The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-02-08
[FRoA OUR OWN CORRESPONDENCE

-At WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 1852.
The Senate consumed all of yesterday in the con-
sideration of the Avenue Railroad Bill The course
ofproceedings gave unmistakeabe proof of the
effect which strong personal lobby influence, out
side OF Congress, ofttimes has upon legislation
A week ago the Senate adopted several amend
ments to this measure, as it came from the House
amendments essential to protect the interests of the
District from being sacrificed to the rapacty of a
foreign monopoly; and yesterday, behold, these
amendments, without any new arguments having
been brought to bear inside the Senate Chamber to
show that they unnecessary were recon
sidered and rejected
The bill In question, as it came from the House.
covers pure speculation chiefly of parties not re-
siding in the District. 1t proposed to give away
valuable franchise, without shadow of security
that it should not be used merely for the interests
of the spectators, and without any compensating
advantages to the people. 1t is notorious that the
first object of the parties who are lobbying il
through the Senate, by dnt of the strongest APP
peals to the personal friendship of Senator's rather
than to their honest judgment to the merits of
the CASE Is to sell out the franchise at to 9TH
ers, instead of availing themselves of it to carry
out valuable public Improvement They expect
to pocket their profits Immediately. by selling the
privilege, in whole or in part, to the Railroad Com
panies on either side of the District to enable them
to connect said roads by rail.
There ght be no objection to all this if the
people of Washington were to be adequately,
though incidentally served, except for the hypocri-
sy OF those who constantly arecryng out in Congress
for retrenchment, and then vote to qire away a
fra chise to private individuals which can be sold
for hundred thousand dollars to parties who will
bind themselves to specific stipuatons at the same
time that shall secure every needed public conyen-
fence in connection with City Railroad
The bill as it came from the House provides for
the Railroad only from the Capital to the Bridge
over Rock Greek, Operating Washington from
Georgetown. 1t calls also for a narrow track not
withstanding the magnificent width of Pennsylva-
MIA Avenue The object of this narrow guage is
we'll understood. 1t looks to the carving out of
an arrangement between the parties by which the
old and lily constructed omnibusses, now running
between the Capitol and Georgetown, shall be taken
apart, their bodies put upon rail road wheels, and
thus made to do duty on the 'sgrand improve
ment," with which the proposed monopoists design
to favor US.
Other partes-the Metropolitan Railroad Com
pany on one hand, and well known private capital
lists the other-offer to construct the road from
the Navy Yard into Georgetown, thus adding at
least two miles to the length o. the road restricting
themselves to single fare for the entire distance
They propose also to lay broad guage track, with
handsome new cars eight feet wide, thus giving us
in fact valuable improvement. The superiority of
these propositions must strike every at
glance. Why cramp us up in the miserably con-
tracted omnibus bodies, into which body can
never enter or sit with comfort? And why compel
as to pay eleven cents to go from Georgetown to
at the Capitol from the car to the old fashioned
omnibusses, when are offered a comfortable
ride all the way for only five cents? There can be
but one answer-and that is the necessity of sacri
cling the rights and interests of the public at large
to the rapacity of few spectators.
So, evidently thought the Senate week ago;
and accordingly they voted amendments compelling
the grantees to extend their road to the Navy ard
and restricting them to the of wide track and
roomy cars. But-Presto. change! yesterday they
reconsidered these amendments, and would proba-
bly, have passed the original bill with all its imper-
fectons and its glazing disregard of the rights of
the people, had quorum of the body remained to-
gether long enough to get the final vote What
we to think of such proceedings? Do they
speak well for the intelligence and integrity of the
Senate? Let every man ponder and Judge for him
self. Mr.. PEARcE, of Maryland, is among those
who opposed this scheme so regardless of every
consideration of justice and sound policy. Mr..
KENNEDY, L regret to say, is among those whose
votes are cast in favor of compelling the people of
w Washington to be taxed eleven cents, when album
dainty responsible parties anxious to serve them
far better for only ue cents-or that is the essence
OF the whole case. Let hope that the Senate
will yet either reject the bill altogether or amend
It, so as at least to secure the public against gar
ing an attempt to impose upon them. If Congress
undertakes to control the municipal affairs of the
District. with its strong hand, it is at least bound
to shape its action as to protect the people from
monopolists, instead of subjectng them to tyranny
and that without remedy.
Congress thus far has failed to take any action
upon the pending bill for the prohibition of Poly
gamy in the Territories Can it be possible that
the session is to close without the enactment of
such law? Is this foulest stain upon the civiza-
ton OF the Century to pass longer without rebuke
or attempt at rebuke, by the American Congress?
The House Judiciary Committee has had the sub
ject before it for months, without reporting. Why
this ominous silence? Have the gentlemen compos-
ing the Committee any doubt to the necessity
and proprety of prohibiting and breaking up a
system so degrading in its consequences, and so ut
terly at war with all the teachings of region?-
Public sentiment will not permit any Sinking of
responsibility upon such an issue as this; and the
omission to act will be reprobated quite severely
as positive refusal. Let us at least have vote,
and see who in Congress hesitates to aix the seal
of legal condemnation upon the revolving practice