Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-04
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH,

concerning the Government ownership OF
natural monopolies, and found him in his
snug little study off the political library,
sorting and arranging his indexed collection
of newspaper clippings, which is said to be
the finest in the country on social and
economic questions.
''Undoubtedly," said the Professor, in
r response to the reporters question, as he re
placed file carefully on the shelf in its
proper place, 'this question of the Govern
ment owning and managing all natural
monopolies-and artificial monopolies as
well-which have been so instrumental in
corrupting our political parties and leading
astray into dangerous bypaths Of bribery
and lobbyism our good government to as
sumo greater proportions daily. think it
Will soon entirely eclipse both the race
problem and the labor movement in popular
interest. We may know that it is not the
idle, fighty talk of college boys and fossil
professors with too Utopian views when
man as prominent and sagacious as T. B.
Blackstone, President of the Chicago and
Alton Railroad Company, comes boldly out
in his annual report and, after reciting
| the grievances of railroads against each
other, the people, the Government and
things in general, proposes as remedy
Federal ownership and management, things
look very bright indeed to those who inter-
est themselves in the affairs OF the people.
JOSIAH oU1NcY's IDEA.
| "Yet Mr.. Blackstone was not the first
railroad president to question the desirable
ity of ownership of railroads by private cor
porations. This was done by the late
| n,in ~ hic oba hnnbr sEiO-
ures of the Past which l would strongly
advise you to read"
| "But, doctor, concerning Federal owner
ship. Don't you think the question of poll
tics entering the management would mill
tate seriously against such an issue?
"Ah!" said the dapper little professor,
Strengthening up and adjusting his glasses,
''that'S exactly wherein you newspaper men
| err. You only look at one side of the ques-
ton, and that the what might be- aspect.
Could the railroads possibly be more in
| politics than they are? Your change of ex-
preston tells me you never thought of that.
| The answer is unquestionablv mol To main.
tain pure politics in a country like this,
with railways private property, but tram
melled and controlled by courts and Legis-
latures, would require population of
angelic character or superhuman wisdom,
| if not both.
The general public and railway manage
ment are two parties. and they struggle for
| supremacy in Government sometimes openly,
oftener secretly. The railways must seek
| political power for private ends. They
must have their representatives in courts, in
| Legislatures and in Congress to protect
themselves, but they do not stop at self
protection. They are aggressive and seek
complete control ior the promotion of their
private interests, and they corrupt Legisla-
| lures with free passes, offices for themselves
or friends, retaining fees, sometimes direct
| gifts of money, and in every city hall and
Legislature they maintain a disreputable
lobby.
CORRUPTION FOR SELF-PRoTECTIoN.
ga friend of mine, gentleman of excel
lent character, was praising warmly one of
our great railway magnates when 1 inter-
rupted him with the question, Would he
| corrupt city Council or State Legislature?'
My friend thought moment and then said:
| Not if he could help it, That's exactly
| the question. They cannot help it. They
must do it in self-defence, or their rivals
| will get ahead of them. To avoid the
necessity of such action, we must take away
the cause BY putting the railways in Uncle
| Sans hands, and the effect will be averted.
"No railways are so completely in politics
as our private American roads. 1t was re-
Gently told by railroad man that railways
existed for a two-fold object, i. e., politics
and dividends. They are the power behind
| the throne. If the railroad maenates are
not the real rulers of the country they soon
will be. Look at Depew, with Presiden-
tai bee in his recently purchased European
bonnet. Does he want the nomination in
| 1892? Ask me 1t want to lose my eye
| sight! 1t is no wonder that our railway
people look upon the Government with
fawning contempt. Have they not repre-
sentative in every department of the Ma
tional Government judicial, executive and
administrative as we'll? Their power rami-
fes in every direction, reaching counting
rooms courts, churches, schools, legisla-
lures and editorial sanctums.
"But let us look at the other side of the
question of Federal ownership, Professor.
What Improvements might the people ex-
pect from the measure?"
1.-THE improvements would be manifold.
But ofthat phase anon. To return to politics.
POLITICS AND RAILROADS.
SIT has been said that the corruption in
our railway management is equal to the
rottenness of Sodom and Gomorrah. We
will not discuss that phase of the question,
but it can be safely said that no department
of our Federal Government could long be
managed so dishonesty as our railroads
Public management is necessarily open, it
comes before the people, the minutest de- ]
tails are dragged before the bright light of
cold criticism and vastly magnifed. Now
people are afraid to say what they know
about railroads, but under single control
there is always powerful party, backed BY
a powerful press to whose interest it is to
search out every abuse and make them ap-
pear greater than they are. Practice, which
now may be INDUCED in with impunity,
under the new regime, would land man in
the penitentiary in mighty short order.
It's pity that's not the case to-day
"Last summer, while travelling on the
State railroads of Germany, I was much
impressed with the uniform politeness of
all officials, and on my return could not
help feeling shocked at the brusoueness of
ours There is always opportunity for COM
plant when government officials are not at
tentive.
"In American postofices and German
railway stations there is a complaint book,
where grievances are registered, and you
may rest assured the newspapers are always
ready to take the matter up.''
but, professor, how would the Govern
ment get control of the lines?" asked THE
DISPATCH man.
"The proper method of procedure has
been very well outlined by Mr.. Blackstone"
said the doctor taking up that gentleman's
report. Existing lines would be purchased
at fair valuation to be fixed by arbitra-
tion. The Government should build par
allel lines only in the case where fair
price is refused. An
ELEVATION IN THE CHARACTER