The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-06-03

all the works are in excellent condition. This
being true, is ii strange that the Pennsyva.
MIA and other railroad companies should now
combine their influences in order 10 fitch
from the State the peoples improvements -
If alter the works have been placed in
paying order, and profit is about 10 be re.
allied from an immense expenditure recent
ly made, they are TO be given away 10 an
oversrown corporation, it is high time the
industrious tax payers be heard.
Sir, feel confident that the public mind
has been greatly abused and deceived by the
clamor raised against the public works and
its agents. The hireinss of these mammoth
monopolies have in this manner succeeded
in inducing thousands of honest men to be-
lieve that corruption existed in the Canal
Board, and that speculation was The order of
the day along the whole line of our public
works. Sir, these vilifcaions and ISLANDERS
have been reiterated and trumped up year
after year so that the people would become
dissatisfied; and that doEe they could make
an easy prey of the States properly. And,
sir, from present appearances am led 10 be-
ieve that they have got 80 strong grasp as
TO leave but little hope for the interests of the
people.
Sir, if this bill passes with all lis danger.
Gus PROVISIONS, my opinion is that the peo.
pie who have been hoodwinked und deceiv-
ed by this false clamor will find themselves
in situation that will Try 10 illustrate by
relating a matter that read in Esop's fables
when | was boy. 1t was something like
this:-A number OF frogs had good old log
in beautiful pool of water, where they en-
joyed themselves in great harmony ant com.
fort for many years; but their rulers used bad
influences among them, and they al last be.
came dissatisfied. Influences were brought
10 bear upon the innocent creatures 10 in.
duce them to call on Jupiter 10 send down
some new idol that they might Worship
Consequently Jupiter sent them down long.
legged, long. billed stork. He came quietly
in among them, and remained so for short
tims, but finally went 10 work eating them
up one by one. Grea alarm and trouble en-.
sued among Them, but they were unable 10
get rid of their long.bill ed friend until they
were all eaten up.
Now, sir, think this would partly illus
trate the situation OF the taxpayers of Penn
sylvania should this bill be enacted into
law.
This BILL sir, 10 say the least, bears upon
the face of ii a pa,pable aud doiibotate fraud.
No measure has ever been introduced in
these halls, or those of any other Republican
Government that will have so great tenden.
cy to weaken the confidence of the people
in the integrity OF thei. represen iaves. One
section provides that if the Pennsylvania
Railroad company purchases the Main Lire
that all lhei: property, real and personal,
shall be forever exempt and free from any
State tax, and that their charter shall be per'
pslual. Sir, it is we'll known that the reve-
nue. derived from the tonnage tax alone now
imposed upon the Pennsylvania Railroad
amounts annually 10 the sum of $225,O00,
and which if multiplied by lhitty.ihree, (lhe
number OF years given that company TO pay
for the Main Line,) would amount in the ag-
gregate TO the sum of ST 7,425,000 Then,
aside from this tonnage tax, must be taken
into consideration other taxes, which would
annually amount to some $50, 900 or $780,
900 and all OF which under the present bill
they would be exempt from paying. In these
figures make no estimate of the natural and
inevitable average increase Of taxes, which
would loom up 10 pretty snug sum. A sin.
gle glance at the provisions OF this bill will
not only tell you that it is preposierous but
that il is rascally and wicked in The extreme.
How any legislator can muster sufficient
daring to vote for bill so abominable in all
lis features and then brave the unavoidable
indignation of an enlightened and honest
constituency is more that can be divined.-
Sir, the people have been aallered and ca
joed by this corporation, and now ii is about
10 rob them. A few spectators have, by
dint of impudent villainy, managed to divert
the attention OF the honest masses from their
real interests by the hue and cry OF "stop
thiefw Session after session is worse than
wasted IN legislaling against labor, and in ia
vor of capital, for The exclusive benefit OF a
few rich men. Instead of being as we should,
the lnAexible guardians of equal rights, and
dispensing like the dews of heaven their IA
vors upon all, we devote ourselves entirely
too much TO the building up of privileged or
defs, and creating arllficial distinctions IN so.
ciety, exatlng few and debasins The many;
making small number enormously rich,
and reducing the mass TO penury and degra-
dalion.
Mr. Speaker, now call on my friends, the
Senators from Berks, Schuylkill and Phila-
deIphia, 10 come 10 the rescue, and implore
them by all that is holy not to vote for anolh-
er section of this bill. l feel confident that
their constituents are opposed TO rearing in
their midst ponderous monopoly-one that
will be consia ntly grasplng after Legislation
that must prove detrimental to the varied in.
r