The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-03-06
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

AUGUSTA, Fen. %, 1857.
a very large PORTION Of the time Of the
House this week, each day. altar the morn
ing business has been disposed Of, has been
devoted to the discussion Of the Bill for the
repeal of the .sSction Of the act Of 1856,
allowing the Penobscot and Kennebec and
the Androscoggin and Kennebec Rail Roads
10 consolidate, or rs il is termed, "the Mo-
nopoly Railroad Bill" There is much feel
ing exhibited in the matter, particularly by
the representatives, being on the line OF the
lower Kennebec road, who view il rs q bill
calculated to discriminate against the Ken
nebec Road in the matter Of travel, beyond
the line Of intersection Of the two roads at
Kendall's Mills. Private as well as public
interests, 1t will be seen, arc drawn into the
controversy, and not only individual inter
csts, but owing to the fact that nearly all
the towns on the line of the Portland and
Kcnnebec Road, loaned their credit TO aid
In Its construction, by virtue Of legislative
authority there are also sectional interests
involved in the question. Ii Is argued that
these towns loaned their credit on the pre-
sumption that the State would adopt no
legislation that would operate to give CON-
peting roads an advantage over the X. / p.
road in Obtaining its share Of the through
travel. Lookeda at simply in this narrow
light, there is joint claim on the legisla.
ture Of the State, for private purposes,
not to disturb and impair security obtained
by the agency Of an act Of the State.
This however is a small objection CON-
pared with the one that the legislation con-
templatcd would be a departure from the
well settled policy of the state, tending To
such consolidation Of Rail road interests Us
would establish a monopoly powerful enough
in coming time TO overawe and control
the legislation Of the State, strong enough to
override when disposed, the public interests
and powerful enough to break down COM
peting roads. This is tho great objection
and il is one Of no light moment. Many
members oppose this bull because they believe
that the Rail Road policy and Rail road Lee.
islation should be just and equal, giving TO
all sections and 20 all citizens equal rights,
and also, because they think the policy OF
the State has been, and should continue to
be, such as will give passengers travelling To
common centre the choice Of roads, when
ut the place two roads meet, having CON-
mon termini, and to shift from the cars Of
one into the cars OF the other without
extra charge or delay. The Grand
Trunk interest favors this scheme, and the
reason is apparent. The AndrOscoggin and
Kennebec connects with the Grand Trunk
at Danville, and there is a mutually of in
terests between the Grand Trunk, the An
droscosgin and Kennebcc, and the Kennebec
and Pcnobscot roads, and hence, the combi-
nation. The law of lS+3, compelling con-
Meeting roads To haul the cars OF each other
over their respective roads, operates To COM
rel tho companies to give passengers a choice
VI rOuVcs NHcIc EOSus IaNc ~ Cpuilhou ttI-
mani, and the law Of 1853, and that OF
1916 were simply part Of the same policy,
and made to meet the case where roads of
different guages cross and intersect each
other. The argument nsed by the friends Of
Consolidation is that they can save 5000
per annum, by consolidating, and manage
their floating debt better. But the law of
lS5G allows them To consolidate now, but If
they accept Of this act, this 9th section they
must accept also. There are great many
matters connected with the granting Of the
charters of these roads and their operations,
that have been brought into the debate, and
much skill and lawyer ingenuity exercised in
mystifying the case, some on both sides, and
what the result will be, IL is impossible to
prelict. | trust that whatever else the Leg
islature may do, il will no, give greater CO.
hsrencc and consistency to an inau'nce that
threatens by consolidation of interests to
establish huge monopoly which years ago
we said might in the end, "lay like huge
Leviathan across the State"
The consideration Of the subject was post
poned until wednesday next, when the war
of words will be resumed.
Gov. H,mlin sent his letter OF resignation
in on wednesday, to take efsct on Thurs
day, and on Thursday morning, the Prcsi.
dent Of the Senate after farewell al ircSs,
handsomely expressed, Left the chair, and
proceeded to the Executive chamber. There
was no ceremony about the matter, except ~,
the Council were duly notified of the resis-
nation Of Gov. llLmlin, ard that the Presi- d
dent Of the Senate, by the provisions of the
constitution would discharge the duties OF
Governor. On the withdrawal Of the Pres. {
ident, Hiram Chapman, Senator from Lin '
coin, was elected President Pro Tenpore,
receiving l6 out Of the IS votes cast.
There was no caucss of the Republican |
members previous to the balloting. e
Speaking Of caucusses l would remark D
that with the exception of conventions Of
the republican members to select candidates {
20 fll the several state Offices, there have 7
been none whatever, this winter
Loo. /,
ArorsrA, March J, 1857. Y
very few new projects introducing new .
features in the laws and policy Of the State
will receive the sanction Of the Legislation.
There is a wholesome fear Of experiments ex- a