Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-07-21

The people the State holden to you and the Canal
Company is holden to the State Whatever amount OF
damage the Legislature fixes by law justly due in each
case, the Company is obliged TO pay"
We have no terms sufficiently strong to
properly stgmatize this advice. 1t is worse
than infamous. 1t is a heartless t-ifing with
the interests of claimants If regarded it will
jeopardize the most just demands. The law
providing for the sale of the Public Works,
says, (see pamphlet laws, 1853, page 4l9):-
SEC THAT any and all claims for damages or other
demands against the Commonwealth, by individuals or
companies in relation to the location construction re
pair management of any of the divisions OF canal
sold under the provisions of this act shall If established
be paid the proper purchaser of the line or division the
the Legislature may direct but in any case the purcha
shall have notice and an opportunity to be heard
against the allowance OF said demand.
When the public works passed out of the
hands of the Commonwealth, there was no
means by which claimants for damages, could
obtain a remedy To meet the requirements
of those who had suffered damages, the Leg
islature of last wiuter passed law, Gas they
were directed and authorized by the section
above quoted) providing for the assessment
and recovery of damages upon tie North
Branch and Wyoming Canals. We do not
know, nor will we say that the law was such
An one as was due to the claimants If We
are not msinformed. however, the bill, before
it was introduced, met the sanction of gentle
men Who were at Harrisburg, specially to rep
resent those aggrieved.
Now the Legislature having passed law,
providing for the assessment and recovery of
damages what would be the condition of the
claimant who neglected or refused to comply
with its provisions? He would be met at the
door of the Legislature with the fact that he
had failed to appear before the tribunal provi-
ded by that body to adjust his grievances and
it would be taken as evidence that his claim
was untenable And if the Legislature would
listen for a moment to his request, he would
find tEat for one obstacle presented by the law,
a thousand would beset him in the Legislature
The delays of the law are vexatious enough,
but they are speedy in their operation com
pared with the slow and doubtful process of
procuring legislation to satisfy demand for
damages. The farmer who goes to the Legs-
lature with a claim of few hundred dollars,
will find that at best it will take more time
and money to succeed than if he was in the
Common Pleas
The man who gave this advice, we venture to
say, would not pursue the course indicated, if
he had a claim for damages, nor do we believe
any one would be foolish enough TO accept
such ill-advised and reckless counsel. The
Commissioners appointed by the Courts will
soon enter upon the discharge of their duties
We believe they are fair and competent men.
We do not believe any advice is necessary to
satisfy every claimant to have bis paper onfle
before the first Of August The procedure
may be a tedious One-but it is the method
provided by law, and infinitely better than
trusting to the Legislature, where a horde of
hungry borers pounce upon every one present
ing claim, and before it can be passed, man
age to absorb the whole amount
The object for which this advice is intended
is apparent enough in the next paragraph of
the article from which we have already quoted:
:" We are sincere in giving this advice. We know that
such course will bring the matter fairly before the Leg
iatnre and we believe that will dare to offer
himself a candidate for the Office OF Representative
who will not satisfy the people that he will fairly rep
resent them and evenhanded justice meted out to
those whose representative he wishes to become
1t proceeds either from professional borer,
or more likely, from some one who would be
glad to get up an excitement by which he
could ride into the Legislature 1t shows
willingness to triae with the interests of those
whom he is pretending to serve, which should
satisfy them of his dishonesty and duplicity.