New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-09
THE P4TTISON REPORT.

If it should ever happen to the remarkable
document put forth by Ex-Governor Pattison IS
the minority report of the Pacihc Railroad
Commission to he subjected to anything more
than the most careless and superficial perusal,
it will be found to be one OF the cuiiosties OF
modern political literature. Emanating from
tribunal having functions of judicial char
actcr in so far as il was charged with the in
vcstigation of the condition and management
of the Pacific railroads. it was only reasonable
to suppose that it would be somewhat judicial
in its tone that its findings of facts would be
fair and impartial and its conclusions cool and
dspassionate. Instead of this being the case,
almost the first thing that strikes the reader is
that the writer is either Stimulating righteous
indignation for some Interior purpose, or is
actually in white heat Of passion, under the
influence of which he is equally incapacitated
for telling the truth or for doing justice.
Even if the facts in the case were as cX-Gov-
Crnor Pattison represents them in his report,
there would still be no excuse for the piling Of
disgraceful epithcts upon men Of the character
and standing of Senator Stanford and Charles
Francis Adams. Though it may be their mis-
fortune to be men Of wealth, and as the heads
of great corporations the representatives of
very large moneyed interests they are not con-
vided fclons, and they certainly have some
rights which even an anti-mOnOpolist ought to
respect. Were all the charges true which Mr..
Pattison has gathered from the history Of the
past twenty-five years, it would not justify the
temper exhibited nor the language used i'm this
report.
The worst feature of it. however, is not
much its violent temper and abusive language
as its bald dishonesty. Mr.. Pattison, was
evident at the outset, began the investigation
with his mind fully made up. His associates
very easily saw through him and the purpose
to which he intended to apply his opportunities.
IL runs between the lines OF all the testimony
in which he figures as examiner. No one ever
could mistake the zeal and animation with
which he popped upon any hcarsay or scandal.
however trivial or musty, which helped along
his Indictment. or the manifest disgust with
which he turned away from testimony that did
not dovctail with his plan. II is significant Of
the results accomplished, that he was finally
driven to the grosscst misrepresentation and
Justification of the record to justify his ndict-
mcnt.
We have already called attention TO the dis
honesty OF his charge that the Pacific roads had
received aid from the Government to the
amount Of over Sii7 100000 lie could not
have helped knowing when he put that state
ment in large type TO attract attention, that he
was doing something just as dishonest as any
thing that he was charging upon the railroad
magnatcs. If they acted dishonesty it was
for money What docs he do it for? Why
docs he cXaggcratc the amount Of Government
aid by S35O.OOO00O. Is it for votes by and
by? What can be more mischievous than such
demagogy? II may be Of no consequence
what happens to great corporations; whether
they arc msrcprcscnted or not ; but il ought to
concern the American people that they do not
have false figures and distorted facts officially
set before them as proper basis for public
Judgment. These startling figures have gone
through the country and been printed in hun
dreds of newspapers as an official statement of
the amount of Government aid TO the railroads.
Columns upon columns have already been
written on the enormous sums given TO these
roads which can never be recovered, and no end
of hasty and unthinking ink remains TO be shed
upon the subject.
1t would not be strange il it should presently
appear that our Pennsylvania Munchauscn had
oyershot the mark. A difference Of
$3.50, 1000 900 between him and his two col
leagues is little too large to escape notice.
Whenever the fantastic mathematics by which
bis ob-housc has been reared shall be put to
The test Of analysis. the whole structure is