The morning news., 1891-11-19
RAIL AND CROSSTIE.

Cecil Gabbett spent yesterday in the city
and left last night for Charleston.
s. W. Edwards has been appointed So
licittng agent Of the Richmond and Dam
vile at Nashville, Tenn.
e. V. Skinner, general eastern agent of
the Canadian Pacific railway, and wife are
stopping at the De Soto.
There Is sn important rumor current n
the effect that a wealthy English syndicate
is after the Georgia Southern road. For
several days past Frank Trumbull, formerly
auditor Of the Texas Pacific railway, and
an expert in this work, has been in Macon,
the Telegraph says. looking into every de-
partment Of the Georgia Southern's man
agement, and making a careful ex-
animation of each branch of the roads
service. Mr.. Trumbull has been given &C.
cess to the books and accounts of the road,
and has formed clear idea of its income,
operating expenses and all other such mat
ters as protective purchaser would want
to know. Mr.. Trumbull is at present in
Florida, where he went in the Georgia
Southern's private car in company with
General Manager Love, and rumor connects
the visit with the possible future Of the
Green Cove Springs branch road The trip
was also made by Mr.. Trumbull to leok
over the roadbed and other property Of the
Georgia Southern along the line. The gen.
t&emen will return TO Macon TO-
morrow, after which Mr.. Trumbull will go
back to New York. 1t is supposed that he
will then make a report to the capitalist or
party OF capitalists he represents, and then
Developments may be looked for. The ex-
act plan Of the deal, it is said, is for the
purchase OF majority of the roads bonds
by the capitalist or syndicate at a figure
which cannot bs given out, but which Is
considered very satisfactory and gratifying.
The president of one of the strongest rail-
way systems.in the west has written to the
Raill0dg Age as follows: with few excep-
tions the people OF the United States be-
lleve that they have the right, and it has
been clearly demonstrated that they have
the power, to compel railroads to serve
them at such rates as they (the people, con-
slider reasonable. The people apparently
believe that in fixing maximum rates they
can and do fairly consider the just claims
of shareholders as we'll as their own. That
the slave should complain by reason
Of being deprived of such rights as FREQ
men enjoy the master may reasonably ex.
pect; but SO long as by law he continues to
be master such complaints will have little OF
no influence with him. If the dictatorial
power of the people over railway manage
ment is not 20 be exercised In the future as
it has been in the past, so as to work CONS
plete oonfscation Of shareholders' Interest
in all the weaker lines. the change will, in
my opinion, be by reason OF the organi1a-
tion of political party representing rail
way shareholders and railway employees.
Such a party should have no secrets. II
should never nominate candidates for poll
tical Office, but it should demand such pro-
lection for railway property as the law
gives to other property, and should as often
as may be necessary hold and exercise the
balance of power at the polls as between
the two dominant political par
ties" Commenting on this the RGiIIUuy
AGE says: "The above is bold suggestion.
The two Glasses of men whom the writer
mentions viz, railway shareholders and
railway employees, number in the whole
United States about 1000 900 voters, of
whom $50, 900 are employees and ], $50 900
are shareholders. In allied trades and in
dustries dependent upon the railroads there
are about 2,0o0,0 600 more voters, the greater
part of whom would presumably be per-
suaded to throw in their lot with the rail-
way interests That such force as this, IL
organized and unified, could be powerful
in state and national politics is
certain. That it could be SO or
ganized and unified, or, at least, the larger
part of it, is hardly less certain. The Ques-
tious to be considered are whether the re-
form cannot be brought about by less des-
perate means, and whether it is polite, be-
fore all other resources are exhausted, to
take SO radical a step. The policy outlined
that the new party should never nomi-
nate candidates for office, but =
should as often as may be necessary hold
ard exercise the balance of power at the
polls us the policy now pursued on a
lesser scale by the organization of the rail-
way employees clubs in different states. 1t
is hardly necessary for US at this moment
IN insiak that the policy, in some states at
least, has been very effective.