Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-14

in this country. 1t does, however,
seem pertinent to quite a degree just
at this time when the national House
has voted to throw the Pacific rail-
roads upon the government either to be
managed by government OF to be sold
or leased. 1t is certain, also. that not a
little of the strength of the opposition
to the funding bill is likewise in favor
of government management. The I'M
doubted corruption that has come out
of the governments connection with
the road. of itself ought to cause people
to hesitate before encouraging govern
ment ownership. which it appears from
the condition Of affairs would be under
taken under expensive and disadvan-
be less of corruption with the govern
ment in full charge than there has
evidently been with the government in
subsidiary attitude and exposed to
the hlchings of those so inclined. On
the other hand. however, there is the
immense patronage that would grow
out of such ownership. Those who say,
We'll, supposing we try it" do not sug-
gest any practical way in which We
could end it if the trial did not prove
satisfactory. There is but little doubt
that the government could manage the
road more to its pecuniary advantage
than it has been managed. The sue
cess in this respect Of enterprises SIM
warrant that belief. Indeed there are
very many strong arguments in sup
port of this kind of management. but
there is likewise ample cause for going
slowly. There is an unquestionable
danger of no mean proportions con-
nected with government ownership of
large enterprises and until the post
office department shall have been ut
terly divorced from all the evils
of patronage there should be a
hesitancy to increase that sort of thing.
Moreover. what has been possible in
the way of lessening the evils of
patronage in the postal department.
might be impossible with a patronage
greatly diversified and multiplied, for
already there are in existence in
fiuenceS tending to undermine the
barriers that have been constructed
1t is apparent that the utmost caution
and conservatism are extremely de-
sirable in dealing with this railroad
question. intensely aggravated. as it
is. by the popular disgust at it's past
record. 1t is gratifying therefore to
note an evident disposition on the part
of the President, the attorney general
and the secretary of the treasury and
the interior to seek some other disposal
agement. II is said they deem any
proposal to buy in the railroad prop
erty as the utmost folly. Be that as it
may. and we are not prepared to eX-
press an opinion upon those features of
the case, the apparent conservatism of
the administration is welcome and it is
to be hoped that it exists in fact as
well as in appearance. In respect to
the details and various plans there is
likely to be wide divergence of opinion
among eminent authorities. The facts
just now confronting the government
and about which there does not seem
to be any dispute are: Foreclosure
seems unavoidable: the government is
in the position of second mortgage
bond-holder: there are other creditors
with prior claims; and in event of adj
justment of these government would
come into control of only part of the
system and with formidable competi-
ton, the other parts apparently being
necessary to successful management
of the whole. Assuredly there is any
thing but satisfaction over the full re-
suits of the government connection
with this railroad enterprise.
"a: r.