The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-02-21
EBENSBURC, PA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY

reason OF Jhelr sale an annual revenue OF
1915, geo, so that the Pennsylvania Rail-
road so far from injuring the State works
was the sole means of giving them any
value whatever as a source of prof.
it.
Few laws, however, affecting large in
terests are passed except from different
and often discordant motives This case
illustrates this truth. For, while protec-
ton of the cana! was the ostensible, and
with some the real motive, for imposing
tax on the railroad freight, it was but the
specious seduction of false pretence, the
result chiefly of hostility to Pennsylvania
interests. 1t will be recollected that du-
ring the session Of 1916 the legislature
was distracted by the attempt to procure
for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
part OF which was then in operation and
the rest in process Of construction, the
right of way, through the southwestern
section OF Pennsylvania, for a branch of
that road from Cumberland to Pittsburg
This, and the project of our Own road,
were rivals in the legislature, and extra
ordinary as it may seem, the same Senate
and House of Representatives which char
tered the Pennsylvania Company also
gave full corporate rights to the MARYLAND
Company in our territory, and imposed
a tax on the freight business of the for
mer of fire mills per ton per mile.
On the 2Ist of April 1916, when the
Baltimore act was approved, Harrisburg
resounded with the boisteFous aclamations
of the Marylanders, who, aided by the
mistaken views of some of our OWE citi-
iZens, had laid this great Commonwealth
at the feet Of comparatively feeble pow
er 1t was exultingly proclaimed that
now our western fields, mines, forests riv-
ers and the lakes were all commercial
part Of Maryland, and that the products
and people of that region were tributary
to the growing greatness of rival, supe-
rior IN enterprise and energy. They for
got an element of Pennsylvania character
never obtrusive, but never wanting when
demanded; solid, steady strength of will,
which, once aroused, moves with silent
effectiveness sometimes slow. but always
sure to accomplish it's work This feeling
is accompanied by that liberality which,
is wiling to give TO all our people and all
our people and ali our neighbors every
reasonable facility not inconsistent with
the commercial equality which political
justice demands. Fair play for all par
ties is the old fashioned PENNSYLVANIA
doctrine almost unimpaired save by the
burthens on the business of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad.
The distractions placed on our own
Company failed OF at least one of their
objects. The stock was subscribed and
the road was Quilt, through the heart of
Pennsylvania, Notwithstanding this COM
bined opposition.
HOW THE TONNAGE TAX OPERATES.
After much difficulty had been success
fully encountered, thanks to the energy of
our people, the libera.ity of our capitalists
and the wisdom of May corporate bodies,
and especially of the City of Philadelphia
and the county of Allegheny, the road
was built and the effect of the tax on ton
mage became manifest
So far as dminution of the revenue of
the State, from her improvements, was
concerned, ali apprehension of injury
proved to have been unfounded, for while
the canals were always cause Of loss, the
revenue from the Columbia Railroad, the
only portion of the public works which
ever paid, was largely increased by the
construction of the Pennsylvania Railroad,
insomuch that the Canal commissioners
admitted the fact in their annual report of
1852, and Governor Bigler declared in his
message to the legislature in 1858, "The
net profits of the Columbia Railroad for
1852 have nearly doubled the amount of
the het revenues from the other branches
of the public works"
On the other hand it was found that the
tax operated so as to impair the power of
the Pennsylvania road fully and fairly to
compete with her rivals, the Baltimore
and Ohio and the New York Central and
Erie Roads neither of which were liable
to any such burthen, and it was found.
also, to act as a partial and unjust tax on
domestic transporters.
On some articles it operated as prohi
bition, except under special circumstances.
The legislature exempted coal and lumber
in 1855, but it still remains prohibition
or obstruction on all other articles OF traf-
fic, especially on our peculiar products.
-four, grain, cattle and minerals All the
reasons for this it is impossible to detail.
but one, and the chief, certainly was a
natural reluctance in the legislature TO
part with what they thought certain and
apparent revenues, and the inability in
many TO extend their mental horizon far
enough to see the fallacy which preferred
. q present gain, to the greater good OF the
development of the resources of the Com