The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-02-17

ANNAPOLIS, Feb lG, 1860.
The Committee on Corporations met at quarter
past eleven. When it was proposed to swear
witness the committee without a Bible
and some fifteen minutes spent before one
could be found Mr.. Chauncey Brooks was then
put on the stand, and after being sworn stated that
he had never told Mr.. Beale or ANYBODY else that
he would not accept charter with three cent
fare, and would not take stock in one. Such an
impression had gone abroad but there was no truth
in it. He was not a man to say he did not intend
to do a thing when he did.
Mayor Swann, of Baltimore, was the next witness
sworn.
Question by Mr. Hambleton.-As you are aware.
we must get through with the examination to-day
please state to the committee, in general terms ali
you know In relation to the passage, by the CITY
Councils of Baltimore, of the Travers railway bill
An$'oer.-Would prefer to be specifically exam
ined, but would state in general terms all he knew
DC; had been absent from the city for some time on
account of indisposition, and on his return under
stood that the Travers and Brooks bills were un-
der consideration by the Council; was indisposed
after his return up to within or three davs of
the passage of the Travers bill; there were great
many rumors abroad, and he was called upon by
John &. Proud Mr.. McPhail and others, to know
if he had examined the bills: took M the snbiact
for the first time-had no means of acquiring in
formation, except by examination into the system
in Philadelphia and elsewhere; took the Travers
bill up and examined tit had then passed, and
was dependent upon his approval; looked at the
Brooks bill also; the result of his examination in
duced him to believe that, looking at the system
and considering the good and bad routes four
cents would pay; had conversations with Mr.. La
trobe and others, engineers and thought four
cents would pay, considering that the good routes
would make up for the bad ones; the bad routes
have not yet been made. Taking it as a whole,
was willing to accept the proposition of four cents
under the impression that it would be carried ont
in good faith. Had plan in reference to the
Northern Boundary avenue and suitable provision
for public park, which he was desirous of seeing
carried out, and saw no other way to do So except
by means of a City Passenger Railway
1t Baltimore gave up her streets be thought she
might claim oneitth of the passenger fare, and be-
lleved 1t was popular and the people would accept
1t as beneficial to the general health and the work
ing classes; looked at the One-ifth as an important
feature of the ordinance and determined to attach
1t for these great improvements, and when he pot
back to the office, intimated this purpose; looking
to the 7th section, which gave to Baltimoreans the
right to come in and subscribe and make the road
he signed the bill under the impression that il (the
7th section) could be carried out and the benefit
would go into the hands of citizens was waited
upon by members of the Council and explained to
them his views in detail; aided Mr. Wood in pre-
pairing the provision which inserted five cents in
stead of four, and the ordinance was passed in that
shape; he knew the parties to both bils had great
confidence in Mr.. Travers, and nothing had trans
pired up to that time to shake that confidence;
had great respect for his friend Mr. Brooks: never
had any conversation with members CT the Council
until within two three days of its passage: had
not seen Mr.. Trayers for four or five months and un,
til some days after its passage; had cOuversed with
parties on neither side and therefore impartial;
adopted the ordinance presented to him, as it
allowed the grantees sufficient revenue to enable
them to complete the road with fair profits and be-
lieved four cents would be remunerating: did not
wish to drive parties to the Legislature the Coun
ellis for increase of fare if three cents would not
pays it was intimated to him that the road was 60
! IInfr and hat L. IL
carried out sent for the CITY Commissioner: Mr..
Travers, one of the grantees, was called upon to
Know who were to carry out the ordinance: the
grantees came in body, and the substance of the
interview has been correctly stated by Mr. Travers
in his testimony: would do the grantees the Justice
to say that they expressed their determination to
see the ordinance carried out, and 7th sec
ton complied with; the grantees assured him
books after Brock d Co. determined they had
no legal right to do so; thought the ordinance
had not been complied with, and learned a legal
difficulty was in the way. Brock called see wit
ness and said he was the representative of the road
and was prepared to give any information he MIR
Swami might require. Told him he looked to the
original grantees, and did not recognise him.
BY Mr.. Hambleton.-State whether you would
have signed the ordinance il it had not required
the opening of the books
AnStCer.-NO.
Qaestion.-Upop reading the 7th section, were
you satisfied books must be opened?
Anstcer.-I was. The grantees said it was their
purpose to open books.
In regard to the supervision of the CITY Commits
| sioner ovec the work, the facts all appear in the
correspondence on that subject (Mr Swann's COM
munication to the Council
Question by Mr.. Hambleton.-It is in evidence
that you knew the grant was to go to Brock & Co.
Ansrer.--l deny most emphatically that knew it.
The name OF Mr.. Travers made a favorable impress
sion on my mind, compare with those of gentle
men the other side. Relied upon the integ-
rity of Mr.. Travers; the other grantees were not
personally known to him; thought they could CON
struct the road did not to say that be relied
upon Travers and other grantees to put it in opera
ton by their own capital. Signed it, believing
that the grantees would construct the road Did
not know where the capital was to come from
never objected to capital from abroad. When con.
structing the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad he had
introduced millions of capital from abroad which
was expended upon that great work, thereby bene-
hting the city of Baltimore and State of Mary
land Did not suppose the grantees would assign
the grant-was under the impression that the
whole thing was to be under the control of Bati-
moreans.
| Question.-Has the ordinance been carried out?
Ans,Ucr.-The 7th section has not according to
my construction of it. The road seems to be we'll
built.
By Mr.. Gordon, of the committee.-Under your
impression of the 7th section, would not the sub
scrbers have become the owners?
Ansuer.-They would have become so in partner
ship, until chartered by the Legislature.
Qaestion.-Were not parties in Baltimore anxious
to construct road?
Answer.-My impression is that it would have
been difficult to get capital in Baltimore to con-
struct road when originally proposed; but after
wards it could have been obtained, when persons
believed it would be good speculation.
Question.-Do you know Messrs. Brooks Crow
ley, Alexander, Barnum, Hoffman and Poppein?
| Ans,oer--They are gentlemen of substance and
capital and able to carry out their undertakings
understood that the five cents reduced to three
and that they retired from it upon the ground that
a three cent bill would not pay; this was rumored
they never told him so; did not mean to say that
three cents would necessarily fail opay. (Mr. HAM
bleton presented a communication, which was ruled
out,from the Baltimore American, of the Brooks and
Barnum party, denying that they ever withdrew
from the three cent measure.) When passenger
railways were agtatsd at previous sessions of the
! Council, was impressed with the idea of going
abroad for capital; has a better opinion of them
now than heretofore, seeing the crowds that ride
| on them; the standard rate in the northern cities
was about five cents; his opinion of the standar
| being five cents is only in general way; did not
| examine minutely.
Mr.. Swami expressed his full belief in the ability
OF the three cent party to build and operate the
road il they chose; understood they had reduced