The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-04-01
TRUMAN ON FUNDING,

Ex Senator Thurman was a'ked by
correspondent In regard TO the report
from Washington, TO the effect that the
Committee on Pacific Railroads were Of
the opinion that the Thurman funding
act was impraciicable, and was dla'
posed to adopt plan similar 10 H0ar's
proposition, with q request for hie
Views as TO the plan favored by the com.
panies. In reply, Mr., Thurman said.
"I must respectfully decline 10 be in
teryiewed with view OF calling forth
expressions Of opinion In reference 10
the matter at this time; not that have
any objection 10 expressing an opin
Ion on public question when |
have one to express, but In
this instance / am not az yet
able TO arrive at conclusion
or form an opinion. l do not know what
is before the committee, have seen none
Of the proposed plans, and read none II
the bills that are pending. The matter
Ia one Of such vast importance and In.
wolves 30 much, and requires no great an
amount Of study before arriving at a
conclusion, that II Is manlfestly as I'm
possible 40 improper for mo 10 glye an
opinion for or against either or all Of
tie plans now under consideration,
After | have seen and given them that
amount OF study and consideration thoy
demand will be prepared TO give one,
until then Of course i must decline,
The committee may be on the right road
and II may not. There Ia one thing GER
tain, the subject IL one OF the grayest
Importance 10 the people OF tho country
and the rights and interests OF the Gov
erDment. The public have the right TO
expect that Congress will protect oil
their rights Whatever course may be
pursued"
what is your opinion as TO the prac.
tlcabillty OF the Funding actT
Il can best answer that question by
referring you 10 the debate NJ the time
OF the passage OF the act. IL must be
Judged by the circumstances sur
rounding the question NJ that time-I
said at the time that the act was not oil
that would have made II, according 10
my own idea, but II was the best thing
that could be secured for tho Govern.
ment and the people at that time, and
certainly In that respect has been fol-
lowed by practical results. said then
that the great point gained by the pas
epge OF the act was tho assertion by tho
Government Of its power 10 control and
regulate these corporations aud make
them amenable 10 It's beheste. The Su-
preme Court affirmed this right OF the
Government, thus putting beyond Ques.
tion tho great principle OF tho right OF
control embraced and asserted In the
acts. Its practioabillty In making the
Government tho undoubted sovereign OF
the corporations Of Ito own creation will
hardly be doubted.
"The momentary part OF the not 10
wholly subsidiary To tho principle ! have
referred 10, which, having been affirmed
and established, may be atvsntageousy
modified 10 circumstances may arleo
and economic conditions change. Dur
Ing the debate q Senator called my NJ.
tention TO the fact that the Sinking
Fund would not be sufficient TO redeem
the bonds nj maturity. Tho
record will show that re.
piled that while that might be 80, u
was small consideration compared
with the greater ono OK the gov
ernment asserting its control Of tho cor.
poratione. That was the Important
step. Then Hfter that any omitted de-
tails could DO supplied as experience
aud wisdom might point out " Ia true
that the efficiency OF tho funding not
has been impaired by 4 circumstance
which was wholly unforeseen at the
time Of its prsage. Irefer 10 the re-