Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1857-06-17
P-otest Against the Bill for the Sale of the
Main Line.

The undersigned place on the Journal of
the Senate their reasons for voting against
the passage of the House bill No. S52, (re-
print on Senate file No. 1927 entitled ''An
Act for the sale of the Main Line of the Pub
lie Works.
1st. Because, although protesting to offer
the Main Line to the highest bidder, the bill
discriminates SO largely in the conditions of
sale, terms of payment, and the exemption
from taxation liz favor of the Pennsylvania
Railroad company, as almost to exclude bona
ide competition. And yet it empowers ire
sponsible individuals to lid for the purpose of
speculation, by authorizing them if they sho'd
become the purchasers, ''to assign and trans
fer their right to the said Main Line, under
said purchase, to any Railroad or Canal COM
pany created by the laws of this Common
wealth." The privilege of transfer, under
such circumstances, without increasing COM
petition, gives color to the assertion that the
bill has been so framed as to enable private
parties-now engaged in procuring this leg-
islation-to purchase merely for the purpose
of selling at an advance, as an indemnity for
their services.
I'd. Because, although the bill purports to
be sale of the Main Line, it, in reality,
more nearly resembles gift to the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company, if that company
should obtain it on the terms proposed. The
extraordinary extension of credit, the low
rate of interest the release of the tonnage tax
and the exemption, forever, from all other
taxation or duties for State purposes. will en-
able that company to liquidate every dollar of
the purchase money before the last payment
shall mature, by merely appropriating to that
purpose, the taxes from which they are thus
released
Sd. Because the release of the tonnage tax
is not accompanied with such a limitation
upon the future rates of dividends of said COM
pany, as will cause said release to enure to the
benefit of the trade and commerce of the State.
Such limitation would be in accordance with
the original design of the enterprising citi-
zens of Philadelphia and Pittsburg, and of
the various municipalities who subscribed SO
literally to the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany, not expecting OF desiring large divi-
dends upon their investments, but to promote
the great public objects above referred to.
4. Because the bill provides that in the
event of the Pennsylvania Railroad company
becoming the purchaser, said company shall
not only be exempt from the tonnage tao, now
S226, 600 per annum, but that in addition, it
" shall be released from tie payment Of all
other tares or duties to the Commonwealth on
Its capital stocl;, bonds, ,dicidends or property"
The latter amount, from which the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad company would thus be re-
lieved, may be moderately estimated at one
hundred thousand dollars year
Such an ex emption from taxation is not
only without precedent, but should be depre-
Gated as establishing an exceedingly danger.
Gus one and is in violation of that principle
of equality of taxation SO fundamental in our
form of government.
5th. Because the bill does not contain a
sufficient guarantee that the Western division
of the Main Line = shall be kept in good re-
pair and operating condition." thus estab-
fishing an invidious distinction between the
Eastern and Western portions of the State,
although both have contributed proportionally
to the burden of construc ting and maintain
ing the entire line.
9th. Because the bill does not require that
the President and Directors of the company,
purchasing said line, should be citizens and
II 4
such a requirement is manifest from the fact,
that under our general law, only a majority
of the Directors of Canal and Railroad compa-
nies need be resident citizens and by some
special charters majority is not even neces-
sary. In fact, the management of several
of these companies is located entirely out of
this State. Thus. by the provis sions of this
bill the Main Line may pass into the hands
of those whose rival interests and feelings
would not afford any guarantee that it would
be managed SO as to subserve the great objects
of its construction.
7th. Because, if the Pennsylvania Railroad
company shonld become the purchaser, there
should be provision, that the State, or the
cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburg, shall
retain voice in the direction of the affairs of
the Consolidated Line, irrespective of, and al
though they may part with, the stock now
held by them in said company. So impor tant
work should not be managed as much with
reference to the interests of stockholders, as
to those great public objects of trade and
commerce already referred to.
Sth. Because the charter of any company
purchasing said Main Line is made and de-
clared perpetual; and there is not such a
j proner or sufficient reservation of legislative