Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-10-09
Railroad.
AUMsvILLE, o., Oct. 9, 1884

had a "thinker." pass that eomph-
msnt back and say the same to him;
only am afraid that his "tbinkes' ls
badly placed. He answers my hrsi
two questions, "No" and still has the
cheek 70 advocate the government
ownership Of railroads. He has ad-
mitted that the government has no
right nor power to fix the value, bu'
would have to buy at the sellers price,
but be says that the state Of Oregon
has the power to regulate the fare and
freight on roads running Ia the state.
No one disputes that, nor that the gov
eminent would have the power TO FIX
and regulate the fare and freight on all
through traffic. But neither one will
all Of their great power, have the right
or power 10 fix q rate below fair profit,
and compel the roads to run their trainE
at less or without reasonable profit.
Your correspondent has shown hi
hand and not an honest hand. He say
''for the government to buy one traDr-
continental line and If it could not buy
then to build one" "let the govern
ment appraise any connecting line thai
it would prefer to have, on the basis ol
the real tangible property that is IN
sight" How consistent he advises to
be done the very thing that he said
that the government had no right nor
power to do. He says "let the govern
ment operate one line properly for .
while, and 1t then could buy the COM
petlng lines at reasonable price, he
need not bankrupt himself (meaning
the government) to buy them all at
once, and this policy could be contin-
ued until all the roads were In Uncle
Sans hands," and he says "this 10
business" Yes, II, If, II, and If, If 1t
could do this and II it could do that.
that is could run its one road at cost,
and destroy all the value In all other
roads, 80 that their franchise, their
bond and stock becomes worthless, and
the millions of people living along the
abandoned roads weuld be bankrupt
also, then after the government had
destroyed the value 1t could step In and
buy cheap. would also advise the
government to buy up the farms, mills
and manufactures for IL would be big
speculation, and would be "business."
My God what q scheme for an honest
man or party to advocate, destroy the
entire enterprise Of the whole country
30 that the government might buy
railroad bonds and stock cheap. Your
correspondent says "that corporations
and private individuals operate this
way by the tens of thousands" and
because they have robbed each other.
That makes it right for the govern
ment TO rob It's subjects by the whole
sale.
"This man (Wright) Is mistaken In
the mission Of our government. II Is
not 10 destroy the value OF our prop
erty. but its mission Is to protect us In
our right Of property and to make such
laws az will increase Its value.
Now will this man put on bis thinker
and tell me who wants the govern
ment 70 own and run the railroads. II
IL not the people living east OF the
Missouri river that kicks against the
railroads. They find no fault with the
freight or fare or accommodation but as
we come west We hear OF government
ownership OF railroads, and why--be-
cause the freight and fare are higher,
about double. II costs more 10 travel
on Western roads, aud the reason is
that the railroad lines are longer and
run through sparsely settled country
and run from two 10 three trains daily,
while the Eastern roads run from
twenty-five 10 hfty through
thickIy settled countries. The West
ern roads run through thousands Of
miles 0f aagebrush aud mountains
where the sight Of = man IL eurosliy'
N our government ever owns the rail
roads of this country II will not follow
the example u swlndleTs and Tobberp,
what your correspondent calls busl'
naas) bat will follow the example of
honorable men ~ the oopniFy aud will
become owners by paylng honest
value satisfactory ~ both parties hJs
eupp0ss ths gOyeTnmsnt ga do just ~
year correspondent said, own And opsT'
nfs ons LAS ffom boston ~ San fIan
elso0, shat do y0a lhlnk lhs result
would bsg ! DO NOT meAn the great
dlstfess that would Tssuli, bul 0nly 40
piled 10 ths government ssltlps oon'
iTol " oompellas llass, We,All Ndisll
that srass s0uld grow upon lhs Foaa
isd, Gas ass0is would ~ 0leasdl lhs
gollIpe pl0ok would bs pul under ooYsi
Al egployes would hs dluebaleel and
lhe gsllroaa ~ buslneas salsFpllsg IA
WORTHLESS, hui n sll ihls nhnuld heplen
shal plahl l,As Waahl ~ iillnh llisl
ll,e goYelnmsei ooula buy sllsn
oheaply, 9hs soYeFnnleni would nes
l.up a. QSasa af0a ila0k naf fhg lull