Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-06

From the New York Tme&
Il bshoovss the public seriously 60 take note
OF the movements Of those who practically con-
troll some Of the great corporations OF this coun'
ny which In the exercise Of franchises granted
oy law are engaged In the performance OF q
public service. They are dealing with that ser
vice q II 10 were exclusively their own private
ousnssa, Involving no public considerations.
full OF the fact that they have rights 20 be con-
oe.veo. The ooldness of the managers OF the
s9 P0sanons and the subrnissveness OF the peo-
PsSnSIe alike Que 20 the absence OF any vigorous
vice which 80 intrusted 20 chartered companies.
~ nas been lndicially decided many times. and
BY railroad and the hs Of
s;a,s h are public services over which the
they are carried on between states that powef
- vested In the general government And vet a
checked 70 all manner OF dexices for esishiish-
ing monoPoiies in this public service for the
snS,ecfo %I 19eir wealth and power and the
y Mess some means Is found TO control this
tendency TO monopoly and 10 bring these cor.
one day be reached which will prodnce = son.
vulsive and possibly disastrous contest
Al t me laws o. TINS country were In proper
neither the Pennsylvania railroad company nor
the Pennsylvania and New York Central coIn.
power to prevent the baltimore and Ohio ss,,
securing by legitimate means an extension oe
It's line 10 TINS city. III would not be a question
for them TO decide but for those who represent-
ed the policy Of the government and the inter.
ests OF the people, under a judicious application
stances the Western Union Telegraph company
would not be permitted by consultations and
leases, or by the tricks and devices OF Jay
Gould, TO crush every effort TO establish conn
petition In the telegraph business, but such
competition within proper limits and by legiti.
In the present state OF the law and In the ab.
sence of any defined public policy or OF any adj
equate means OF enforcing established princi-
in carrying out schemes unchecked which are
distinctly opposed TO the interests OF the pub.
lie. They utterly ignore those interests, and
are permitted TO go on disregarding everything
but their own monopolistic ends.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad company
has long been striving 20 secure a connection of
Its own 10 this city, and has been hindered and
prevented by its powerful rivals, which already
have their termini here. There is disquieting
report abroad that, in order TO secure this con-
nection with the help OF Jay Gould. il proposes
TO surrender the control OF its telegraph system
to the Western Union, thus strengthening that
great monopoly. That Mr.. Gould would gladly
bring about this contamination there Is no rea-
son TO doubt but we not ready 20 belle We
s e1ar NH sht Iarreu would be party TO IT, How
that great public interests like these should I've
subject 70 the unchecked manipulation OF a few
corporation managers: IL is matter Of great
public moment and should be controlled with
view TO public interests and public policy
anere rs another Illustration of the utterly
tabiish and maintain monopoly In the proposed
consolidation OF the New York Central aud
West Shore railroad companies, for the ar
rangement practically agreed upon is a virtual
consolidation. The consolidation OF parallel
and competing lines is against public policy
and Is not authorized by the laws OF the state
Not being authorized, IL is I'm effect prohibited
but the prohibition Is evaded by a lease for a.
years and surrender of all the stock of the
lessor company 10 the lessee. Ii this In not a
consolidation within the meaning OF the law IL
certainly ought to be- for IL has precisely the
same erect What Is TO hinder this process
from going on until all the great lines OF trans
portation and communication are In the CONF
plete control OF a small band OF enormously
rich and powerful operators who can levy a tax
upon the business OF the country such as no
government would ever dare to exacte What
ought TO be done ID Is not difficult To state but
TO get IL done is a task which will some time
tax the energies OF an aroused and Indignant
people, for the power aud resources OF the cor
porations are, and will continue TO be. used To
prevent the establishment of policy Of state
and national regulation which would break up
monopoly and bring railroads and telegraphs
into suoservience to law and the rights and inc
terests of the public,