People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-10-14

eminent domain. Now, what the
railroads got by the right of eminent
domain from the people, the govern
ment can get by eminent domain
from the railroads and restore to the
people. Do we propose to get them,
and pay nothing? Not at all. We
purpose to make the same rule apply
by which they got these lands. Ap-
point a commission. Let them as
sess the real value of the roads. Let
them squeeze out the fictitious value.
Every man, woman and child in
America is taxed at present to pay
interest annually on five billion dol
lars of watered stock.
The Democrat from the North.
That is right, Mr.. Watson.
Mr.. Watson. Now, that is very
clever fellow. 1t is a pleasure to
argue with him. Laughter) He
owns up like little man. (Renewed
laughter.)
Now, we would get these roads
and pay for them by issuing legal
tender notes. That would do what?
Relieve the people from paying trib-
ute on the five billion watered stock.
We would save fifty million dollars
on the salaries of fellows who do
nothing only sit in their offices and
look pretty.
Same Northern Democrat. That
is right.
Mr.. Watson. What is the form
Of abuse under the present system !?
It makes the community at large pay
enormous salaries to a few favored
individuals. Some Of the Democrats
who denounce the railroad plank in
our platform are going around with
free passes in their pockets.
Voices. That's so, as sure as you
live. Laughter.
Mr.. Watson. Don't you think it
is right when a man is speaking
against the government ownership of
railroads that the people should
know that he has a two hundred
dollar free ticket in his pocket? l
do not say that because man takes
free pass he is necessarily bought,
but I do say that when man is
arguing for the railroads the people
ought to know that he has got free
pass in his pocket
A voice. Who passed you here ?
Mr.. Watson. paid my own way.
, Amt it pity that the men who are
travelling around speaking in the in
terast Of railroads and against the
interests Of the people could not say
| as much? Applause [ say that
: the Congressman who takes the
twenty cents per mile that the gov
eminent allows him and puts it in his
pocket and accepts free pass from
the railroad is not in position to
speak as q disinterested servant look
! ing to the interests of his constitu-
ents. I say that he is not the proper
, man to argue against the man who
, pays his own expenses.
We have already shown what you
would save Oh the payment of five
billion dollars watered stock. Don't
you know that we could run the rail
roads on practically the same equip
ment and in fifteen, twenty or thirty
years give the people the advantage
of all the savings.
Don't you know that Thomas
Jefferson bought 757,O00,0OO acres
Of land at one trade?
Voices. Yes; hurrah for Jeffer-
son.
, Mr.. Watson. Well, that was a
r bigger trade for the country at that
time than for the country to buy the
: railroads to-day. Now, do you know
this, that some Of Jefferson's friends
} admitted that he violated the consti-
tuition when he did that? I do not
? say that we will be violating the
: constitution. I say that we will be
3 keeping both within the letter and
5 spirit of the constitution in buying
2 the railroads and restoring them to
the people. Don't you know that
? the railroads can destroy your town
or build it up at their sweet will and
! pleasure?
? A voice. So far as monopoly is
concerned, you know as much about
} them as do.
Mr.. Watson. Well, that is gen
erous concession. I am very thank
full for it, my friend. Laughter. !
Now, he admits that this IS one of the
t worst features of the railroads to-
r day. Don't you know that if the
railroads were under the control of
} the government that your town, and
every other town, would get fair
play. Why? 1t is not the postmas-
( ter's interest to build up this town at
the expense of that Remove the
, motive and the crime disappears.
t Put the railroads where they are
operated at no mans individual
} pleasure. [ could go further and
show you many other benefits to &C
, crue from the government ownership
Of railroads.
. Colonel Livingston said down here
at Conyers Monday, Suppose you
: got leg cut off, or had a horse or a
} calf killed, how are you going to get
3. paid for it by the government p
| Wall aveYv man knows T cunDOse