The Wilmingtonian., 1885-05-30
SERVING TWO MASTERS.
Public OmciaIs Cannot do True Service
TO the People While Beneficiaries
OF Private CorpOratIOns

Public OmciaIs Cannot do True Service
to the People While BeneGciaries
OF Private Corporations.
1t would be highly appetizing bit of in
formation for the citizens of this country to
be informed upon the point as to how many
and whom of the Senators in Congress are
the salaried attorneys of the large corpora
tions and monopolies that exist in the
land.
1t is high time that representative official
life, such as that of our Senators in Congress
were free from the accusation that many of
those who occupy the highest positions,
that the suffrages of their fellow country
men can endow them with, positions which
those Senators asked for and accepted under
the promise of giving their fullest attention
and interest thereto, are the highly salaried
agents of certain great monopolies, whose
interests have demanded the greater share of
those Senator'S attention and care in the
halls of the Senate, to the prejudice of the
legitimate business Of the National Legs-
lature and the neglect of greatly needed leg
islation in the behalf of the people of the
United States.
This is indubitably the case. Popular
measures are laid aside while the needs and
importunate demands of overgrowu corpora
tious, railroad companies, land monopolies
etc., are thrust in, and, obtrusively, through
the countenance of their hired agents among
our Senators in Congress, who themselves
are the well-paid agents, these have occu-
ped, day after day the engrossing attention
of the Senate, while matters that are of
purely national Importance such as the tar
if question, our commercial relations as af-
fecting domestic business etc., are inconti-
nently laid aside.
Aud this is done as If there were no sin in
it, or no recognition of the paramount claims
of national legislation over private or spec
ial.
Just this moment, as regards our City
Council, we are very captious, and, as de-
velopments appear to show, not improperly
SO, over any laxity of the Councilmen in re-
gard to the needs of general legislation in
city matters.
Animadverson upon recent practices in
the United States Senate is equally in or
der. '.-
That any of our Senators or Cabinet off,
GERS should be highly paid retainers, or the
salaried attorneys in public representative
life is wrong in principle.
1t is an undigniied and graceless posi-
r.,
Minister to be discovered in; to find his rul-
ipgs, Judgment, sentiment and vote, upon
any public question hampered and colored
by the private demands of corporation
which at any moment may be raised up in
antagonism to the public or popular needs
This fact is one of the greatest hidden pre-.
JUDGES both to high moral statesmanshir
and the public SERVICE It is here where
Civil Service Reform should be initiated,
not in obscure marshalships, country post
offices and consulships.
In English law their exists disinclination
to consider the citation of bribery against
any public official, unless evidence can be
shown indicating in the condition of the
person arraigned facility for the approach
of the corrupter.
Secretary Bayard it is stated is the paid
retainer of that ovel grown corporation
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. 1t is
asserted that he receives as salary $1,000 a
year to prevent any untoward Legislation
being enacted that would harm that com
pany.
Now it is fact that that corporation has
enlarged itself to such proportions of wealth
and power that it can at will, interfere
obstruct or impede the legitimate business
aspirations or private enterprises of the
people in half dozen states. Its hidder
power controls at will the poor mani
pocket. He must pay any charge that com
pany chooses to schedule for travelling o.
for coal. The iron maket is controlled b,
them also.
Now it is not claimed that the Pennsylva
mia Company have no right to such over
grown power over the community, but IT i
asserted that in the Halls of Congress
such questionable powers should not b
championed by the peoples chosen represen
tatives, to the peoples prejudice and the ad
vantage of that corporation, or also that i
should thrust aside matters OF public con
cern.
As soon as public officer accepts salar
from any source he must sacrifice in retur
for that payment, a large modicum of indie
pendent action which he has already prom
ised by implication to devote to public al
fairs. This is more particularly true of tn
high offices of the state. No Honest advl
cate of reform will tolerate such impurity.