Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-08-06
Mr.. Edmunds and the Land-Grant
Railroads.

There has been for some time and is
now a concerted effort to create an opin-
ion that Senator Edmunds is counsel for
so many of the great railroads that he can
not properly serve the country as senator.
Recently Maine paper, which has been
quoted in Vermont, spoke of him us "the
great retained" His opposition to Sena-
tor Beck : resolution has been made the
utmost of to create an impression that he
fears to lose some large fees. Every time
a democratic paper, or republican paper
which hopes to please Mr.. Blaine or to
serve senatorial aspirant, publishes
something against him, marked copies
are extensively distributed in Vermont
and the home organs of course copy it
with approval.
One of the senator's friends who had
observed this systematic onslaught wrote
prominent gentleman who was more
familiar than himself with the senator's
professional engagements, inquiring for
the facts, and the gentleman thus address,
ed sent a copy of the letter to the senator.
He replied promptly and we copy his re-
ply, which we find in print, in the Rut-
land Herdld;
| was, believe, the pioneer In the APP
parently hopeless enterprise OF compel
ing the Pacific railroads to comply with
their duties to the United States. AS ear
| " AS the time when Mr.. Boutwell, was
secretary of the treasury | brought the
matter to the attention of the senate by
an amendment to an appropriation bill Il
think ii was, directing the secretary OF
the treasury not TO pay any OF the suDsl-
died railroads for services performed for
the government, but TO hold on to the
money as an offset to the money the
United States was to pay as interest on
subsidy bonds.
was out-voted, but in a year or two
afterwards succeeded. ana at last, 10y the
help of Senator Thurman, we passed the
act of May, 1873, known as the Thurman
act. 1t was reported by Mr., Thurman,
with the purpose on my part, or getting
more democratic votes for 1t than |
thought would be likely If ! reported the
bill myself; We fought it through, and it
has stood the test of the scrutiny of the
supreme court of the United States.
/ found three or four years ago that one
of the companies was not obeying the
law in respect OF rendering accounts and
paying in the money that it required.
urged and pushed the departments to press
them up, | wrote frequent letters on the
subject, and did everything possible to
stimulate their being forced to obey the
law or be punished if they aid not,
In June, 1884, when the Judiciary com
mittee had again taken hold Of the mat
ter, | was humble instrument IN com
polling the Union Pacific 10 pay into the
treasury about three quarters of million
dollars in lump.
The Judiciary committee some years agC
reported an adequate and effectual bill fol
the forfeiture of all unearned land grants
in a regular and Just way but we coulC
not get il acted on.
have eNerted myself and struggled t,
compel the street railways of this city
which are rather dominating corporations
to pay their taxes and assessments, which
they have managed not to do to large
degree. At last, by constant pressure upoI
the authorities, a suit was brought and 1
judgment for two or three hundred thou