The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-09-01

ton, and the people would use these
certificates for the payment OF all dues
to. the government, including fares
and freight charges. 1t would be but
a short time when all~these certificates
would be returned to the government
The government would then be the
possessor of the roads free of debt end
without bonds bearing interest.
Suppose, out of consideration to those
who believe that government should
not issue certificates, but bonds, for the
purchase of the roads. that such bonds,
bearing interest, were issued. Would
the payment Of the interest on such
bonds involve any further taxation OF
the people? Not at ALL For the rea-
son that such interest would be paid
out Of the earnings of the roads them
selves, just as the people are now pay
ing interest On the bonds OF the roads
now operated In addition the people
would save the dividends now paid to
private parties as stockholders, and
also the enormous attorney fees to
railroad attorneys, the cost OF main
tanning Hobbies throughout the coun-
try from municipal councils to the
national senate as well as saving the
enormous salaries now paid to high
railway officials.
After all. is it at all necessary that
the government should purchase the
rolling stock, the shops, round houses,
stations and other fixtures CT rail-
roads? Could not the real object OF
government ownership, that is, protec-
ton of the people from extortion, be
accomplished without this outlay? II
the public owned the highways, as it
should could there be any such thing
as railway monopoly? A railway is
public highway, and it is the private
ownership of this highway that
causes all the oppression of the peo-
pie The mere private ownership of
cars, stations and the like, Injuries no
one. Free competition could be al
lowed in these things, If the govern
ment retained possession Of the high
way The real danger of the private
ownership of the highway, is in the
fact, that for government to grant to
private party franchise for the use
of the highway, is to grant to that pri-
vate party, the right of eminent do
main, which is really prerogative of
government alone. Therefore If gov
eminent grants to private company
the right of eminent domain, it is
equivalent to. and in fact is, sur
render to private company of por-
ton of that governments own soyer-
eighty, for the right of eminent do
main is sovereign right. Now, in
stead of the government granting to
private company such prerogative,
the government should retain that
right in itself. 1t should own the
highway alone 1t could then appoint
government officials to control all traf-
fic, govern the running of trains and
such regulations, leaving to private
companies the privilege of running
trains. By such means there would re-
suit a free competition among the sew
eral railway companies. The people
would thereby secure the best service
at competitive prices.
It is always the burned book that
illumines the world. 1t is the ex-
plunged sentence that burns most
deeply into the minds of men. An in
stance in point is the paragraph from
Lawson's "Frenzied Finance" which
appeared to the publishers of Every
body's Magazine, courageous as they
may be. too tropical" to appear in
the article. The publishers thought its
tone was likely to be considered as
incendiary. Mr.. Lawson finally re-
luctantly consented to strike the Of
Tending paragraph from his article.
Then straightway the publishers re-
produce the same offending paragraphA|
editorially, making due explanation
for its being stricken from the arti-
Gle. Here it is: Il am conscious Of
haunting fear that these men and
women may not always be patient,
may not always be put off with skilled
evasion or slippery suberfuge, and for
one brief moment see visions of a
marching people. bearing aloft grisly
heads on CORY poles. and hear above
the low. bestial murmur Of the mob
the cry for bread and for revenge. |
And then ! remember that this Is |
America. not France. that our laws