Omaha daily bee., 1896-06-19
THE OMAHA DAILY BEE. FHPAY, JUNE 10, 1890.

from President Perkins. These letters au-
thorized Briggs and Saunders to draw on the
3. e. ". treasury for all the money neces-
sary to conduct their campaign. Hitchcock
expected by these letters to demolish all
opposition. but the legislature promptly or
dered an investigation and exposed the VII
lainy. The letters proved TO be rank for
feries. for which $500 had been paid the
forEer. A reaction set in, and before Hitch-
cock could recover. Alvin saunders was vi
umrhantly elected on the fourth day, re
ceiyinr IS votes. The election was pro-
uounced by The Bee "A triumph OF the
right" and occasioned great rejoicing
throughout the state. In Omaha
lions. fireworks and serenading bands gave
vent TO the general feeling OF relief when
was felt over the downfall Of the corrupt
dynasty. Speaking Of the victory, The Bee
said.
"The people OF Nebraska, and the friends
Of honest government all over the union, are
to be congratulated on the elimination OF
the great political contest that has resulted
In the election Of Alvin Saunders TO the
United States senate. No event in the ms
tory Of this commonwealth has been fraught
with more momentous consequences Inc
election of Alvin Saunders is not, as II
may seem. a mere factional or personal
victory. 1t is the triumph Of Justice over
| lawlessness. Of truth over falsehood, and OF
honesty over corruption
UNION PACIFIC BRIDGE TOLLS.
No battle ever fought in the interest OF
the producers Of the state attracted such
Widespread attention and support as that
waged by The Bee against the exorbitant
tolls exacted by the Union Pacific railroad
at the gateway TO Omaha, over the MISSOURI
river bridge.
The bridge was q veritable gold mine for
the company. Its original cost was less tnan
81. 200. 600. Ten dollars was charged LOT car
loads and so cents for every passenger. In
1873 the bridge was earning S5.5VV per Gay
or 81 277, 500 per annum, thus yielding an
nual dividends Of nearly 100 cents on the
dollar. The rates were double those OF any
bridge over the Missouri and MISSISSIPPI
rivers. 1t operated as an embargo not OIL!
on the of Omaha. but was an oneT-
Gus tax on every bushel OF grain. every par
| rel of -four and every head of stock exported
from Nebraska. The bridge monopoly pc
came an important issue in Nebraska. Inc
/ management Of the railroad, from the hlgh-
est officer to the lowest section boss, was
one vast political machine. Every foreman
was a ward worker, and every attorney,
bureau master and superintendent an aaepl
in political wire pulling. Shippers were
coerced. and dared not utter q WORD OF COM
nlsint in public lest their business suffer.
Others who enjoyed special privileges were
active and outspoken' advocates oil the mo-
nopoly. Under these discouraging conditions
The Bee. backed by a strong and unhlnchlne
action OF the republican party, Kept up TIE
agitation in favor of reduced tolls.
In the fall of 1873 at the republican state
convention of that year resolutions were IN
troduced by Mr.. Rosewater denounclns th'
robbery and p%ledging the party 10 use ever!
means to bring about a reduction OF VIVA,
uas declared to be unlawful, unjust anc
oppressive tolls The resolutions expressed
the sentiment Of q vast majority OF the con
yention. but by flibustering tactics the ran
road attorneys STAYED of a vote until a large
number of the delegates had left for nome
ard defeated them by a resolution TO ad
journ.
In October of the same year a mass con
vention was held in Omaha in response 10
call signed by forty leading citizens. heaae'
by Herman Kountze and w. A. Paxton. In
purpose of the convention was set loFtn IL
the call as follows:
I'm view of the pernicious influence OF cor
porate capital in the various political con
ventions. and deeming the interests OF tn
city. county and state paramount 10 an Pc
litical considerations, we have decided u
support an independent legislative ticket.
Judge G. w. Doane presided and made tn
principal speech. followed by E. Rosewate
and w. ]. Connell. The convention en-
dorsed several of the democratic nominee
and completed the ticket with Independent
republicans. The democrats were electe'
by an overwhelming majority.
The county campaign was but a prelimi
nary skirmish in the great anti-monopol.
war then spreading throughout the country
but it demonstrated that 1900 volunteer
had enlisted in Omaha on ten days notice
The great political power of the Union Pa
ciac with all its resources, was unable Z
check the growth Of manhood and independ
ence which proclaimed that there would b
no truce as long as the bridge extortion con
tinued.
As soon as the members OF the legislator
were definitely known, the railroads begal
the usual distribution Of brides in the form
of passes. The Union Pacific was particu
larly generous. Every counting memoe
was favored with an annual pass for himsel
and family between Omaha and Ogden
while the Burlington limited its favors I
passes over lines centering in Lincoln. Bot
companies pooled their issues against tn
common enemy, for a reduction OF rates Of
the Union Pacific bridge meant a simila
curtailment of profits on the Plattsmout
bridge when completed. The effect OF thes
fayors was felt at the organization of tn
legislature. The railroad committees of bot
houses were packed in the interest OF IN
monopolies, but an active and Vigllan
minority succeeded in bringing the questio'
suuarely before the senate and placing tn
members on record. A resolution was IN
troduced endorsing the bill then pending i
congress limiting the tolls on the bridge. ]
was championed by Senators Van wye
and C.. H. Brown, and opposed by Senator
} Howe and Birkhauser. The willy support
2 ers Of the corporations insisted that a reduc
= ton Of the tolls on the Omaha bridg
would force the company 10 raise rates o
the main line and while Omaha would b
benefited, the rest of the state would b
damaged. It was a tricky and effective al
gument and furnished the wayering countr
members an excuse for betraying the in
terests OF the state. The resolution wa
defeated.
There is an interesting chapter OF his
tory connected with the bill TO which tn
resolution referred. The bill was drafte
and introduced in the house by Congress
man Finley, an Independent democrat {
Ohio. He had made a trip 10 Omaha an
the west in 1877 and become familiar wit
the eXactions practiced by the Union ia
cihc under color OF law, and cheerfully yoI
unteered his services in securing relief fo
the people. A strong anti-monopoly sent
ment then prevailed in the lower nous
which insured the passage OF the bill.
was referred TO a subcommittee Of the CON
: mittee on commerce. of which Dr., Feltor
an anti-monopoly democrat from Georgii
was chairman. The bill was loosely draw
and did not fully cover the evils II intende
TO remedy, and was given TO Mr.. Ros'
water, who represented a committee {
Omaha citizens, for revision. Meanwhi
several members of the senate were al
/, preached and their views solicited. Senate
: Booth of California, who was elected GOV
ernor and tnen senator as a representatlV
of the anti-monopolists OF the coast, wa
!, lukewarm and half-hearted and gave littl
10 h HnanEaNTa NEhl1n San