The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-09-30

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lie domain. But, so far as the mere
matter of welding disjointed, weak
and Intellectual roads into n great
artery of traffic is concerned, the gen.
eral principle has been most over
whelmingly vindicated by the history
of the Pennsylvania road. Not only
does it in it's strength give us good
service as the world can anywhere
provide, but it also gives it at very
moderate rates. 1t is a true servant
of the public and a most efficient one,
and it is not going too far to say that
Jerseymen are proud of it as of
the leading institutions OF the State.
1t is shown off to foreigners as one Of
the finest and best things of the
country, and one of those which they
cannot surpass, abroad.
| Now, extensive as the Reading com-
bin ed system unquestionably is, it by
no means reaches the extent or mag
nitude of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
1t has neither the mileage, the far
distant connections, the important
terminals nor the capital of its
| great and older rival. While it
covers a territory and it Yields
a capital which place it in the fore
most rank of railway systems, and
which should enable it to become one
of the most serviceable of all the
| great roads in the country, it does not
reach to that overwhelming power or
magnitude which makes a corpora
tion a menace to public interests or
| popular rights. The combination
came before the New Jersey Legisla-
ture, not as an octopus" not as a
towering monster threatening de-
struction to the institutions of the
State; but simply as a very ordi-
nary railway combination asking to
be allowed to rescue itself from a
bankrupt condition, caused by insane
competition, and to be allowed by
economy and harmony to be author
lied to make a profit for the people
who have invested their money in
great public enterprises. The precise
thing it asked, too. was that the Leg
islature should ratify the particular
technical form in which the ar
ticles of combination were cast.
Doubtless shrewd bookkeepers
and clever lawyers might have
found other ways of drafting the
scheme of consolidation. But there
was one simple, convenient way. The
Legislature was asked to remove the
hadow of doubt that existed as to its
formal legality. That was all. That
even this privilege was not vital is
shown by later history. The Chan
cellor has passed judgment upon the
form of the combination. He has
pronounced it illegal. And yet it
goes on, just the same. The New Jer-
sey Central officers have nominally
resumed control of. their road, but
does any one see any difference in the
status of affairs?
At the time when the Reading COM
bination went before the New Jersey
Legislature, the price of coal was not
a prominent issue. 1t had not been
increased. No movement to increase
it had been made. On the contrary,
the hackers of the combination had
very clearly said that the reduction of
expenses would tend to reduce and
not enhance the price to the seaboard
cities, and the consuming public gen
orally. But the danger had been
suggested, and the Democratic major
ity in the Legislature took pains to
provide against it. In passing the
bill to legalize the combine, they in
serted a clause by which they compel
led the roads before accepting it's adj
vantages to make a solemn covenant
with the State that the cost of coal
would not be increased to consumers.
That act showed where the represen-
tatives of the Democracy stood when
the interests of the people were at
| stake.
True, the railroads did not agree to
the covenant. But what happened
then? Why a Democratic Governor
vetoed the bill, and the moment the
price of coal was raised, that same
Democratic Governor, aided by the
Democratic Secretary of the State,
proceeded to attack the combination
by process of law, and a Democratic
| Chancellor made an order that it be
dissolved and the roads return to
their original status.
Every active move towards coercing
a reduction in the price of coal has
been instituted and carried on by
Democrats. No Republican has lifted
a finger in the fight. The blatant
humbug which they parade in their
platform is without a single fact to
back it up. 1t is true, they opposed
the passage of the bill to legalize the
combinations; but why? Simply be-
cause their old alliance with the
Pennsylvania Railway, which did
not want a formidable competitor in
the field, controlled them.
All attacks or tho na,uoorotio norfxy