New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-01
THE NEU-JERSEY RAILROAD WAR.
From Our 0wn Reporter.

| TRENTON FEB. -, ic1O.
MY sketch of the proceedings yesterday was brought
to an abrupt termination by the departure Of the last
train There wac very interesting scene in the even
| ing The Hoboken Land Co.'s bill had been pushed
nearly through on its second reading, and members had
been warming up for Elk hours, when Mr.. Slaight Of
jersey City, of the principal opponents of the BILL
after proposing his final amendment, stated that he had
been approached by the friends OF the bill, who had
offered him any amount of reputation and votes, all
the law business of certain roads he had been speaking
of the Camden and Amboy Co.. in the County of Hud-
son. and besides, considerable pecunary persuasives
| if he would cease his opposition.
Whereupon Mr.. Peckham of Hoboken declared that
he had been approached by the opponents of the bill
and offered high 50 600 he would vote sgainstt
| Singular as it may seem to ordinary people, these
declarations excited comment, not to speak OF q
| Committee of Investigation.
| The Lobby here is very strong. The Camden and
| Amboy OF the Eew-Jersey Co. can get quorum OF
Directors together at any time in ID minutes Mr. r.
A. Stevens, our Hoboken neighbor, who holds one
third of the three millions of stock of the Camden and
Amboy Co.. and says he is the only person interested
In the Hoboken Land Co.. is not here in person. but he
is represented by nephew who sits at the elbow OF
Mr. Pope of Passaic the member who champions the
Hoboken Railroad bill in the House, and whose stereo
typed, but most effective speech is, Mr.. Speaker,
hope that amendment wont prevail.
The style of Oratory in the Legislature is not Of the
highest Matters have mended but little since l645,
WHEN the Democratic leader Of the House is recorded
TO have spoken these memorable words; MIR.
Speaker this is outrage OF tyranny upon soppre-
sion, altogether unprecedented IN any utter Legls-
later whatever" There only three or four men
on the floor who talk without continual dsoeation
of the peoples English Some instances Of this have
been very amusing. The bill is supported by thirty
six members who seem bound to vote for it any way.
Ereniag-The House has Just passed the bill by
the decisive vote of 80 to 81. / send lou sketch OF
the proceedings of the day.
MORNING SESSION.
The bill was taken up at noon by vote of ~ to ii,
and read for the third time, after which the House add
l0urItd for dinner.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The House took up the supplement to the charter OF
the Hoboken Land and Improvement Company
Mr. Slaieht said that he did not suppose that any
thing be could say would have any effect upon the vote
on this bill, but he intended to oppose it, and should
state the which actuated him In pursuing that
course. He was in favor of free railroads; whenever
bill to charter railroad containing no objectionable
provisions came before the House, he should give 1t
his support: but this bill was full Of objections. lie
had no less than fifteen objections TO this
BILL and these he would state briefly as possible.
The Company which asks us for supplement
giving them power build railroad was Incorporated
Land Improvement Company, and it was not good
policy to grant railroad privileges to Land Company
There special laws regulating railroad companies,
and such corporations shouId not be connected with
other and different companies. This Corporation was
owned entirely by Mr.. Edwin A Stevens, and this bill
was TO grant TO him the power to build railroad.
There provision for directors or other officers
it gave the whole power TO the antoerat OF Weehaw-
ken. The bill gave the Company the power TO take
other roads, or to be consolidated with other roads
Thif extraoIdnaTv PROVISION nn was nus second oP
but it gives the power TO acquire other roads,
and 10 mortgage, sell, or otherwise dispose
of the whole any part of the property acquired I'M
der this act This bill gives the power TO Mr. stevens
TO acouire the control of all the railroad interests OF
the State and through that seriously affect the legsa-
ton of the State. If all the railroad interests oil the
State are consolidated their power must become IRE
arrQfna
the Legisl ature should guard against such DANGER
GUS result His fifth objection was that the bill con-
suted new court consisting Of three Commissioners,
unknown 10 the Constitution, with power 10 take iran
chsts and the most valuable property and without
any appea for although there was provision Tor an
appeal as TO the amount of damages yet the Commis-
soners possessed the sole power to decide now much
or what property necessary for the objects OF this
incorporation. Thus a court, unprecedented IN its
character is established solely for the convenience OF
MIR. Edwin A. Stevens of Weehawken township Ihis
objection alone ought TO be sufficient to defeat the BILL
His sixth objection he would put in the form OF two
0uestons the fret TO the gentleman from Passaic Mr.
Pope was this: II this Company should usurp fran
chiEes who is the State to proceed against Dy quo
tcaTr0nto N
Mr. Pope replied that it would be settled by bull
from the Pope.
Mr. Slapht said that the second question was ad-
dressed TO Mr.. Peckham. IL this corporation taxes
the propertv of the NewJersey road, who VIII De
liable for the tax He hoped that his colleague would
satisfactorily explain this Another objection was tlat
this bill confirmed contract between MI. stevens anu
the Long Dock company. This contract was not SET
forth: il must be Illegal why IL the Legislature
asked to make it valid Will the majority close tner
eyes and vote for this provision without knowing Wha
it isl 1t had been represented that the Bergen tunnel
was not public highway, and that Edwin A. Stevens
| was the only who could get through II, ana
| consequently the only man who would baild TINS
| road. This was not so; the tunnel, wmch Is tne
! property of the Long Dock Company, s public
| highway, and ia 80 decided by law. Mr.
| S. then read the law on this point. II
| Edwin A. Stevens lie the only man who can get
| through this tunnel how is II 90 Has the Long Dock
Company made such contract with him 1t looks az
if it was So and that the contract was the one 10 De
| made valid by this bill. Ii the Legislature s willing
10 block I'D this tunnel lot them do with their eyes
open and not by working in the dark, do an lrTepara
bic injury 10 the people of the State. This appeared
10 him fatal objection Another objection was, that
this grant in contradiction OF the settled pohcy OF
| the State. Ii gave Company the power ID take
the franchises Of another. Ii this new policy IL TO De
inaugu1ated he hoped that it would be general, and
| all monopoes destroyed. IL this policy was
to be adopted he should expect to see gee, the
| friends Of this bill bring in bill TO
abolish the exclusive privilege Of other corporations
His tenth objection was, that the bill made dsnc-
| ton between different cities. Newark and HoboAen
were given the right 10 regulate the construction OF
tho railroad through their Streets while this right Uas
denied 10 Jersey City. The eleventh objection was,
that IL gave power build as mony branches or spurs
as they may deem proper. This was unusual and gn-
wise; this company could thus cover the whole OF Is
| EEK and Hudson with network OF railroads. Ills
twelfth objection was that ii gave power TO this cor
poraton TO run their engines and cara over another
road His thirteenth objection was, that increased
| the power Of q great monopoly, now extending 70
some fifteen counties, and this would extend tneir
| power 10 another quarter oil tne state. iney hau
bought ND another charter, and besides their main
road and branches it snow said that they own the MOT
| ris and Essex road. Such a giant corporation was
always dangerous, and the Legislature should DC