The herald., 1895-01-13

purely imaginary. for the counties would
have voices in proportion to the capital
parts. There 10 fair rule that governs
all such cases. Il should not be over.
looked that such roads arc not TO be
built TO earn dividends, but to save tn G
coat OF transportation to the people.
Supervisors and directors would be re-
eponsibls to the people, and would mot
dare resort to those high and
reprehsnsible practices common to elm
liar Off in corporation railways. who
think the pablo ''bs damned" As we
have before said. the charges on roads
built Oh the Mathewa plan would only
be high eaough TO pay cost OF operating.
tbs interest on thu bonds. and q sink
ing fund to finally extingulsh the
the bonds. There would bs no earnings
to pay interest on fraudulent bonds or
dividends on fictitious stock, and the
psopie would demand aud could enforce
this utmost economy in operating ex-
penses. No ovsr-cspisalizsd road, or
which psya undue salaries, could COM
pete with suoh road. II would have
to 20 into bankruptcy, be sold out and
capitslizsd Oh just basis. and run on
principles OF rigid economy SO far as the
saiatiss OF oficias are concerned.
Objection nun Der five ia that ouch q
road 30 the Mathews bill contemplases
would be used as political machine;
that supervisors would pay off ward
asrikers and political tricksters for their
irregular and dirty political work. II
that is valid objection, then all gov
eminent is objectionable for tho same
reasons. Tho editor OF the Express
must be familiar with Dan Burnsiem and
osher machine msshods, and We are
glad to know that be abhors and fears
them. For his consolation we will in
form him that the good people arc
"oGto' those things that have plum
6ered them and debaucned the public
morals. Supervisors have power to
construct roads, build bridges. and do
many other things in connection with
which thore ia patronage aud fat
contracts, and why not deprive them
of this power and let corporations run
the whole government instead of eleos-
ing officials to do it? We admit that
the people have bsen negligent in regard
to thsir public duties. They feel tho
burden when they 90 to pay taxes,
which occurs bat onGs year and then
they grumble and forget, but whom they
have TO pay for railroad transportation
every dev they will not forget. A road
built under tho Matthews plan will be
public road and every citizen will have
tins righs to investigate the manner OF
its management; and hs will do it, for
he will be impelled to do it every time
he buys ticket or pays freight bill.
There will bs no difficulty in getting
contractors to build a road as 8 minimum
profit, for there will be no arrangement
made as there is with corporations
to divide pro6ts with the directors.
Bat few persons are interested in
corporation roads comparatively. while
q road built under the plan under dis
cusaion will be matter of interest TO
the whole people. Give the people
chance so have cheap transportation,
and il they 10 not sake care Of their own
interests il will be their fault and they
must euffor tbs consequences. Lat them
havs q chanes sl do thsir own work, and
If they do NOT wish to act, let il be 60.
But lef us diamiss The ghost OF bossism
and corrupt politlcs in the discussion Of
public questions and trust the people to
do their own wovk. II oil newspapers
would shake off corporation Influence
and asand for popular rights fearlessly
and without regard to party or personal
Consequences there would be 8 better
etRte OF political morals. Opposition to
tho Mathews plan 10 inspired by some
corporation which has evidently given
our contemporary voice and set it to
talking.