Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-01
THE .nnNIRrrsr BILL

THE OMNIBUsr BILL.
The Senate bill apprOpriating aid tothe
several railroad companies of the State
which have been organized and put into
operation under the Internal Improves
ment Act of 1852, passed its second read
ing in the House of Representatives on
Friday by decisive vote. There is little
doubt that the measure will receive as
fun il rot a larger vote, ON the third and
final reading. The opposition to it GER
tainly does not comprehend the true
merits Of the question, or else Is ami
mated by very narrow views. The rail-
road system of Tennessee is part and
parcel of the very life Of the State. 2 1t
cannot be allowed to languish, to lie un-
productive, or to suffer the possibility Of
failure. 1t must be supported If it is
permitted to 90 down, the credit Of the
State is seriously injured and the vital
interests Of the State are undOne. A
measure NAV not meet the views OF
every member One may think that
fayo, itism Is shown in special instances,
or, that tbs or that feature Of the bill
should be modified but, when a PROPOSE
ton embracing all has been submitted to
committees, and has undergone thorough
Investigation and received the approval
Of the majority, is il wise to risk the
general interests by indiscriminate OPP
positions Is it not, indeed, . paramount
duty to support and sustain literally the
railroad system? Clearly it is. The
State is embarked IN It as large stock
holder The step was wise one fifteen
years ago. Unexpected casualties have
since belallen. The railroad interests
we're the prey Of the war, and have sur
fered heavily. The State is involved,
however, and cannot if it would OF
should, retrace step, or retraet its and
and sustenanee in the least without
great detriment We feel sure that It
will not, and therefore in advance Of the
final passage of the bill in question as it
now stands, congratulate the railroads
on the encouraging prospect which Lbs
eral legislation has given them
la copying yesterday some re-
marks from the Robertson Regis
Ter, journal which, though rep
resenting specially the interests of
that section Of the State lying immedi-
ately rorth of this city on the Kentucky
line, yet comprehended in its article the
whole question, attention was drawn to
the inYidious and hostile attitude, COM
mercially speaking, chat great railroad
corporation-the Louisville and Nash
vile railroad occupies to the interests Of
Tennessee. The suggestions made as to
the proper mode of counteracting the
policy which is permitted to werk out
such injurious results, were forclble and
cogent but in order TO effect the object,
the Edgefeld and Kentucky road should
be fostered. The omnibus bill does this
and looks to the completion Of the extern
sion of this road through Kentucky under
the charter of the Evansville, Henderson
and Nashville railroad, as erecting a
competitor to this great cormorant cor
poration that is fattening upon the vitals
of Tennessee. This connection also
gives this city, and all the re-
gion tributary by our railroad
system, access to the exhaustless coal
mines of Southern Kentucky, which Of
fer us cheap fuel-a desideratum second
to none other, and in some respects SUI
perior to all others, as a means of pro-
noting the growth and prosperity of
communities.
Allusion is not made to this feature Of
the bill as being more vital and neces'-
sary than the others 1t is only offered
as an example There is not road
comprised in the provisions of the bill,
that does not command approval from
every enlightened friend of internal i'm
proyement, and every legislator who takes
a judicious view of the State credit and
finances under the present eircumstances.
We hope, therefore, that there will be
general discarding of the prejudices
which seem to have hold on the minds of
some members of the General Assembly
and to see our great railroad system,
which, despite the wreck and ruin of the
war, is our boast and pride, fairly
launched again upon the tide of sue
cessful experiment