Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-05-23
The Outrage consummated- Sacrifice Of the
Main Line

Our readers are all aware that bill was pend
ing before the Legislature, for several months for
the sale of the Main Line of our public works.
We have not now the time to trace the history of
this bill from its inception to its cosumma;ionbut
notice Of one or two points will enable the reader
TO understand the whole matter.
The bill for the sale it passed the House, orgi
nally, fixed the minimum price at eight and half
millions. When it went to the Senate, that body
reduced the price to eight millions, and added to
the effect that if the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany should become the purchaser, they should on
the payment of an additional million of dollars be
released from the three mill tax now imposed up
on the tonnage of their road. The House noncon
CURED in the amendment of the Senate, and a COM
mittee of conference was appointed, whose duty it
was to adjust the points Of difference. This COM
mittee after one two unsuccessful efforts, finally,
the last night of the session, agreed upon re-
port which was submitted to the two Houses.
The extraordinary character of this report astoun-
ded both the friends and opponents OF the SALE In
stead Of adjusting the difference between the two
Houses as to whether the minimum price should
remain at eight and half millions as fixed by the
House, or eight millions as fixed by the Senate,
the committee took the unprecedented responsible
ity of fixing the amount at seven and half mil
lions or if the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
should become the purchaser, at eight and halt
millions and the tonnage tax repealed.
Now we take the position first, that the action
of the committee was palpable usurpation OF pow
er. not delegated by parliamentary rules. or pre-
cedent in legislation-but in derogation OF both;
and secondly that the adoption of the report by
the two Houses and the bill becoming law by
the signature of the Governor, shuts out all COM
petition in the shape of rival bidders-that there
can be but one bidder-and that one the Pennsyl
vania Railroad Company.
We deem it unnecessary to elaborate upon the
first proposition. We challenge the friends of the
bill to produce authority or precedent, which could
warrant the committee in reducing the price below
what had been fixed by either House. But our
second proposition does not rest upon parliamen-
tary rules or Legislative precedent 1t is plain
matter of fact, and susceptible of demonstration
as any problem in Euclid. Then for the proof
In order to arrive at proper understanding on
the subject we remind our readers that the acts
incorporating the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
imposed by and with the consent of the Company,
tax of three mills per ton per mile on all tonnage
carried by the Company between Harrisburg and
Pittsburg. This tax amounted the past year, as
shown by the report of the Canal Commissioners,
to one hundred and thirty six thousand dollars,
equal to the interest at five per cent, on two mill
ions seven hundred thousand dollars The provis-
ion in the bill, authorizing sale, proposes to
peal this tax upon the payment, by the Company,
of one million of dollars. In other words it gives
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company the advan-
tage over all competitors, of the difference between
one million, the bonus fixed in the bill, and two
millions seven hundred thousand dollars, the
tual capital which the tonnage tax represented the
last year, to say nothing about the immense in
crease which viii follow the completion of the
second track of the Central road, and its connec-
tions with the various roads extending through the
vast West. 1t is confidently believed by many
intelligent gentlemen, who have given the matter
their attention, that before the expiration of the
persod fixed for the last payment in the sale bill,
this tonnage tax viii be worth at least FIVE million
of collars, and that ultimately. it win be worth
- ~ 7 q.
posed to gre ii asoay for one million, amount
greatly below half its present value.
This honest tax payers of Pennsylvania, is
specimen of the reform Legislature, controlled by
w-Nothings. We shall have more to say a.
bout their acts of reform hereafter.-H Harrisburg
Patrios.