New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-30
4 SCrHRTLOCS CIRCULAR.

An excellent illustration Oh VII" ''"i'"' """ vi"
reasonable methods Of the men VINO are adV~
eating the peculiar measures OF fhe fopulist
Marty Is afforded by the circular described III
orr Washington dispatches. which Mayor Sutro
of San Francisco. has been sending To members
of Congress and others with view OF ueiea'-
ing. or at least postponing. any actioh 10y ION
gross looking TO a settlement Of the racine hai-
rooJ dcht Mayor Sutro Is Of the opinion that
:, IL the function and the duty OF the General
c,r,rrmont IN furnish transportation facilities
for the people If California ana me Iacihc
Coast If actual cost or less. The Government
did lend its credit 10 the amount OF some So''
100000 or more thirty years ago, III oroer INIT
railroad communications might be Established
for the almost exclusive advantage OF the states
and Territories between the Missouri RIVER ana
the Pacific Ocean The proposition was thch
made that the Government should bulld ana
oper,to the road on It's own account. but was
almost instantly rejected for constitutional rea
SONS The legislator; OF that period were so
anxious 10 promote the enterprise ana puma Tue
road that they were willing 10 strain point ana
adont il Is a war measure had not The uncons'l
tu,ionolitv of such action been universally al
,rit,od Hence thc resort to the subsidy bonds
now about maturing.
The measure pending In Congress. against
which Moyor Sutro and the Populists are max
ing such violent opposition. provides for an e1
tension of the debt to the Government NJ rate
OF interest which the present business condl-
tons will warrant and upon such terms as VIII
ox,,ncujsh the entire debt within the term OF
fifty wears. Under its provisions the ultimate
payment OF the entire debt is made reasonably
In, IL Will The Dsurit or the
security holders Of these great corporations Is, OF
course. true as 1t will give them the opportunity
TO retrieve the property and save some portion
Of their investments But II Is no less evident
that II will he in much greater degree advan
,aceous 10 the Government. What Mayor sun"
and the Populists propose Is that the Govern
ncpt should forcclose It's own Hen. pay on All
nrior obligations. and operate the whole line ~
road from the Missouri River 10 the facihc
lin the interest " the public. his. az mas
been shown to the Pacific Railroad committee
Of Congress by actual calculation would IN
yolye an outlay OF more than SlWoWn"" IN al
dition to the subsidy bonds about maturing
Briefly stated. these gentlemen coolly propose
that the Government should refuse an o1"r 10
extend the debt and make eventual payment
reasonably sure. In order to avail i'sclf o1 Tue
opUOrtunty TO own ana mnnHe" TdlIipdu w
uniting out over $lUO.pN,Oo0 In addition 10
what II has already invested.
And they seem 10 be- pursuing the same meth
DDS and using the slime arguments. 10 force
Congress to adopt their views which they nave
heretofore used In support of their contention
that the Government should favor the products
Of heir mines by making % cents worth Of
sllvcf legal tender for n dollar to The extent OF
their entire product That Is. they charge every
body who differs with them. or who IL not dis
posed 10 make them special favorites II the
Government. with dishonesty and corruption. II
IS in keeping with their style Of argument on the
silver question that Mayor Sutro should load
the mails with the scurrOus matter referred
10 above and hannt in The faces Of Congress
men the charge that they are for sale at $4,000
apicce" He cannot be silly as 10 believe
the story himself think that any one else
will believe IT, His purpose obviously Is 10 make
iimid Congressman believe that they viii he
suspected II corruption unless they vote his
way. He disgraccs himself 10y such action, and
il Is an open question whether in sending such
scurrilolis matter through the malls he has not
exposed himself 10 criminal prosecution.