New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-15
rNI0N PICITIC RECEITERSHIP.

v
We should greatly dislike to believe that the
activity displayed by Mr.. Clevcland's Attorney
General in the affairs 81 the Union Pacific hai'-
way Company, now In the hands OF receivers,
was inspired by any other motive than genuine
solicitude for the interests Of the Government
as holder Of the obligations OF the company 10
the amount, including principal AMI Interest OF
SOME sJl 900 OO9 But II this IL his sole anxiety;
II his Interference with the rec'ivcrship pro
cecdings is due entirely 10 his fear lest the GOV
ernmcnt NAV be- dcfraudcd and his anxiety 10
nrotect its interests. We can only say that the
advantages Mr. Olncy has so long enjoyed as
n director Of the Chicago. Burlington ana gum
cy Railroad for acquaintng himself with the
railroad situation in the West have been gross
" neglected Nor do we understand why the
Burlington should retain ~ It's counsel n lawyer
OF so little capacity and such conspicuous lack
OF good Judgment AMI sound sense. There Il an
explanation Of This circumstance which Is en-
tirely consistent with the theory VI the Attor-
ncy-Cenerals ability as Il lawyer and which
also explains his retention ms director ana nv
the company's attorney by that exceedingly
shrewd and long headed corporation the chi
cago. Burlington and Quincy Railroad Com
many. II hardly need be said. however. that
tbc compliment paid 10 the gcntlcman's intclli-
eencc by This explanation Is At the expense OF
his official integrity.
Whoever knows anything OF the railroad sit
nation west Of the Missouri River or Of the
history for the last twenty years of the great
corporations competing for the traiiic OF
that vast area, does not need 10 bc told mat
the interests Of the great railroad company OF
which Acknowledgement Olncy Is n director and
paid attorney would be promoted 10 greater
degree by the breaking up Of the Union Pacific
system than 10y any other possible event. III
deed a glance at Il railroad map showing the
two systems and their connections il s'iifcien'
| to convince any person Of ordinary intelligence
| of the truth Of this statement. The rivalry be
tween the two systems has been always mat
| fer Of public notorlcty What is not 80 well
| KNOWN perhaps. Is the fact that The failure
| of tho Union Pacific To come to any terms with
| the Government on Ill" debt question: ana Oh
| tain relief from the oncrons restrictions where
| by It was prevented from building branch lines
except by costly roundabout processes. has been
largely due to the opposition Of the Burlington
| Company The advantage to The latter of hnv'
| ing it's rival hampcrcl and crippled in the de-
yclopmcnt of the territory naturally tributary
TO il. while the Burlington itself was building
| into II with its own branches and tapping II
| in all directions. is obvious.
| II will not seem strange. perhaps, 10 persons
familiar with the practices Of railroad managers
| that the methods adopted To keep the Union
| Pacific at a disadvantage have not always been
| oucu and aboycboard. That the Burlington
| COMPANY kept In its pay under general retain
crs one or more members Of Congress. that
| these members were most active in opposing
any legislation for the relief Of the Union Pa
| ciGc and that in one instance the passage Of Il
| funding bill for that purpose was only prevent
| cd by hlibustcring proceedings ins'igatcd by re-
| tanned counsel for the Burlington. we believe
| to be susceptible Of proof. The implacablc hos
| tlity of the Burlington for It's rival was well
illustrated ut the time Of the great strike on all
| the formers lines Ii was the attitude of the
Union Pacific under President Adnms's dircc-
| lions toward the attempted boycott that did
more than anything else 10 break the backbone
| of tbc strike President Perkins. Of the Bur
| lngton acknowledged the obligation In Il note
| of grateful appreciation. But when Mr.. Adams
suggested that the favor be- rcciprocntcd by the
cessation Of Burlnstons opposition TO the fund
ING bill. II was refused on the ground that the
burlington could not afford Ia give the Union
| Pacific such IN advantage
Soon after the appointment Of three receivers
| for tbc Union Pacific news came from Wash
ngton that AttorncyA;tncra Olnry was very
much exercised over the possibility Of The Gov
erpmcnts interests being jeomrdiycd in the
management OF the property. There was n
proposition to increase the number Of Govern
ment Directors to ten. leaving five for the
stockholders. so that the Government would be
practically In control Of the road This was
quite in line with the wisdom which has char
actcrized every Government interference with
the affairs Of the corporation. For whatever