New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-03
RAILROAD LEGIsLATIcN.

In the very worst OF the Dad olu ua!s VI Nehhi
legislation land they are older aud worse than
most people now living have any idea OF the
Legislature Of Pennsylvania could be smelt
farther than that of any other State even New
York. Even 50 late Us 1851, we are assured
that several members voted to reeect high
State officer and coolly walked from their seats
into his office and pocketed the stipulated price
of their votes as though it were their pay and
mileage. Nay: We were told that, finding that
be had more than he needed, he sold out the
surplus-gying q member $50 and excusing the
fulfllment of his contract TO support the pur-
chaser for an even 800.
A bill now before the Legislature Of that
State (if it has not already passed. is something
more than a curiosity. Ii is entitled =" An act
to authorize the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad
10 construct branches from their main line
and provides
SIC. l. That said road Is hereby authorized to
rev locate and construct one or more branches OF rail
road extending from any point or points on The main
ue OF their road Ia any point or points m any county
through in which the said main line passes or 10 any
adjoining county"
&c. q And may borrow any amount loss than
10000 per mile IN aid OF the construction Of said
branches paying no' over eight per eel' interest," ana
issuing mortgage bonds therefor
SIC. 2. THAT, before commencing the construction OF
said branch roads under the provisions Of this act the
said Company shall cause map OF The location thereof
indicating the length Of the line aud tho width Of the
r0adbed be fled In the Office ~ The Secretary OF this
Commonwealth. and Upon he fling Of m, said nap hs
said Company hal bar. raid nds 10 he location a.
lereH indicated providing the construction Of the road
shall be commenced within two years thereafter anu
be completed within i've years.
The reader will perceive that here is an alb
solute grant, unlimited a5 to time or power TO
make railroads throughout breadth of three
Counties from end to end Of the State; (em-
bracing about half IFS soil and more than half
its population, with right TO borrow thereon
money enough to build and stock the prospcc-
tive branches. So much is on the face Of the
bill rs.
Now let us show the reader what is az on the
face but concealed in the yerbage Of the bill:
The three rows Of Counties indicated are rich
in Petroleum, Timber, Coal, Iron, &c. Ii is Of
course highly probable that the Developments
already made, with those hereafter TO be made,
will render the construction Of new lines or
links or branches Of railroad indispensable
Well: the people locally interested resolve to
make one Of these roads, form a company, make
survey, and prepare to apply for charter
Forthwith the managers Of this big concern
"cause map" [not even a survey is required ]
to be made aud fled Of this projected road, and
they thus acquire "a valid title 30 the location
as therein Indicated"
"Well they will have TO build the road"
No, they won't! There is not the least shadow
Of requirement that they shall ever build even Il
turnout at its juncture with their road They
are empowered to say TO those who really
,cOuH build it-whose property is worth pounds
or pence according as the road shall or shall not
be built" We can throttle You for five years
anyhow; pay US our price or you shan. have
any road;" and tho people would have to stand
and deliver. .
We cannot make room for farther exposure
of this eminently Pennsylvanian act; which we
have no doubt either has been or will be duly
passed unless the Governor shall see fit TO stop
it. Ii is "blg thing" and will so through of
course. True. the stock Of the corporation thus
endowed with more than regal powers is not a
popular iayorite--wc do not remember that we
ever heard Of dividend thereon--but there is
an Empire Line" that does most of the freight
ing thereon, and has waxed fat as a seal al
the cost OF the patient stockholders Of the road.
We don't kno,c that the Empire Line soom
posed Ofyory near relations to The managers
Of The raroad; lut we cen CUES. Thc Gct
that the cars Of the railroad arc aolJ to Tie,
EmOne Line" Tor NOTES payable az these rcry