Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-01-24
BALTIMORE & WASHINGTON RAILROAD

II, the House of Representatives, on Wednes-.
dav. some debate aroseon the proper DISPOSE.
ton TO be given to the bill from the Senate, fur
ther ia continue in force An act to authorize
the extension, construction, and use OF lateral
branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad IN
to and within the District of Columbia" now on
the table Of the House.
Mr.. CHINN stated that he had been instruct
ed to move that the bill be re-comasitfed to the
Committee on the District of Columbia. 1t was
bill in which the people of the District had
direct and near concern, and the subject certain
ly pertained Of right to Their own Committee.
Mr.. McKIM explained The bill merely pro-
nosed a revival of former law, which had ex-
rpired by its own limitation. The Company had
obtained new law from the Legislature OF
Maryland, and they now wished concurrent le-
gislaton from Congress- That Legislature had
granted $500 900 toward the construction OF the
road, and they had therefore added fifty cents
per passenger to the rates before proposed, by
way of compensation of this aid He had no
objection the bill should 60 to the District Com
mittee, although he did not see how the people
ofthe District could expect to get any portion of
the toll for a road, so small part Of which pas
sed through the District; unless, indeed, they
would like Maryland, suscribe part Of the
capital to make the road
Mr. CHINN only insisted that the people of
the District should have an opportunity Of being
heard.
Mr.. VINTON had no objection to the recon-
mitment of the bill, but opposed its going to the
District Committee, inaSmUch as ii belonged,
manifestly, to the Committee on Roads and Ca
nails He had no idea Of the Distr ct Commit
tee taking it out of the hands of the Committee
to which it had been appropriately REFEREED
As well might bill for a road through Mich-
gan be sent to the Committee on Territories
This was not an affair of the District merely, or
mainly; this road was part of the great line of
communication from Boston to New Orleans,
and, as such, was under the jurisdiction of the
Committee on Roads and Canals
Mr.. STODDERT said, he would enter into
no comparison or contest DIS to the relative dig
nifty of different Committee Of the House, but as
one of the representatives from Maryland, he
was anxious to avoid all collision of jurisdiction.
The road had been authorized by the Legisla-
ture Of Maryland, but its completion required
the legislation of Congress, as the local Legisla-
ture of the District. The District had none
other; and the place where its interests were to
be presented was the District Committee of that
House. That Committee had no desire to frus-
trate the undertaking; far from IT; and he,
though deeply Interested in all that concerned
the prosperity of his own State thought there
was weight in the reason why the bill ought to
go to the Committee on the District. The peo-
pie of his own district also deeply concern
ed in the provisions of this bill The road pass
ed directly through his district. There was al
so turnpike road, the stock of which was part
ly held in Baltimore and part in Washington,
which was likely, if not suitably protected, to be
ruined by this rail road He wished both sides
of the question to be fully considered.
Mr.. VINTON moved that the bill be recon-
mitted to the Committee on Roads and Canals.
After some further conversation, the bill Was
sent to the Committee on the District of Colum-
bia.