing the Pacific Mail the Central Pa.
citic keeps the water route under control
az d that the Northern Pacific is not only in
a pool with the Central, bgt
An Agrs ement Has Been Made BefweeD
Them,
whereby the territory of the great north
west has been divided between them as to
transportation, as though ownership Of
the country followed the building Of
railroads into il. subject 10 which practi-
cal assertion Of ownership the transporta-
tiOu Of freight for the entire Pacific coast Is
under the control of the few men who
adopt as their rule for charge all the
traffic will bear"
Reviewing the argument OF counsel for
the company that a forfeiture OF grant is
purely judicial question, and that Con-
sresS has no power in the matter, the re.
port SAYS: 1T seems perfectly clear to the
committee that de laration OF forfeiture Is
crly the oct OF the grsnter asserting his
rsht 10 resume the grant, to be exercised
aI MS option, terminating an estate for
breach OF the condition on which 1t Is gran
'pd The power rests with hint is at
his option whether be will exercise it or
uut-purely a matter OF discretion, with
which the courts have nothing to do, and
| until il is exercised there Is nothing on
which the court css act"
Asto the Claim Made
by the Southern Pacific Company that,
having com piled with the requirements OF
| ths act as they should have been performed
by Il Texas Pacific, it had right to the
| grsnt, the committees report says: BE
| fore the claimant company can be held to
4 ne entitled TO this giant 1t must be tounn
| that the conditions Of the grant have a
| be en- complied with by it or its grautor.
,hst II is the legal successor and aSsigne'
| of the Texas Pacific, and also that such sue
ce, sion is not the result ofa com3iaa,ion
! II consolidation with The Texas Pacifc ~
| 4 .icsl or competing line OF railroad to tbs
| Pacific ocean." The committee finds tbs
| he condition iu the grant prohibltinscon
| 4oI;dation with rival or competing i,nc>
! nss been absolutely violated by the fexas
| Pacific in the making of The contract OF
| November, 1881; that the Texas Pacific hos
not accom- p'ished a single object for which
| il was created, but has attempted To do
every &C, possible which il was prohibited
| from doing.