Evening star., 1897-01-12
Epftaph OF the Funding Bill.

Epftaph of the Funding Bill.
The emphatic repudiation of the funding
bill by the House yesterday furnishes good
cause for general congratulations. The
people are to be congratulated that the
national assets are not 10 be depleted by
over one hundred million dollars for the
benefit of the subsidized Pacific railroads
on the pretense of arranging for the pay
ment of this debt: and the House of Repre-
sentatives is to be congratulated that 1t
has coura2eousiy and unfIinchingIy held
fast to what was right. in opposition to one
of the most powerful combinations OF in
fuenccS, legitimate and illegitimate. ever
marshalled in support of legislative prop
osition. The lesson OF yesterdays vote is
that the Congress of the United States
lacks neither intelligence nor honesty. II
can see through q scheme to bunco the
nation. and no lobby can persuade 1t or
buli-doze it from its determination to crush
such a project.
In the general rejoicing over the victory
OF the people even far off California par
tic.pates. Notwithstanding it has been DEM
onstrated by the reproduction of columns
OF clippings from newspapers of that state
that California was crying for the funding
bill The golden state stands manfully It's
alleged disappointment at the defeat of
this measure. Indeed the positive enthusi-
asfn with which its people hail the result
raises the suspicion that subsidized news
papers well as subsidized railroads may
fig, re in the controversy. OF course
speaking seriously. every one knows that
puilic sentiment in Californi, concerning
the till has differed from that in other
sections of the country only in being more
intense and emphatic in denunciation of
hA
experience the despotic and corrupt meth
DDS OF the subsidized roads. and her opin-
lon of the meaning and merits of a prop
osition affecting them is among those of
all the states. the best entitled to respect
fui consideration.
The truth OF the matter is that Hunting
ton and his associates made a tremendous
blunder In approaching the Congress of the
United States In the style Of campaign
which had proved successful in some other
legislative quarters His conspicuous iden-
tihcstion with the desperate lobbying in
behalf of the bill stamped 1t as unmistaka-
bly, q railroad measure: the employment of
a numerous and costly lobby Including the
hishest-priced experts in the art, empha-
sized the impression that the measure could
not stand upon Its merits: and the vast
sums OF money spent In illegitimate efforts
TO influence public opinion through yenal
newspapers and other lobbyists. whose en-
ployment was brazenly undisguised, gave
significant hint to the public of the mil
lions upon millions of dollars Of expected
profits at the governments expense which
would justify this preliminary expenditure
of millions to secure the passage of the
measure. If the money. and time which is
money. that have been wasted In desperate
efforts to avoid the payment of the obliga-
tions of these roads had been expended In
meeting them. only fraction of the in
debtedness. readily handled. would now re-
main uncanceiled. The roads have ever
been ready to distribute money with a
lavish hand to everybody except the United
States, to whom they are honestly indebted
The greater part even of the vote which
the funding bill secured was obtained in
spite of and not through the lobbying cam
paign Many men feared to take step
which might by any possibility result in
government ownership of a railroad. Many
others in the desire to be rid Of the an
noyance Of the Pacific railroads and their
affairs were ready to vote for the most lib
eral arrangement which could reasonably
De asked The offensive conspicuousness
of The lobby repeiled these men. and a
number of them who for the reasons above
stated finally voted for the bill did so with
disgust at ths lobby and with indignant
resentment at the taint which the lobby
had attached to advocacy of the measure.
The government will now proceed to fore
close its mortgage. as Indicated by Mr.
Cleveland in his message to Congress at
the beginning OF the session. The execu-
tive branch of the government is confident
that in such proceedings the Indebtedness
to the public can be In large part or wholly
collected. through the competition of bid
ders at foreclosure sale. if the managers
OF the roads permit the matter to go 30 far
without reasonable offer Of immediate
settlement.