Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1884 — HUNTINGTON'S DEFEAT. [ARTICLE]

HUNTINGTON'S DEFEAT.

The Situation of the Pacific Eaflrol Ring. I The report of the Committee on Putfl Lands condemning Huntington’s prepostfl ous claim to the Texas Pacific land-grant afl the resolution of the House of Represenfl tives declaring the forfeiture of all unearcß land-grants may be accepted as a new M parture whereby Congress serves notice ■ the railroad treasury-raiders that they mil go out of business. This is the real signl canoe of the position taken by Congress, al it is to be hoped that nothing will be dunel neutralize it. I As to Mr. Huntington, the Payaon repol following close upon the heels of the expl ure which grew out of his resurrected lettl to Colton, is simply fatal It required unpl alleled presumption on his part to come fl ward as a claimant for the Texas Pacific lail grant, but even bis assurance will proball fail him in the face of this rebuff; but isl doesn't it will not avail him. ■ The situation of the Pacific railroad ring! admirably described in theconcluding portil of the Payson report, which is summarizfl as follows: , pf The report says that the Southern Pacific wl built with the money of the Central Pacific ctR side of the securities based upon it, and opl ated and controlled by that company; that ■ far as Congress is concerned the Southern Pacfl never had any rights east of Yuma upon whil it could base a claim against the Governmel either legal or equitable; that it bnllt its rofl expiessly without the intention, expectation, ■ hope of receiving a dollar of aid or an acre I land therefor from the Government; that by I action it aided in defeating the building of tfl road contemplated by Congress, and the facl presented in the report show til transcontinental transportation now stanl in this condition;. The next tool north of this, the Atlantic and Pacil is controlled by. the Central Pacific wa of the Colorado and by Gould east of it. IN Central Pacific and Union Pacific with Goal! connections east of Omaha oontrol the midi route. By subsidizing the Pacific Mail the Cel tral Pacific keeps the water route under contrE The Northern Pacific is not only in the “poca with the Central, but an agreement has bed made between them whereby the territory of tfl great Northwest is divided between them as I transportation, as though the ownership of til country followed the building of railroads ini it, subject to which practical assertion of ownel ship the transportation of freight for the entil Pacific coast is under the control of a few mJ who adopt as a rule for charge “all the tral will bear.” I It is scarcely within the range of possibl ity that the present Congress, or any futul Congress, will listen for one moment to Hud ington’s outrageous demand after the scat! ing" indictment which Messrs. Payson ad Cobb and their associates on the Public Land committee have brought against him. Cl the contrary, they seem to have prepared til way for the adoption of such legislation I will compel the ring which controls the trad continental railways to meet all their obligl tlons to the Government and adopt fair ratJ for the publio. The Charters of these rafl roads confer upon Congress the right to prl tect the people against extortion and oppress ion, and the time is ripe for enforcing td conditions under which they were created. I