The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-03-07
BALTIMORE.
MONDAY, MARCH 7, 1859.

MONDA1, MANU- I 1899.
A more monstrous attempt to create danger
Gus and perpetual monopoly, than the measure Jus
forced through the First Branch of the City Coun
Gil to establish passenger railways in this city, was
never made, and if rumor be trusted none
was ever more corrupty consummated. TIL,
First Branch has shown itself ready to surrender
for all time to come, to an association, whose
members, so far as they are disclosed, are not re-
cognized as men of means or positon-an indie
feasible and enduring right to control for purpo.
seS OF their own, at least one-hrd of the surface
OF every street in this city. That such power i;
beyond the competency of the MAYOR and Council
to bestow, we have little doubt, but assuming
that the First Branch took up the subject With full
belief in its legislative capacity to do So it only
shows, in stronger light, the recklessness, in
competency, or faithlessness of a body clothed with
powers SO important to the welfare of this commu-
nifty. If this bill pass the Second Branch, and re-
ceive the MAYORS ignature-neither ofwhich con-
tngencies, we trust is possible, in its present
shape-we predict for the enterprise it proposes TO
sanction, an immediate arrest, and final defeat be-
fore the Courts. But the Councils having enter
tanned jurisdiction of the subject it becomes them to
exercise all the care and foresight which should be
lncumbentupon them, iftheirpower was undoubted
and their disgrace and condemnation will be none
the less, if it should turn out that they have only
not done mischief, because they lacked the power
to commit wrong.
We obi lct to the measure the First Branch on
three grounds-frst that the grant is too large in
re font 11r - -,
ration and thirdly, that it proposes to sell fran
chlse, without taking the proper steps TO ascertain
and secure its true value. Why should the right
to lay down and work single or double tracks, in
every street in Baltimore, be given to one assoca-
ton? In what city but this, has such a thing been
thought of? In other towns where the several lines
are conducted by different companies wholesome
competition is kept up, and the interests of the
people are consulted. No man can foresee all the
consequences of so fatal step, surrenderng the
whole of the passenger carrying business into the
hands of one body. That it will result in the
grosseSt abuses and exactions, however it may be
guarded in the provisions of the grant, the history
OF all such monopolies proves. That business
without competition is business of imposition,
the citizens Of Baltimore have no need TO be re-
minded. To grant such right as this in perpe-
tuity is to lock the door and throw away the key
Have our representatives in the Council ascerained
that these horse-railways are the last and crownng
work of human invention, that they are willing to
commit US TO them forever? Has the history of
progress in physical developments been such in the
past as to render it even probable that nothing
better will ever be devised, for city passenger
lines than tho nrnSent borca corS9 Wbap o,,,;
buses first introduced they were equally
popular, but suppose that perpetual right to
work all the streets, had been sold to an omnibus
monopoly, what would be our chance for a city
passenger railway now? The whole tendency of
modern legislation is opposed to perpetual grants
Every new charter is limited in DURATION or made
repealabe at pleasure, or both and such feature
should be incorporated in any grant to passenger
railway companies.
Before the City Councils we find an active COM
petition for this franchise. We find different as
socatons making offers of greater or less amount
to the Councils for it; and we find the First
Branch selling it to one which is neither composed
of the most responsible men, which does not offer
the best terms to the people nor the highest pre-
MUM to the Treasury of the city. How can we
reconcile all this with the ordinary principles of
prudence and right? To make competiton-if
the principle be admitted at all, most fruitful. it
must be most open and most free. How shall the
people know whether this franchise of theirs thus
offered for sale by their agents, is commanding
It's real value? Or how, when they see the least
responsible and theowest bidders apparently, car
ryng off the grant they avoid the suspicion that
aporon of the price which ought to belong to Them
has been otherwise appropriated? That this right
is actually TO be sold TO the highest bidder no.
body doubts. Can it be deemed improper to exact
that all the purchase money should be paid into
the Treasury? Clearly, the only plan which this
community will recognize as just and which will
relieve our Council of the suspicion of either be-
slowing valuable franchise on partisans, or of
secretly appropriating themselves, portion of the
price paid for it. will be to retrace their steps
and open the field to the most liberal COM
petition. We should gladly see the interests of the
Omnibus proprietors far respected as to allow
them chance to compete in open day, for the pri-
vilege of continuing in the improved way, the
business which they have heretofore prosecuted so
much to the public benefit. To this much of con-
sideraton, they are certainly entitled Again we
SSS 'Sis SoOu AodoOH lllS WnOlc DuS-
ness should not pass into the hands of any single
association. The present omnibus routes would
afford pretty fair indication of the required lines
of railway. As an illustration of our idea, let
each existing omnibus route be made railway
route, with double tracks, to be worked by sepa-
rate company. AS in Baltimore street, from Green
to Gay, these routes would coincide some ade-
quate provision might be made to prevent undue
interference, by keeping each company on its own
time and equitably dividing the expense of the
common track among them. Thus in the crowded
part of our city, where such accommodation is most
required, the cars of the different lines would be
passing continually, while off the line, where
such frequency is necessary, each line would he
adequate to the business. In this way, the dihe-
rent lines coming into competition in the great
thoroughfare, would have strong inducements TO
maintain the best equpage to attract casual Gus
tom, or what might be termed way passengers