Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-04-12
forth in said Code in re.pec. to companies incor

porated to construct railroads.
That said compa.y shall to be constructed and
equipped railroad with heavy rail from some point at
near Covington aud Clifton Forge In the county OF Al
eghany by the best practicable route, point on
the Ohio river below the mouth Of Big Sandy river
nor above the town Of Point Pleasant.
g. That In the construction OF this railroad the Board
OF public works shall and continue the con-
structon OF said road from its terminus east at
the same time they extending the said road from its
eastern terminus west
T. That the Board OF public works hereby autho-
rized 10 borrow the credit Of the In the
mode prescribed by existing laws the money necessary to
construct aud equip said road not more than one
million OF dollars arc hereby appropriated Tor the pur'
poses Of this act.
8. This act shall be in force from its passage.
Our neghbor Of the Post endorses the construction
of the ACT that it authorizes the expenditure of an
amount of money sufficient to CONSTRUCT and equip
the road, by the Board Of Public Works The Post
says:
The idea struck before we saw 1t suggested
In the Republican, for we never read the act until
published in that paper in connection with the question
sl.ded to- Having been shown the thing, We now
wonder at stupidity in not having seen II before
There DO no doubt that such is the force OF the
law"
A more monstrous proposition VIC have never heard
Of in the course of State legislation After the advo-
of bills appropriatng enormous sums Of money
to this work have had full hearing before the Lesis
ature Of the State and their applications have been
jected; for any of them maintain the opinion that
the Board of Public Works 60 and borrow
as much money they want in spite Of the
action of the Legislature, is really something that
did expect from them 1t about the coolest pro
position we have ever known. The Board of Public
Works have become power above the Legislature,
according to this doctrine. The friends of the Cow
ihgton and Ohio Railroad apply to the Legislature
for an appropriation TO construct their work. The
Legislature proper to refuse them and thcreupon,
the Legislature is informed that the Board of Public
Works is authorized borrow zen the credit Of the
Commonwealth" the money necessary to construct and
equip the road. This is decidedly high ground for
the Board of Public Works to occupy. What the
Legislature of the State refuse positively to do, the
Board of Public Works can do, if they think proper.
We wonder they applied othe late Legislature FOR
any money at all to build the Covington and Ohio
Railroad. What was the necessity for their doing SO
ifthey are authorized TO borrow what money they
choose, for this purpose, "on the credit OF the Com
monwealth."
great deal of needless legislation and expenditure
ofthe time OF the session of the last Legislature might
have been saved had this bright idea struck our co..
tePoraies vi the LIepuOIicdH ana f0St lew months
sooner. They had best not congratulate themselves
too soon, however, over their grand discovery, Let
the Board of Public Works dare take upon them
selves the authority borrow money ION the credit
OF the commonwealth, under the authorizing them
ito construct railroad from Covington to the Ohio
river on state account" and they raise such storm
about their heads, among indignant public as will
sink them beyond the hand of resurrection They
may try it as they like. What member of
the Legislature of 1929 believed at the time he
was voting for the covington and Ohio Railroad Bill,
that he was comforting full power upon the Board of
Public Works to involve the state in any amount of
debt they might please to saddleupon upon her for
this work? Who else believed il? And more especial
y who would have counenanced such an idea in the
event OF the Legislature declining to vote appropra-
1ons to this Improvement when asked forY
This subject furnishes alarming instance of the
abuse of power, and dangerous consequences, which
the existence of this Board may entail upon the COM
monweah, to which may refer at length here-
alter 1t may serve as warning to the Legislature
that the interests of the state require speedy abol
ishment OF this Board by which the credit of the
state Is to be surrendered to the keeping three ire.
Sponsi6e men, and trust Legislature will take
warning by IN time to the evil before il is
too late.