Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-12
SETTLE IT NOW"

Elsewhere In this issue we reprint from
the New York Sun a thoughtful and for
chile article upon the question of settling
the issue between the Pacific railroads and
the Federal Government, regarding the
alleged Indebtedness Of the roads to the
United States. The advice of the San to
Congress is to settle the question now and
for all time. The reasons it advances are
potent; whether its plan is the best is not
now under consideration.
As the New York paper points out, this
question open, has been and is a fruitful
field for the demagogue, and the ever-con-
venient opportunity of the stock speculat-
or5 and Jobbers. They have unquestion-
ably labored industriously to keep the
matter distant from settlement, for the
express purpose of affecting market values
of the stock of the roads. The Sun goes so
far as to charge that legislation has been
delayed, and beating of tom-toms kept up
in the press to the tune of "a defrauded
treasury" in the interests of "a conspiracy
by these stock jobbers. Any further delay
may give color to a suspicion that the
legislative branch of the Government is a
party to the scheme. That there is war
rant for such conclusion concerning the
present Congress we do not believe, but
that in the past the so-called railroad
debt question has been ridden goat in
Congress with no intention of ending the
spectacle, is not to be questioned
The present temper of the people is in
favor of settling this question speedily,
and effectually. There is no evidence that
they demand that any injustice shall be
done to the transcontinental roads, or that
the Government shall essay the role of a
Shylock. The people are clearly real
izing that the roads have suffered greatly at
the hands Of the Government, and that the
contract between them has not been kept
on the part of the latter 1t is beginning
to be seen that in fact, after all the uproar
about the debt, there is as yet no indebted
ness due, according to the terms of the
original contract
1t has been asserted recently, as often.
by the chief officials of one of these roads
that no one can put finger upon single
line of its contract with the Government.
which the company has not kept to the
letter and in the full spirit; that it has
discharged every obligation imposed upon
it, and paid every cent that in common
justice it was bound to do There has as
yet arisen no one to join issue with it upon
that statement, nor can it be done success
fully.
Could the equities of the Central Pacific
Railroad be exposed to the view of a
tribunal jurisdictionally qualified to con-
slider them as against all possible obliga-
lions express or implied on the part of
the road toward the Government it is GER
tain thai the judgment such Court must
reach would absolutely make the Govern
ment debtor to the company. However
that assumption may be viewed, its officers
have testified that it is entertained with
earnestness and sincerity by the company.
Where a party to an issue makes such
broad claim of equitable right, there is
every reason to justify the pushing of the
issue to speedy and fair settlement. If
Congress hastens that end, it will conform
to the desires of the great mass Of the
American people.