Evening star., 1933-02-19
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Feellng against mOnOpOleS m this
country was rising SO years ago. as the
Opposition to o'SeS Of TebrSary y Is. is isss, sss
Monopolies. shows: ssTs: .ro,,,,,. .,,a
grasping monopolies In this country,
though managed with adroitness in
many respects, seem incapable of learn
ing the lesson of self-preServation. The
railroad kings, when they add another
road to their combinations, exsllt over
their increased power to sxtort from the
people. When the telegraph company
absorbs q competing line, the cost Of the
purchase is expected TO be drawn from
the pockets of its patrons. The monop-
olists congratulate themselves upon hav-
ing fastened their grip more firmly upon
the people and seek only to use their
increased power for selfish purposes.
They are apparently blind to the signs
OF rapidly growing discomfort with mo-
to suppress them If they once set about
1t. The number of men in Congress
who now advocate the establishment Of
a Government system of telegraphy is
much greater than q year ago. The
ranks OF those who urge the regulation
OF railroad traffic by law have been
largely increased. The growth Of the
sentiment in Congress in favor of Cow
einment telegraphy and Of railroad leg
iSlation represents the increasing oppo-
sition of the people to naonopolies. The
power OF the people to protect them
selves against extortion Is one that can
be and will be exerted through lawful
means. There Is nothing sociaiistic in
the opposition to monopolies. 1t does
not ask that any man shall be deprived
OF his property, but simply asserts that
the masses of this country have rights
which honopolists Snust respect"
X
The reclamation of the Potomac fats
having Nbeen authorized by law and
More Money Needed tuteG' tut G't anxiety a ss
For Work on Flats. was saT,,,ps lei' r re- :
continued appropriation Of funds for its
prosecution The Star of February 16.
1883, says:
1.-THE work of reclaiming the Potomac
fats, now in progress, will require an
additional appropriation at the hands
OF the present Congress If it Is to be
prosecuted without interruption. The
contractor Is reported as having said
that the original appropriation will be
exhausted by November next. 1t is the
universal desire that this Improvement
shall be pushed forward with all prae-
tical dispatch. The estimate of the ap-
preparation needed has been submitted
by the Secretary of War, and it only
money in order to assure steady prog
reSS IN the work. In the press and rush
Of other matters this one should not be
overlooked. The select committee of the
Senate should see to it that the appro-
priation Is made"
'The much-taIked-of American built
line OF steamers. which was to carry
six-Day Atlantic tween tween t the sS's cite. ie.
Service Proposed london q Ssw foEe inside anS of
six days, has been abandoned" says The
Star Of February II, 1888, "and the
project will be carried out as far as
practicable by a company organized in
England, which will use vessels built in
that country. The original plan con-
templated the use of fast-rlmning steel
ships, built in this country, which were
to carry mails and first-claSs passengers
only, all freights and emigrants being
relegated to slower lines. They were to
run between the most easterly point Of
Long Island and Milford Haven on the
west coast of England, which is the first
point to be reached on an airline route
to London. The enterprise was based
on an expected subsidy from Congress
in the form Of contract for carrying
fast mails; but there being no prospects
of this, and the action of that body on
the general shipping bill being unfavor-
able, it has been deemed advisable to
give up the project 1t has been taken
up, however, as indicated above, by an
English company, which proposes to
construct new and fast steamers to be
run between the points named. but they
will convey emigrants and freight as
other lines are now doing. The capital
of the new company Is $4,000, 900, and
it is said that it will lose no time in
carrying out the purposes for which it
was formed"