Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-05-04
THE RAILROAD QUESTION.
Reply of Gen. Geary to the Business
Men of Pittsburg.
HE Is OPPOSED TO MONOPOLY AND
In FAVOR OF A GENERAL RAIL-
ROAD LAW.
NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa,
A pril Atb IQ66

GENTLEMEN Your communication,
bearing date March Goth, only reached me
on the 30th ult, and in compliance with your
request, proceed to answer it with as little
delay as possible.
You PROFOUND to me three questions, to
which you request an answer, viz;
II VIII YOU, ifelected Chief Magistrate
of Pennsylvania, faithfully exert the power
of your administration, so as to defeat any
and every attempt, made by Legislation, or
otherwise, for the monopoly and control by
any one corporation of the railroad policy of
the State?
80 viii you oppose and withhold your
sanction from any legislation comforting upon
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, or
any company it may control, the authority
to build branches, unless the said grant
should be under provisions of a general law
regulating the construction of railroads?
"3. Willyou favor, and use the influence
of your administration to secure, the enact
ment of general law authorizing the con-
strGetion and regulation of railroads within
this Commonwealth?
My views and opinions upon these meas
ures am free to give you, and quite willing
to indicate what my official action would be,
so far as it is at all proper to do So
Pennsylvania possesses immense treasures
of mineral wealth, and most extensive man
ufactories To deyelope these, to foster
everything which tends to their develop
ment, and to cherish and promote equally
the rights and interests of her citizens, |
firmly believe to be the highest duty of her
statesmen. | regard every kind of public
improvement as conducive to this end; and
/ am, therefore, in favor of the most com
1ofo reT
together with proper system OF Protection
to Home Industry, as means of converting
our vast mineral resources, agricultural pro-
ducts and manufactured articles into values
Whatever shall so improve our commercial
intercourse, enable our manufacturers to
send the proceeds nf their industry to mar
ket ard so place our State at the head OF
the manufacturing and producing States of
the Union, shall have my cordial assistance
and cheerful appreciation.
| regard our railroad system as the best
mode of commercial aud social intercommu
nication. In addition to the great main lines
the St te is enveloped in a network of mi
nor railroads, which pour an increasing
stream of COAL irou-ore, lumber, live stock,
agricultural products, and the handiwork OF
skilled labor, to the distributing points with
in, and beyond our borders
While these corporations continue to act
their part as public servants, they should
be carefully protected. They should not
be permitted to overstep their legitimate
functions. AS creatures of the law, they
should obey, and be, in every respect, sub
servient to the law.
answer to the first interrogatory, that
while believe it to be improper to bring
the influence of the Executive Department
to bear upon the Legislature in anticipation
of its action, except in the way of recon-
mendation; | am heartily orrcsed to the
creation of any monopoly in the railroad
system of the State, or giving any artificial
body created by the law, powers which would
place it above and beyond the reach of the
Legislature.
To the second interrogatory, | say, that
while general 4 road system would best
comport with sound public policy, it must
originate with the Legislature, and until it
shall be established by law, grants or power
may be properly made to railroads to con-
struct branches when they are desired by
the people who are imediately interested in
the matter, and would promote the develop
ment of their property, and afford them ave-
nues to market. Such grants being SO re-
stricted as not to violate individual right or
public interests
In reply to your third question, which to
my mind includes both the others, say, a.
gain, that / believe a general law regulating
the construction of railroads and grants Of
power for that purpose to be most consis-
tent with public policy and the interests of
the Commonwealth; and entertaining these
views, would certainly use the legitimate
and constitutional power of the Executive
m spcrra 90 dasira HE resI1lt
The spirit of monopoly in this and other
matters, should be discouraged in Repub-
lican Government, and | have no sympathy
with any policy which may be designed for
its encouragement.
l am, gentlemen, with high respect, your
obedient servant
JNo. w. GEARY.
To Messrs. Lyon, Shorb & Co., Spang,
llLnlR.nt a. O. n..I ..aLo..-