Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-17
The friends Of Washington IN Coasress


The friends Of Washington IN Congress
cannot afford 10 relax their efsrts " 70.
esmmi. the Atkinson bill. In order that
NE, property and tAs beauty Of Tie city
may be protected NJ the same time that freight
facilities are extended and valuable privileges
are granted 10 the railroad. The railroad will
strain every nerve 10 reverse in disastrous
dsfsst Of Monday. I1 power 10 great ana 10
infssnees are subtle and far-reachins. 10
sseemplish lie ends IL becomes eli things 10 all
men. II assumes more shapes than Prsteus did
II has . tAress and an iHducemsnt FOR
every man, % canninsly devised - to be most
effective. The shipper over its lines. largely
dependent upon IL for success In business. Ia
exposed 70 The coercion Of obstacles 70 the rapid
fransPofsaheA Of his wares and 10 shs bribery
Of exclusive fay,s. He II thus both intifni-
dated ana cajol,d 10 surrender the public inter-
%. 70 personal considerations. Financial mag
mates are approached with the suggestion Of
deposits With their banks or threats OF with
drawsl of deposits already made. The busi-
ness man, the fnaneier, the Newspaper man,
sad almost every source Of influence In . CON-
mnnity II tempted or threatened In some
ingenious way. Legislators are Subjected
10 the same sort Of pressure. Social Influences
are brought 10 bear upon them. Free trans
psetatisn end delightful excursions pat the cor
poration upon favorable footing with those
who are 10 lesislste or mould public opinion
concerning 1T Legislators who are ITS local at
tSrhsys in their home communities make .
nucleus arennd which other totes may be gath
cred by log-rolling. and the absence Of many
who cannot be brought completely into line is
secured By threats against their pet legislative
projects. There are q thousand ways in
which the railroad compels men to do its
will outside Of the method OF direct
purchase. Senator ingalls, has commented
upon nihe insidious influences" which
have FOR years operated to prevent any i'm
provemsnt in the conditions OF the railroad &C.
cipation. These influences will never be in
more active operation than during the next
two weeks. the railroad is mighty, and its
lobby Is skillful. bold and untiring. A contest
between the corporation and q single section
oil the capital. which is struggling for life and
property rights, would be very unequal in
deed.-a hopeless conflict. But the new WASH
inston is developing with each year a str ongsr
public spirit, which views the interest Of one
section Of the city as the interest Of all and
which counts the killing Of citizens in South
Washington like the establishment Of
park in the northwest or the curing
OF failfosd evils In the northeast, OF The build
ing Of bridge In the southeast. as a matter Of
conoefn 10 the whole city. All Washington
faces the threatening, tempting corporation.
and when q man Is killed or trade is DISTRACTED
in South Washington the entire city Is injured
The Congress Of the United States the capitals
Legislature, Is able 10 hold this overgrown cor
poration in check. II its disposition Is equal 10
it power. Mondays action may be viewed as
declaration of independence by the House.
Washington will be safe il Congress always re-
prdiates railroad dictation and control as Wig
orousiy ~ the House did en- Monday. And for
this The people Of the District will ever pray.
Mfr. Blaine's idea Of 9aid pro quo in the
tariff il one that has awakened more attention
than any other that has been brought forward
since President Clevelsnd's tariff me ssase 1t s
ma The novelty Of H. for IL II not novel; II il not
the chance for immediate adoption, for there ID
none. II IL rather that it is intrinsica1Iy wise
and likely 70 become popular and in part be-
Cause II 10 presented by the foremost advocate
Of projections since the war. Mr.. Blaine was
shrewdsr than others in seeing that the Offer Of
free sugar to the Latin states and Cuba would
bring from Spain and these republics re-
ciproeal advantages which would be entirely
lost II We we're to allow their sugar TO enter
without . stipulation.