The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-06
THE RAILROAD CONVENTION AT MUs1-


The tollowing-named Delegates reported to
the Committee appointed to receive names:-
Peter Melendy, Vice-President Iowa Central
Railroads C. 0. Sandford, President PETERSBURG
Railroad, 63 miles, with branch of 18 miles;
| Isaac Hinckley, President Philadelphia, Will
| mington, and Ba tmore Railroad 100 miles,
| also represents l30 miles OF leased railroads;
| Richard Peters, Director Georgia Railroad, 236
| miles, including branches; Henry NJ. Drane,
| President and William McRae General Super
| nt6ndent Wilmington ard Manchester Railroad,
of North Carolina, III miles; b. II. Epper-
son.. President, and j. NJ. Daniels, chief
| Engineer and Superintendent of Memphis, El
Paso, and Pacific Railroad, 60 miles ready for
rails and to be 900 miles long; A. s. Buford,
President, and Thomas DodameaT Superln-
| tendent of Richmond and Danville Railroad,
| lS9 miles; John Nj. Robinson, Acting Director
| Seaboard and Roanoke and Bay line, ESQ mics;
s. Ruth, SUPERINTENDENT Richmond, Frede'
r.cksburg, and Potomac Railroad, l3O miles,
Thomas L. Jewett, President Plttsburg, Colum'
bus, and Cincinnati Railroad 1913 miles; Isaac
II Sturgeon, President North Missouri Railroad,
| 170 miles completed, 209 miles under construc-
! ton; s. l.. Fremont, Engineer and Superln'
! tendent Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, $50
| miles; John NJ. Kennedy, ,Nlce-Presldent Northern
! Central Railroad
| The report of the committee appointed to draft
| memorial to present to Congress for the pur-
| pose of preventing an increase of duty on rail
! road iron was then read by Mr.. Ramsey, one OF
! the committee. The reasons OF the committee
Tor pressing a reduction in the tariff on railroad
iron were given at great length in this report.
! effect that a committee be appointed to visit
| Washington and use their influence to secure
reduction OF the tariff on railroad iron and other
| materials required in bulding and operating
railroads, or That the committee select proper
persons for that purpose.
The following letter, from Henry c. Carey,
| ESQ.,, addressed to the President of the Conyen-
! ton, was then rcad;-
The American people have been spoken of
as those (which soonest forget yesterday"
and that they ale so seems to me, If you will
No l,,.a 20 1vraA
sively by the proceedings yesterday of the con-
| ventlon at whose head you have been placed
Could our railroad friends throughout the Union
! be persuaded to study the thirty years of our
railroad history, they would find in It the most
| abundant evidences of the following facts:-lst,
that when the iron interest of the country has
been thoroughly protected British iron has been
cheap, American roads have been prosperous,
railroad stocks have been high, and there has
existed both the power and the disposition to
enlarge the facilities of intercourse through
| out the Union and second, that when our
iron interests have been prostrated, as
has so frequently been the case, British
| iron has been high. American roads have been
| in state of great depression railroad stocks
have been low, and there has existed neither the
power nor the disposition required for increasing
! the numbe or extent OF roads. Abundant proof
will be found in comparing with the facts pre-.
sented by the four years of the free-trade tariff
OF 1857 with those OF the protective tariff of 1861,
in our comparing the past year of depression
with the three by which it had been preceded.
been maintained, the presentivalue of railroad
stock would be greater than it is by at least
| $3.50, 100000. ask you now to lay this before
| the convention as coming from one who believes
| in the existence of perfect harmony of the in.
terests OF the roadmaker, the shipowner, the
farmer, and the producer of iron.
Judge Jewett alter a few remarks, offered
the following resolution as substitute for the
| report OF the committee
ReSoiued, That a committee of three be
appointed by this Convention to visit Washing
| m Or 40 n IN q m
equitable adjustment OF the tariff on iron and
steel railroad bars.
The Judge desired immediate action, which
was the reason for his presenting the resolution.
vote was taken on the resolution, wiGh the
following reault-Yeas Is, nays 20.
AT the suggestion OF Mr. Kennedy, the report
of the memorial committee was taken up
according to sections, and several sections
adopted.
The report of the committee to prepare bust
ness was then presented. The committee re-
commend the consideration of the following
subieCts:-
First. The abolition of the whole system of
runners, commissions on the sales of tickets,
and other irregular means OF obtaining business.
As this subject has been discussed at several
meetings of the Trunk lines" between the East
and the West, it is suggested that the resolu-
tions adopted by them be considered by this
Convention.
Second. The abolition, or a very great reduc-
tion of free passes. One railroad company
acting alone would find it difficult to discontinue
easy Tor each. Free passes are heavy tax
upon the railroads, and dissatsfy more people
than they conciliate. Their discontinuance
should be by the voluntary action of the COM
panies not by legislative interference.
Third. A respectful memorial to Congress,
asking for com Densation for carrying travelling
post offices, and also additional compensation
for ordinary mail service beyond the amount
contemplated when the present prices were
fixed, etc. etc.
The fourth is in reference to memorializing Con.
gress to secure the remission of taxes in gross
receipts for freights, etc
The fifth is a respectful memorial to the Post
master-General requesting him to discontinue
such Sunday mails as now, on the return OF
peace the public interest does not absolutely
require, so that Sunday trains may not run,
employees may have day OF rest ana the day be
kept in accordance with the moral sentiment OF
the community.
The sixth section is in reference to adjourning
till stated time, and the appointment of com
mittees who shall receive any communications
that may be offered, and report at said adjourned
meeting.
The report of the committee was adopted
| without debate.
Messrs. A. s. Buford of Virginia; William
4 Johnston, of North Carolina; J. H. Ramsay, OF
| New York; l.. II. Sturgeon, of Missouri; and j.
H. Bradley of Pennsylvania, were appointed
| as the committee to convey the memorial
adopted by the Convention to Washington.
Messrs. Carter, Fleming, and Sloan were ap
pointed an Executive Committee, in accordance
. with the suggestion OF the Committee on Busi'
ness.
A motion was made and agreed to, that the
Convention adjourn to meet in New York on the
third Wednesday in October.