New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-03
THE RIGHT OF WAY ACBOes NEW
JERaEY.

State of New-Jersey into the hands Of the Cam
den and Amboy Railroad Company dates from
1881. The first charter was in 1880; and the
statute which made the Company an indepen-
dent monopoly was in 1892; but 1t was in 1881
that the first bride of $780, 900 was paid by the
Company and accepted by the State; and in that
year, therefore, we fix the beginning OF their
control. The Company received the considera-
ton for their money in 1882, in the following
Legislative provision:
THAT shall not be lawful, any time during tho said
Railroad charter construct any oher railroad or riosds in
this State fAost ne eor,.fs the soid eompdHe' which
s. be intended used for tho transportation Of p'enge'
OF MERCHANDISE between the Giles Of NewYok and Phade
p, or to compete buncss with the railroad authorized
by the oct TO which this supplements relative
This section embraced the Camden and Am
boy Railroad Company and the Delaware and
Rartan Canal Company, which originally
were rival corporations, but which united
in 1881 for the joint plumber of tho pub
lie, and have since been commonly spoken Of
as the Camden and Amboy simply. As that is
tho name under which they have grown infa-
nous together, We use it in speaking of the two.
BY the terms Of the act Of 1891, the State had
the right to resume its independence and the
franchises of the railroad, in twenty years from
its completion; and of the canal iii fifty years
from its completion; periods Of which the Com
panies fixed tho termination in 1889 and les2
respectively.
In 1850, a committee reported to the State
Legislature that the companies-in which by
their gift the State had become stockholder-
had contracted loans, payable in Europe IN 1868
and 1894 some years after the expiration of the
railway charter The Camden and Amboy
thereupcn represented that the honor OF the
State was pledged to the payment Of these
loans-though there is nothing TO explain how
they could have been honestly contracted-and
made proposition for the general arrangement
Of all their rotations with the State. by extend
ing the railway monopoly ten years and short
ening that Of the canal-which was Of infinitely
less conscquenco-thirteen years, so that both
monopolicS should terminate, and terminate for
srer, in lSG9. This proposition was submitted
by the companies themselves; aud in
statute, known as the act of settlement. The
preamble of that act recited the exclusive pry-
leges held by the companies, and declared that
" the cxtnguishment Of those exclusive priyi-
leges is en- object of great public importance"
The act itself provided that after Jan. !, 1869,
il should be lawful TO construct any railroads
between New-York and PHILADELPHIA to compete
with the Camden aud Amboy, rithOut III, consent
Of that company; not lawful before. The Sec
ond section extended tho charters but without
any monopoly after 1850, 10 lSS5. The assent
Of the companies to this sct-which was Of their
procurement and wholly in ihoir interest-was
lled in the office Of the Secretary Of State.
IL appears then, briefly, from this statement,
that the railway monopoly in New-Jersoy was
created in 1852 for The benefit Of the Camden
and Amboy Co.; has been enjoyed by them ever
since; was TO expire in 1859; aud in 1854 was
extended till 1869. For tbirty-seven years, the
State has worn these iron fetters. BY the con-
sent Of the Company and as the price Of ts con-
tinuance until that period, the sevtute was TO
cease in 1869.
4 plan is now maturing, We learn, TO unsetile
this arrangement and to extend tho monopoly
indefinitely. "For this purpose" says pam
phlet before rs, Il" the roads have elected, it is
said some Of their employees to Office; have
preeipitated their inHuaDce and money upon
and carried every doubtful Senatorial and As
semby District in The State; aud have elected
q Legislature which their subalterns declare
will register any odict that the Companics may
issue"
II is feared there is danger Of the success Of
this conspiracy, and tho people of Now-Jersey
are summoned 10 interfere. We should be !
sorry, indeed, il thoro were no other power than |
theirs. Long subjected to the insolent rapaety |
and unchecked tyranny of this corporation, il
may well be doubted whether they have the
courage or the strength to assert their indepcnd-
ence. YET we believe in q superior power to |
that Of the Camden and An1boy, even in lcgis-
lation. We consider the right Of Congress
and their power ample, over the
whole subject; aud it is the attention Of that
body which We now direct TO this subject. OF
The extortions and abuses Persistently practiced
by the Company, We have nothing 10 say.
Everybody is familiar with that part of the
history. We only announce, for our part, what
Ne believe Ia bo the dictate OF equity and pub
ic interest that the exclusive privileges Of the
Camden and Amboy should cease, and that
here should be . rival line (or rival lines) Of