The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1907-09-14

pie IN every section to desire their con-
struction- The United States. the sew
erai states and the municipalities there
in. granted rights Of way to railroad
corporations without limit These rail-
road corporations belonged to. and were
owned and controlled by private parties,
but were authorized by law e condemn
and take private property. A net work
OF railroads has been constructed
throughout the United States. A vast
preponderance OF all the traffic and in
~tercourse of the people OF the several
states Is conducted over railroads. Rail-
road managers nave assumed and exer-
cised the power 10 regulate all the COM
merce conducted by. means of their
roads. Thus usurped power has been
used TO build up the colossal trusts
which are subverting the government.
0ovsrnmsns Regulation
Many sincere reformers advocate gov
eminent regulation Of railroads. An in
terstate commission has been
organized for that purpose; but the
work of that commission has not accom-
plished the results contemplated.
Recent Investigations, however, have
given publicity to many of the most
glazing acts of u~surpation and oppres-
sion of railroad management. The ex-
posures of the wrongs and extortion of
the railroads and the trusts they have
created have produced a profound i'm
preston on the public mind.
The fact that the railroads can trans
fer a thousand millions of the peoples
money to one man in a single genera
ton. has alarmed all patriotic citizens.
-. 49, - Al. .t@n-kto- ~
the people upon any adequate measur
Of relief. The regulation of railroads
IL that remedy is attempted. must be by
officers appointed by the government or
elected by the people. The able and en-
terprising men engaged In railroad BUSH
ness will combine to secure the appoint
ment or election of persons who will do
their bidding. Their authorized agents.
with unlimited capital behind them,
will be present at every election. Every
citizen h has business with railroads
will be made to feel that opposition will
incur the displeasure of all railroad
managers. If the participation of rail-
roads in politics is now a glaring evil.
it will be a menace to free government
when all the railroads are combined to
maintain their power to control COM
merce.
Congress may pass laws to remedy
certain evils and declare certain acts
crimes, punishable by fine and imprison-
ment: but the cunning of railroad man.
ayers will invent new means and new
devices for robbing and depressing the
people faster than congress can pass
new laws to prohibit and punish new Of
lenses. The state may organize rail-
road commissions. but the commissions
in the future. as in the past, will be in
the interest of the railroad monopoly.
The Mistake
The mistake which turned over the
regulation of to railroads re-
suited from the willingness of the peo-
pie to secure railroads at any cost.
They did not realize when they were
surrendering the highways to railroad
corporations, that they were also sub
jecting themselves to all the evils to
which the colonies were subject previ-
Gus to the Revolution. n that railroad
managers would assume the right to
regulate in defiance of the
government of the United States.
The Only Adequate Remedy
The usurpation of railroad managers
must be stopped. and the power to
regulate m must be restored to
the general government This can' be
done by the exercise of the power of
eminent domain, and not otherwise.
Mr. Justice Strong, in Kohl vs..
United States, said: TT has not been
seriously contended during the argu-
ment that the United States government
is without power to appropriate lands
or other property within the states for
it's own uses, and to enable it to per-
form it's proper functions. Such an au-
thority is essential to it's independent ex-
istence and perpetuity. These cannot be
preserved If the obstinacy of a private
person.. or any other authority can pre-
vent the acquisition of the means or in
struments by which alone governmental
functions can be performed" 81 U. s..
p. 81.
The United States cannot perform it's
functions in regulating m while
railroad corporations exercise that au-
thority. 1t is the duty of the United
States therefore to cause the railroads
to be appraised, condemned. and paid for
by the issuance Of bonds. The govern
ment has nothing to do with stocks.
bonds or other membranes of the road.
The money or bonds can be paid into the
courts which nave jurisdiction to dis
tribute them on equitable principles
among all parties interested in the
roads.
The railroads of the country, at their
appraised value, would be a valuable as
set to the government. The m~illionaires
created. and expenditures required to
-~s-.tr tha c,rnropnanv of railroad
monopoly are evidence of the earning
capacity of railroads. Government own
ership and management would employ
more men at good wages, build, extend
and maiptain more and better ROADS ana
furnish cheaper and more satisfactory
service han private corporations The
legitimate income of railroads. over all
expenses for management. repairs ana
extensions would furnish a large sur
plus for the benefit of taxpayers. The
methods which the government would
adopt would be less complicated than
the h~ydraneaded railroad oligarchy
which now defes the United States.
There is no more dificulty in man
aging the railroad business than the
business of the army, navy. treasury.
nostal service or the interior depart
ment. All these are conducted by the
government more satisfactory than
could possibly be by private parties. A
comparison of the p~ostoface department
with the service rendered by the various
EXPRESS companies will show the superb
GRITTY of government management.
The vast empires Of western Asia
from China to Europe maintained most
intimate commercial relations before the