The record-union., 1896-06-04
SHOULD BE SETTLED.
YtyS ensibIe Expression on the Funding
Bill.
The People Do Not Want the Govern
ment to Own and Operate
the Railroads.

F'rom the Bridgeport Chronicle Union.)
1t is to be regretted that Congress will
adjourn without settling the Pacific
Railroads bill and thus putting a stop
to the controversy which has been OF
great detriment to this State in the past
ten years or more. But we do not wish
to have this railroad question settled
as the rabid anti-railroaders and many
politicians desire to have it. 1t should
be closed for all time on business prin-
ciples, as an individual creditor settles
with his debtor. These companies
should be required to pay all they owe
the Government, and it should be al
lowed reasonable time to do 1t in, the
Government to be given ample security
on all their property until their obliga-
tions are paid, and in this respect no
fair-minded citizen of this State can
truly say that the report of the Con-
gressional committee is not fair to the
companies and just to the country. We
want no Government ownership of rail-
roads. A greater curse could not befall
this country than to have the Govern
ment in control of and operating the
Pacific Railroads or any such property.
Corruption would run rampant In all
departments of the Government. 1t is
easy to sit by a country grocery store
stove or in the editorial sanctum Of a
newspaper office and talk and write
about the Government confiscating
the railroads and running them in the
interest of the people" It so happens
that some 100000 of people who do
not live in California have some inter-
ests ia this settlement and possess diff
ferent ideas in regard to having the
Government secure what Is due 1t, and
their business methods are very likely
to prevail, as the East is opposed to a
Government ownership of these roads,
and herein the people of the East are
correct. Under Government control
they would be an immense political ma
chine, and the party under whose ad-
ministration they would be thus fore
closed and taken possession Of could
anchor itself in the White House and
in the several State Houses of the
States through which they would run
for all time. The country is cursed
with too much politics now, and we do
not wish any such addition to the evil
The Congressional committee report
ed in favor of compelling the railroads
to pay to the Government the amount
due by both companies, which are to
issue their bonds to the Government
to the amount of $4,000, 900, bearing
a z per cent. interest, which Is to be
paid every six months, with annual
payments on account of principal Of
1866, 900 a. year $1,000 a day. for the
first ten years; for the next ten years
$3.50 900 year, or over 81, 800 day,
and for the balance of the time $780,,
600 year lover $1,000 a day.. To Sc
cure the Government 1t viii take lien
on the aided line OF both roads and on
all their branch lines, the Government
now having no Lien on the latter. The
Government is not In a position to take
up the S112, ,00000 due from the Union
Pacific, Kansas Pacific and Central Pa
citic, and the committee oppose the
Government being burdened with the
operation of railroads. An individual
would gladly settle with a debtor ON
such terms, and why should we not
consider that the Government will do
as well in ridding itself of this pestilent
matter. Until this matter is settled for
all time, we cannot expect to have cap
ital invested in railroad enterprises in
this State while there is such an anti
railroad spirit existing, for the new San
Joaquin RAILROAD, which started SO
gloriously, is meeting with opposition
among the farmers for whose benefit
it was intended. Such state of affairs
is a disgrace to this State, and 1t is not
strange 1t does not prosper to greater
extent.