Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-02-23
FROM ANNAPOLIS.
Correspondence of the Sentinel"
On Tor

In my last letter, which l extended to
a much greater length than perhaps was
acceptable to many of the readers of the
Sentinel" l took review of the very
interesting report of the select committee
Of the House to visit the Penitentiary
and some other public Institutions of
Baltimore city, In this | propose to
speak of the provisions of several very
important bills now under consideration
in one branch or other of the Legislature.
The Senate, yesterday, passed a bill
amcndatory to the act to incorporate the
Metropolitan Railroad Company--only
three votes in the negative, the Senators
from Washington, Frederick and Har-
ford counties it was to-day sent into
the House for its concurrence. L have
no doubt that it will pass in that body,
not however without opposition, on the
part of some of the Washington county
members. understand they will offer
as an amendment to the Senate Bill, that
the Directors shall refund to the Wash
ington county Stockholders the amount
they have paid, and assign as reason
for this amendment, that they have now
no hope of the road ever being made
through their county. Thisproposition,
so unjust and unreasonable, | am sure
the good sense of the House will vote
down without hesitation. For the benefit
Of your citizens, | will in a few words,
give the provisions of this amendatory
bill. Itrepeals the 18th section Of the
charter which required the President and
Directors to expend all dividends of the
earnings Of such portions of the road as
may be from time to time put in working
condition, in the completion of the road
to Hagerstown, regardless of the wishes
of the Stockholders. This section being
repealed, the company can 60 on and
equip for service any completed portion
of their road, and upon the nett earnings
Or profits of this portion declare divi-
dend to the stockholders, who can invest
, this dividend Or not, in the further CON
struction Of the work This charter is
f further amended, requiring that all
money obtained upon subscriptions to
, the stock and paid by the citizens Of the
. respective cities or counties in the State
of Maryland, within which the road is
located, shall be exclusively expended in
making the road lying within the counties
= or cities to which the subscribers respec.
lively belong, unless otherwise directed
by the stockholders. The Goth section
of the charter required the road to b.
completed within five years from the DAFT
of its commencement. This amendator'
, bill extends the time to ten years.
Should the House concur in this amenda
tory bill and reject all others that ma,
be offered, the company will be in
condition to raise the necessary amour
Of money to push their work with vigor
and, before another winter shall he
gin, hope you viii have the Metropol
> itan Railroad completed, at least, as ia
as Rockville.
The Senate has also passed the bill
some time since introduced by Mr.. Soth
oron to their consideration, granting
d charter to an Agricultural College, whic
= bill will pass the House with some Sigh
# amendments.
Yesterday, Mr.. Brengle, of Frederick
+ reported to the House Bill to reduc
:, the direct tax to twelve cents in ever
hundred dollars, and also to repeal tn
), stamp tax. Upon both of these propC
e sitiops, there is considerable diversity 0
70 opinion, and no one can tell what dispo
y sition will be made of them.
> Mr.. Kennedy, Of Baltimore city, ha
1t reported bill to raise additional reye
:, nue. by increasing the rates of License t
q ordinary keepers and traders. 1t
% thought that this will raise revenue SUI
ficient to make up for the deficiency re
y sulting from the repeal of the stamp tax
IS and The reduetio,l of the direct tax