The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-12-28
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. SCHEME

THE DULUTH-GALVrsT SCHEME.
To the Editor of the Eagle
I have hesitaed as to answering the
article of Mr. a. C. Jobes in your issue
of the 23rd inst. criticising my scheme
of a Duluth-Galveston railroad.
l will say briefly that one who
attempts 20 substitute covert sarcasm and
inuendo for argument should be sure
both of his audience and especially of
his own skill. We had better keep 10
the question, for the public are really
more interested in rates than the smart
things either he or l may say or think
we say.
But perhaps we have no question:?
no unjust rates: no discrimination:
roads? no floating of bonds at 30 cents
on which interest is expected from
ra,es at par? Mr.. Jobes seems uncertain
! reading his article | am sure many
| thinks the public have any rights which
the roads are bound to respect.
| He gives a fling in passing at my
such suspect are the substance OF what
has been held by our superior courts as
the unwritten law in relation to rail
roads, founded in that manner of COM
mon right called public policy"
He wonders ''if a trunk line from
Duluth 20 Galveston would be good
and profitable investment for the govern
ment, why would it not also be a desira-
INN fpr fol If
the United States mails had not lonS
ago been taken out of private
hands for the public benefit doubtless
would now be asking similar questions
on two trunk lines, one of which now
extends, and both will soon extend, to
Chicago and to Galveston-why not use
already interested to the extent
in the long haul to the seaboard,
will not give us rates in
the direction where our interests point
into scheme the effect of which would
be to impair the value of its previous in
vestments. The matter seems so plain
us idi'uy W iequIe tno question VI oA
answer.
Mr.. Jobes asks if it would not be bet
ter 40 enact law requiring the roads
to forfeit to the state all earnings beyond
) per cent. or 10 per cent. per annum
upon the actual values of their proper
ties?" My impression is that, upon his
own showing of the probable results of
such an enactment, the concensus of
H. l1,. IL
of having everything in excess of legiti.
mate earnings i'll the pockets of the peo-
pie where it belongs. This thing of
tiltering private and public benefits
through the facile fingers of corpora
tons, made the first benefciaries and
final almoners of bounty, is pretty we'll
played out in public estimation. In this
connection it is proper TO point out the
fact that it is Mr.. Jobes, not [. who talks
of forfeiture" and ''confiscation."
But | suspect that the real rub which
worries my friend is the very innocent /
suggestion in regard to ways and means
in case the scheme of building should be |
undertaken by the states. | said nothing |
even by implication as to the national |
bank system per Sc, simply proposed TO !
use its methods in issuing notes, the var
based upon state instead of government |
bonds. Surely it ought not to be neceS-
sary to tell a national banker that this is
non fiat" money-in fact it is not
money at all 1t must be legal tender to
be fiat money and nothing, neither gold,
silver nor paper, upon which the fat
sovereign power wasnotstamped, making
it legal tender in payment of debts
ever yet was money. A creditor may
accept substitute, he must accept real
money.
1t is not the question Of rates which
policy, not the right of gov.
eminent ownership of railroads.
1t is a much graver mat
a question as between that and the
exercise of unlimited power by few
kings, then say there is but
one course. The scheme propose is
simply the ounce of prevention which
may render the pound of cure unneces-
sary.
Now, as to the public benefits arising
from these great arteries of commerce,
the solicitude for private capital invested
therein, and all that sort of rot of which
we hear no end, it is only requisite to
say that to control does not necessarily
mean to confiscate, nor to regulate i'm
ply to ruin them. That we NAV permit
our children to stand in our shoes with
out implying that they may do all sorts
Of business there, without protest or re-
,traint, the experience of Mr. Jobes must
each him.
AS to the protection Of capital"
which worries a great many people, who
ike ourself are troubled more by It's alb
sence than BY its presence, it NAV be
said that money is like some men-mod-
,St and we'll enough when in humble
station, but developing upon promotion,
he qualities of a very tyrant. Raised to
he dignity of capital it becomes not !
only an autocrat, but an arrant coward /
1t cannot then be surrounded with
enough 10 secure the I'M
sgination OF its owner from haunting
ears of danger. Just a. the poa. /
where it Is perfectly able to take care of
tsef, when it has become in fact a beast ,
If prev, it calls for help. and demands !
protection when of all things it needs
lone, but is itself a real danger. II
operates from ambush, hides behind /
egal DISCUSSES, pursues its designs by
stealth, indirectiOn and intrigue; inter-
hoses Hon-bound contracts 10 cover
rand, under which it goes into court l
justice, where it would
tand culprIl and criminal if justice
we're done; uses the mesheS Of the law
Is spider does its web. 10 ensnare vic
inns, and holds up government itself as ,
shield when outraged equity insists .
lpon redress for wrong. No, no: capi-
al welded by jay Gould is well able
o take care OF itself Il Is If creatures
Il flesh and blood. who feel and suffer.