Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-12-11
PACIFIC ROADS.

The secretary OF the interior in his an
nual report discourses at some length on
the relations between the government
and the bond-aided roads. He refers to
the impudent contention of the Central
Pacific that it is not in debt to the gov
ernment, and even if it were patents
should be Issued it for all lands within the
grant, because they are not included in
the government mortgage. Both Of
these contentious he emphatically de-
nice and says that, independent Of pre-
vious indebtedness, the Central Pacific
will Oh Jan. |, 1897, owe 81, 432, 900. to-
gether with 30 years interest that must
be paid by the government. Continuing
the subject, he says;
"This indebtedness has been the sub
Ject Of attempted legislation for many
years past, and it seems impossible to
frame any renewal or extension OF the
loan which will be acceptable to both
Legislators and the indebted companies
A funding Of the debt which contem
plates the government accepting long
time bonds for its advances will not re-
move this troublesome subject from the
consideration of congress and would
probably result in renewed measures for
the relief Of roads being proposed as
those bonds approach maturity.
"ln my Judgment it is much better
| for the government to accept IA lump
sum in each for its claim against these
roads if by doing SO that claim can be
settled and the connection between the
government and the only roads it has
ever aided by direct subsidy be effectu-
ally severed. Such solution OF this
vexed question would meet the hearty
approval of the people generally and re-
lieve Legislators and all branches Of the
government Of troublesome problem
and a trying responsibility"
The conclusions Of the secretary do not
appear to be correct. They are virtual
admission that the great corporations
are more powerful than the government
and can continue to ignore and defy it.
Coils p. Huntington is very rich man
and every dollar Of his wealth came out
OF the Southern and Central Pacific
According to his own testimony the two
roads have expended over &, 800, 900 foI
lobbying, yet he insists that he cannot
pay either interest or principal and
| lo havf rul hIl
roads indebtedness by the issu
ance Of l00year bonds, on which
the government must guarantee the in
tereet. It is remarkable state of af
fairs, the more 80 because Mr. Francis il
his oficiH! capacity, instead OF insisting
that the mortgages be foreclosed, pro
poses that the government lose all that il
has paid for the roads, pay such addi
tiona sums as it is compelled to pay, &C
cept from the companies any lump sun
they are willing to give, and then relieve
them of all further responsibility ant
throw in the vast area Of unpatented land
that are now held aa security for tn
debt. Such scheme must have origin
atcd with the roads; that it should flint
favor and indorsement from so high al
official seems remarkable. Why, II few
days ago Secretary Francis in u publ
letter warned the people against tn
growing power OF the trusts, yet his frs
. official act of importance shows that on
of the rottenest corporations in tn
country has overawed him. With sue
mon in power in high places, how ca
the people hope for juetce or relief?