Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-24

\ stout fight Is being made by the Chicago
JfGif for cheaper and better street railway
accommodations in that city. The experience
of the people of Chicago is that OF those of the
other cities in the United States where there is
anything like an extended horse-car service.
Tie managers of these corporations are the
supreme power, despite popular will or NUM-
clpai authorities. There, elsewhere, yalu-
able franchises were granted without proper
restrictions, and shares of stock upon which
only fraction OF the nominal capital was paid
by the original holders are now worth from
three 10 six times their par value. notwith-
standing their imitation by the watering pro-
Cess, while they pay from 20 to 4s per cent on
present valuation. These conditions make a
just ground tor complaint, and the MaH is
doing good service in its endeavors to bring
about a reform; and there is also a fair prospect
that its efforts will be crowned with success.
The warfare is being carried on under the guise
OF a IN. :. y. F. Association. These initials
mean 'no seat no fare, and they are the de-
vice on the banner of the opposing forces.
Whether, having taken passage on a car
passenger may refuse to pay fare because no
seat Il vacant, is perhaps an open question,
since. so far as We know, judicial decision
has been made which settles the point; but
there can be no doubt that the car patronizing
public has simple and effective remedy in it's
own hands in another form. III persons occu-
plying seats in a car would fail to vacate them
for Others who come in after the seats are all
taken, these vehicles would at once cease to be
crowded aS they now are, and if every one
would decline to enter q car after the
seats are occupied the managers of the
several lines would soon be brought to
terms, and promptly make that fact evident by
running cars oftener and faster than they now
do. The Idea of not surrenderiug O seat to a
lacy or elderly person who may enter car I'm
which there are no vacant seats seems to be,
and in fact is, repugnant one to people so
chiva!Tous as Americans usually are; but there
really Is no other way to break up the impoSi-
TORS OF the street railway managers in this
respect, since they rely upon this courteous dis
position OF the public generally for the perpetu-
alton of the abuse which they practice. But,
aside from its effects upon the management OF
street transit lines, is it fair 10 expect those who
occupy seats in a car to vacate them for the
benefit of those who may enter latcrP At the
alters and other places of entertainment people
who have paid for the seats they are occupying
are not expected to surrender them to late
corners. Why should a different rule prevail
on street cars The principle involved is pre-
cisely the same in both cases
Representative J.Randolph Tucker chairman
OF the House Judiciary committe, had better
read his copy of the Constitution through again.
In report of his own composition, which he
presented Thursday, he declares that Congress
has no right to drive horse-srease out of the
butter market by taxation, because the Con-
stlt'.tion limits the taxing power of the general
government to the raising of revenue To pay the
debts AM provide tor the general welfare of the
United States.
Begging MIR. fuckers pardon, the Constitution
Goes no such thing. II may, according to the
construction put upon the eighth section of the
hrs article by the school of economists to
which he belongs, reStric5 the functions of Con-
gress as a taxing power by prescribing the par
ticular purpose for which the taxing shall be
done. But 1t by no means follows that, because
Congress lays tax and puts in motion the
machinery for its collection, revenue must
necessarily flow from it. The same object would
be gained, and the Constitution just as strictly
followed, il the laying of a tax operated of it,
SELF, and without the Intervening process of col
lection, TO pay the debts, or to provide for the
common defence. or TO provide for the general
welfare of the United states.
Now, that is precisely what the adversaries of
bogus butter. and of other disgusting limitations
and authorizations, assert. They demand of the
general government nothing that the Constitu-
ton does not authorize in express terms They
want Congress to follow the language of the
very Clause which Mr.. Tucker cites. and Law
taxes to provide tor the general welfare by pro-
tect'l g the people OF the United states frory, n
par cularly dangerous, insinuating and ur,-
Wholesome fraud. And there is a widespread
notion among the American people that the
statesmen who go out of their way to interpret
it for the obstruction of the very objects for
which it was framed