The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-06

Mr. BAYARD had no objection 10 the principle Of the
amendments but lac thought it was unnecessary ana nc
should theroors vote against It, ineumoranoe TO
the bill Congress had absolute power TO repeal the law
upon any reasonable ground, aud II certainly would pe
reasonable ground they TO attempt 10 exercise the
Mr. HALE a,id thst ia these corporations when the
day OF trouble came the knowing one would always
sSulk and leave the poor men who owned STOCK 70 pei
the loss y. -,
to-yeas "a nays las follows
was ,,ss Ii,,aht Brodarscx lssossp c, ,.,..,. ,a
den Davis Pitch Green, Houston BIZ III Tcnn~see
Jones, Kng Mason Pash RED ce, sebastian sndes Tooas,
nessrs A Bates, Bayard Berasnu Cameron chand
Kennedy Seward Shields Summons fhsson q New Jersg, and
The question then required on the amendment of Mr.,
DouoLAs To give the corporations OF Washington and
Georgetown the right OF dsposing OF the franchise as
they please. $500 M ~.
Mr.. HUNTER argued that nothing could be more
fair or just than this proposition. The money that could
be realized from the sale OF this valuable privilege would
be very useful IN the support of schools add other public
objects He thought it far better 10 give 1t 10 the cities
than 10 these private individuals, l7iiaI " ih
Mr. FESSENDEN said that 81 the corporations should
undertake to manage this thing, IT would be badly
aged while they should sell out the privilege il would
lead TO bribery and corruption 1t had been said that
was the desire of the City Councils to have this matter
placed in their hands but he did not think they
entitled TO much consideration from the fact that they
the during the recess after Congress had refused
to grant it. II they disegarded tire wishes of Congress
we were not bound to accede to theirs But he had heard
no such demand on tho part of the corporations.
Mr.. HUNTER replied that resolutions had been passed
10y the City Councils and laid upon senators tables ex-
pressing their wishes They could sell out this franchise
for something like hundred Thousand dollars he pre-
suned or at any rate large
Mr.. BROWN thought that the reason assigned by the
senator from Virginia the very why this amend
ment should DC rejected If the corporation sell out the
right to put down railroad upon the avenue, the
pany who should purchase might convert the whole thing
into nuisance that Congress would be obliged re-
peal the law then the consequence would be that the
company to whom the franchise sold will ask that
the money they have paid for the privilege may be
turned TO them and they will be knocking at the doors
of Congress until they obtain it.
Mr.. BAYAkD hoped the bill would pass at the earliest
possible day. and that it would pass without amendment
1t guarded the public interest it limited the rate of fare
and left Congress the right to regulate the matter and
alter amend revoke this grant at pleasure.
Mr. PUGH said that, if the law repealed Congress
would not be bound to pay cent to the company.
They must purchase the right from the corporation at
their own risk.
The question being taken, The amendment was re-
jected-yeas Is, nays 80 follows:
Messrs Bates Bright Davis Fitzpatrick, Houston Hunter
1 Sns 81 r1nssss Jones Mason Polk nsh Reid sde
NAYS Mcssrs Allen, Bayard, Bell Benjamin, Hger Botcrc
Dixon pooe purkec Fessenden Fitch Foot Hale Iiamln a
son Of New Jersey, Wade, and Wlson-32
Mr.. REID offered amendment, the purport of which
to authorize the mayors Of Washington and George
town to open books for subscriptions to the stock and
those who take the stock to be authorized build the
Yoad-the shares to be 500 each
Mr.. BROWN remarked that great many applications
had been made, but this entirely new one. If
there had been any public sentiment in favor Of such
scheme that, should have heard of it before this
time
Mr.. REID did not know how public sentiment could
be ELECTED. They had no idea that such privilege
would be granted as the building of railroad through
out the whole length of the avenue, when it mat
ter of public notocty that the Committee on the Dis
trct of Columbia recently the last session Of
Congress- refused to allow railroad to pass across the
avenue at all.
The amendment was rejected yeas 10, nays pas
follows:
YEAsM esrs Bates Bright, Chestnut Cingnap colame Davis
Fitch Fitzpatrick Houston aner Johnson tennessee Jones
NAYS Messra Byard Frederick, Brown, Cameron Chandler
CLARK ol'eIden Dixon Doolle Fcssenden Foot Hale, mn
and Wison-22
Mr.. DAVIS then moved to amend the bill by simply
inserting the corporations of Washington and George
town in place of the company named In the bill He
stated that teeourths Of the property holders Of
Washington city would object to granting this franchise
to any company except the city corporations Not five
hundred votes OF property holders in the city could be
obtained in favor of such proposition.
The amendment rejected--yeas 10, nays 2T-~as
follows
YEAS Messrs Bates Bright, Chestnut clngman coamcr Crit
Mason Polk Push Reid, sldel Toomba and YueeIs
NAYs-asssrs Allen, Bayard Bell Frederick Brown Cameron
Hamn Harlan Iverson Kennedy King Rice sebastian, seward
simmons, Thomson Of New Jersey, Trumbu Wade Wso7
Mr. DAVIS moved to amend the bill SO as TO carry the
road into Georgetown instead of stopping Rock Creek
which agreed toyeas 22, nays elias follows
YEAscssrs Bell Bright Chestnut Collamer ct,cden Davis
FITCH Fitzpatrick Foot Hale Houston Hunter Johnson Of Tenncs
Iee-22
yruD ppt rkceE