Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-12-02
BURLINGTON FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER z, 1853

The stock of the new corporation ie to be
taxable in this state. and the acts by which it
is to exist are to be subject to future lcgisla-
tive action. provided that any proposed alter
alton shall DE made known to the new corpo-
ration (0rtY ddYS bcforc the meeting OF the
legislature, which must act on the altcra-
tions. The Supreme Court is also to have
power to reduce the tolls on proper appllca-
ton, 50 that the corporation shall not receive
more than ZEN PR cent PR dHHUm ON the
amount of capital stock, after dcducting all
expenses and after aNdcbiS are pail, the nett
earnings over and above ejgM per- cent, are to
be paid into the Treasury of the State. The
amount chargcahlc for fare and freight, per
mile, is also limited by the bill.
The legal questions which may spring up,
if the scheme goes into effect, we shall leave
for those to discuss who are more able than
we are, to do So We do not think any per-
sons need fear taking seat on the bench OF
the Supreme Court, because of any great adj
5 dtion to the labor Of the Judges like to arise
+ from applications to have the rates reduced;
, nor will the State Treasury be exposed to amy
e dangerous plethora from monies finding their
= way into it. under the provisions of the bill.
c No doubt it is supposed that the measure, If
{ carried out. will improve the value of the
stock but as we see no provision for paying
II over ANYTHING to the old Stockholders who
e lost their money in helping to build the road,
II our personal interest on that point is set
r down at zero and we are willing to leave all
ID benefits which may accrue to those who are
re Stockholders by recent purchase, to be
&c cvphcrcd out by those Immediately concerned.
lc No Railroad question of equal importance
n has ever been before our Legislature. Haste
o. in the consideration and carclcssncss in tho
So construction Of such bill are the last thingS
is which ought to be INDUCED in by those set t.
H. lcgislate for the common good.
IL 1t is not the absolute magnitude OF such a
nc corporation, reckoncd according to the mill
ne ions which its stock would represent, that i
H. the only thing to be thought Of. 1t needs It
to he considered with reference to the COMPARE
tive size of the State, and its gcogral hica
ny features. Comparing Vermont with Ncy
re- York. we see that if the New York and Fri
or Railroad the New York Central Railroad Ga
wo now calIed) from Albany to Buffalo, the Og
dcnsbupgh Railroad, the proposed Sackett
)h IIarbor and Saratoga Railroad, and the Fri
ut Canal, were all brought into one corporation
there would not be more miles Of transporta
ton route under its control in proportion t
the size of that State, than the proposed com
"' rauy would have in reference to the state q
Vermont Looking at the population OF tn
~ two States. the Vermont company would b
'' relatively twirc as large as the New York "n'
Like railroad bills in general, as we have o.
W ten remark ed, this one omits any provision
"' for the safety Of the human beings cmlloyc
= or transported on the road. If an accidcI
" dcprivcs Il brakeman or passenger of leg
III the common law is to point out it's remedy,
- there be any. If one or q dozen human be
. ings lose their lives from want of car" J" o"'
structing or running the road, their friend
~ can have the same resort to mitigate thcl
~ loss. TO prcrcnt such disasters does not !'
come within the special regard Of our Law
makers.