The morning call., 1894-04-22

sumed 10 be just and reasonable compensa-
ton; and second, that all Government railroad
officials and employees shall be appointed and
promoted upon basis OF business efficiency
only.
For the affirmative the speakers we're:
Arthur NJ. Cathcart, William Doherty,
Miss Cora NJ. Palmer of Leland Stanford
.Jr. University. For the negative Maurice
Y. Samuels. Emanuel Myron Wolf and Ed
ward P. Foltz of the University of Cali
fornia spoke. Previous TO the debate the
Stanford Mandolin Club rendered pleas
ing selection, after which Judge Seawell
announced the question and also that the
winner of the debate would receive
splendid trophy in the shape of silver
cup.
The first speaker WAS A. Nj. Cathcart,
who spoke wiki much earneStuess. He
said he did not advocate a change of
national policy, but wished to compare
two systems, one real, the other hypothet-
cal Almost invariably objections 10 Gov
eminent ownership were based upon the
100000 railroad officials under The spells
system. Under the premises, however,
the sDoils system would be eliminated aud
Depotism avoided. The power OF the
railroads to-day was inconceivable; blot
them out and in three weeks we would be
reduced to starvation. The cost Of trans
pOrtation enters into everything BY such
charges a great city or section can be
ruined. The interstate commerce law has
accomplished nothing.
TIE speaker quoted Depew and other
railroad men to show its failure. The
Standard Oil he said controls one-sixteenth
of the railroad mileage OF the country. the
dressed beef combination and coal CON-
bnes worked the railroads to suit them
selves. The Supreme Court having de-
cided that officials implicated need not
testify because of self-incrimination. the
result is that no penalty can be enforced.
Under the Government system uiscrimi-
nation would arouse storm of indigna-
ton and compel justice. He cited the
Erie as an instance of railroad corruption
of legislation, Jay Gould having spent
S4,000.000 10 that end. The banrful in
fiuence of the railroads is 300 we'll known
in California to need much comment. 1t
had debauched both parties. Under the
Government system. however, the people.
owning the railroads, would not corrupt
themselves.
Maurice Samuels followed for the mega
tive. He thought such change would in
wade the function of Government as under
stood by the people. The American ideal
was TO give freedom to enterprise within
the limitations that should protect the
people. Government should not assume
the duties of individuals. The practice of
other States showed that State railroads
were much worse managed than 10 the
countries where private cor poratOps
owned them. The average railroad rates
here are lower than anywhere else in the
world. If the Government bought the
railroads it could only reduce the rates for
the people by increasing the debt which by
the pnrchaseawould be $4,000. 600. JUS
tlce was not greatly bribed when the
courts forced such corporations as the
New York Central to pay claim against
1t amounting to 5000. eco year. If Judges
cannot be trusted now they could not be
trusted more then. The law protects
against unjust discrimination. The rem
edy for evils lies in the strict enforcement
Of the law. The interstate commerce law
bad done much good. The speaker quoted
Senator Cullom TO that effect.
William Doherty talked several hundred
words minute in support of the affirma-
tive. He dwelt on the splendid service in
Prussia. Railroads. be said, were simply
gam milling in stocks. Owned by the Gov
eminent there would be no stocks and no
gambling in them. Poverty is stalking
abroad In the land while the plutocracy,
like that OF Carthage. watched it calmly.
The Goddess OF Liberty begins to show
the premonitory symptoms of fatal corr
gestiou. de spoke of the awful slaughter
sh0 wing that man was killed in France
to 24,0O0 COO people and in this country
one man to 100000. The belief that we
surpassed the world in speed and comfort
is all false; fares are 80 per cent lower in
Germany and the cars more comfortable
and speeder. There would be no strikes
under Government control. A railroad is
not a private business. but public
function. Lands can be Appropriated for
public use, not for private use.
Emanuel Wolf contradicted the state.