Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-03-19

corporation enlisted in a foreign
enterprise, in which this govern.
ment could have no interest, save
the indirect one of other nations,
and even this interest is subject TO
the control of Mexico. The Eads
gang have kept this Mexican con-
cession as much as possible in the
background. In fact, even the
members of the Senate committee
had the utmost difficulty in finding
out Just what it was. Under its
terms this government could not
transport single cruiser, a file OF
soldiers or a case of muskets with
out express permission of the Mex
lean Government.
WHAT THE BILL HIDES.
Of course Captain Eads and his
lobby knew this. 1t is evident,
however, that certain Senators do
not know it, or at least did not I'M
til few days ago. 1t may be that
Captain Eads Is ignorant, for he
was ignorant ofthe other and equal
ly palpable fact that there was such
thing as a lobby here working
tooth and nail IN his interests. The
more the Eads job is looked into
the stronger it smells and the weak
er it becomes. Attention has been
persistently called to the character
of this Job in these dispatches ever
since it was first preached in Con-
gress, with the confidence that it
would never stand close examina.
ton. There is hidden hand in
every paragraph OF the bill aud
iobbery in every line. 1t is a most
remarkable thing that such a
scheme shOuld have any honest fol-
lowing at all, much less challenge
the serious attention Of Congress.
At present there is not the slightest
probability that it will be success
full. But it ought to be thoroughly
examined and exposed in an adj
verse report that will lay 1t out
cold for all time.
The following plain, practical
points ought to be demonstrated:
! First, the Mexican Government has
absolute control of the ship rail
way; second, if successfully built
according to contract, none but the
smallest loaded vessels could be
transported ; third, on transport.
ing u single one Of these small
vessels the guarantee takes effect
and continues for eighteen years,
whether any further use is made
by the company of the line or not ;
fourth, the guarantee Is that two.
thirds of the net revenues shall
amount to $2,500,000 a year, or
937 800, 900 in all; fifth, any deficit
would have to be made up in adj
ditlon to net revenues, and TO get
a net revenueat all the government
might have to spend $4,000, 600 in
repairs six, in effect, after the
first small vessel perhaps English)
got across, the United States would
have to take the railway and run
it and keep it in repair for fifteen
years in order to insure net reye'
nue. to the stockholders.
AN EXTRAORDINARY SCHEME.
There is no doubt about tho
extraordinary breadth of this pro-
posed scheme. Eads says the
government is not asked for a dol.
lar. This, however, on the hypoth-
esis that the road will pay from
the start more than is asked in the
annual guarantee. But capitalists
do not believe this, or they would
advance the money without any
guarantee. Their judgment is that
the road must be supported by the
United States. Twothirds of the
net revenues is the limitation Of
the government responsibility, and
this is defined to be $1,000, 600 |
annually for fifteen years. If there |
are no net revenues what thenf
Suppose the whole scheme breaks |
down after the first small vessel
gets across ? The company is no
longer responsible. The United |
States is. 1t must keep up tho
road, rebuild it if necessary and
declare so much netrevenue annual
ly. The stockholders can sit down |
and rake in their dividends. 1t
might not cost the government q
dolar-it might cost 1t an hundred |
miIlions.-PhiLadelphi Times.
[From Washington Sunday Gazette
Senator Riddleberger, of Vir-
ginIa, who has succeeded in max. |
ing himself quito conspicuous OF
late, created a mild sensation in
the Senate the other day by anoth.
er sharp attack on Eads and his
ship.railway scheme. The debate
was precipitated by a letter of
Eads asking an investigation of
Riddlebergers charge that he had
three agents on the floor who were
engaged in lobbying and libeling
Senators. Eads letter was . per
sonal one addressed to John A.
Logan, Mr.. Riddleberger became
very much excited and made use
of some very plain language. lie
said "WhO, sir, IS Eads I Many |
people say he is a great engineer,
and many others say he is q great
American humbug, Now, sill, |
repeat, am not so great q soldier
as tho Senator from Illinois, but
by slow approaches and parallels
will yet discover aud uncover to
the people of the United States
this conspiracy to make our tax
payers the endcrsers OF Eads ship.
railway canal and the bonds of y
bankrupt goyernmentP !
Senator CockeFill, Of Missouri,
took the floor to cefend and eulo.
gize Eads. He said that Eads had
been for many years a distinguish
cd citizen of Missouri "and declar'
ed that when ali of us shall have
passed to that undiscovered coup-