The San Francisco call., 1897-02-05
FIRST CATCH YOUR HARE
The Hare Is Cdught-Both Railroads
Are Forfeited.

The Hare Is Cdu0ht-Both Railroads
Are Forfeited.
To the Editor of the San Francisco CdJE-SIR:
For years there has been talk OF Government
ownership railroads, but how are we to get
possession of the roads-hoW first catch the
mare? That has ever been the question OF the
obJector, ana whatever others may think, he
mas insisted that his question has never been
answered, at least not to mis- satisfaction. But
at last he has an answer. That objection no
longer exists so far as the Union and Central
Pacihc railroads are concerned, though the
general public seems to be ignorant OF this i'm
astonishment that such Ignorance is general,
and but few even suspect the truth of the
matter; yet who can name the great daily
newspaper winch has given the subject a thor
ough investigation? l can name but one-the
Philadelphia Item-a stalwart Republican
newspaper which champions and glories in
In strong editorial of December % last
the Item calls attention to 1.-The long and
strikingly able speech of Senator Morgan of
Alabama" in which he declares that in 'athe
charter OF the Union Pacific and Central Pa
citic roads, and In various measures which
granted, there was fixed in favor OF the United
States strict statutory lien upon these prop
ertles which has never been surrendered and
which differs diametrically from mortgage,
providing specifically that upon the failure of
these corporations to meet the pay ment of the
maturing bonds the whole properties of these
companies are forfeited by the operation of
lawh Both these corporations "haying de-
faulted in their payments, they have no more
right in the properties covered by their char
ters than has any citizen" In TACT, "their
right of property ceases and passes by opera
tion of law into the hands of the Govern
menL."
According to Senator Morgan "these proper
ties belonged to the Government when the first
forfeiture occurred" He goes On to say that
numbers of erudite gentlemen have insisted
that the Government ought not to own these
properties, and they have seemed TO suppose
that it would require some new legislation for
that ownership to come about; whereas, IN the
very charters under which these railroad
com panies were organized, a proyiso for the
ownership of these properties by the Govern
ment was expressly made, the conditions all
stated and the manner of acquiring actual
possession provided for; and to-day, instead OF
having to enact laws to take possession OF
these properties, or to declare forfeiture OF
them il we propose to sell them, we shall have
to repeal the laws which now stand"
This explicit statement OF the law and the
facts in the case is not denied or con troyerted
1t thus appears that the hare is caught-the
Government now owns one of the great trunk
lines trayersing the western half of the conti-
nent, and 1t is in order for those men and
newspapers which have vociferously and
| strenuously opposed the infamous 1unding
| bills, but felt constrained to remain silent as
| to Government ownership while these bills
| were pending before Congress, to announce
| their championship of their concealed con-
| ship and operation of these forfeited roads
| AS the Item OF January Is pointedly says:
| "No question is raised in congress over the
| right OF present Government ownership, but
| it is being willfully ignored. Congressman
who refer to it are sat down upon" and ''there
| are newspapers in plenty who by silence or
open support are willing to see the public de-
| frauded."
In ringing editorial, January 25, the
| Item warns the people "that there is a Scanda-
| lous deal afoot to rob the public in the matter
| of the Union and Central Pacific railroads.
| 'This newborn of robbery, embracing many
millions, as the throwing away of the present
| Government ownership of these roads. ac-
| quired by the original contract with the Gov
| ernment in 1862, which provides that in de-
| fault OF payment by the railways of the ma
| tured Government bonds, default beginning
January 1, 1897, these railways become the
sole property of the United States. Under the
| command OF President Cleveland foreclosure
proceedings began two days since, January %,
| TO sell the Union Pacific and the Kansas Pa
| cific at q public sale; but according to pub
| lished reports this whole procedure was insti-
| gated by the security-h olders outside of the
| Government, headed by the old ring which
| has already made so many millions most scan
! dalously out of the Government"
| Our silent friends who profess to believe in
Government ownership are also warned by
| the Item that although the sale must be open
! and public, in form al least the ring which is
| in TACT forcing the sale comprises all the
known bidders in the market. This ring is
prepared to put the sale through with rush
before the public and Congress really compre-
hend what is being done" There is also q
plot to depreciate the value of the Central Pa
clhc property, as dependent on the Union
Pacific, by the sale of the latter road first. No
one believes that the Government will realize
much by the sale to the ring of these railroads,
while the opportunity will be lost to operate
them as Government roads. 1t seems 10 me
that the whole country ought to be ablaze
with indignation over this bold and impudent
betrayal OF trust of such magnitude to the
Nation, and that the people should arise in
their mi ght and assemble in vast masS-meet-
ings in every State of the Union to thunder
their anathemas against our public traitors
and thwart this gigantic scheme of plunder
and prevent this National calamity. But is
there any hope that it will be done
JOSEPH AsBURY JOHNSON.
IL Essex street, Feb. 4, 1897.