Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1867-04-03
REMARKS OF
HON. LOUIS w. HALL,
SPEAKER OF THE SENATE,


SPEAKER OF THE SENATE,
In favor Of a Free Railroad Law, and against the
amendments made to the bill by the Railroad Com
mittee of the Senate.
Mr.. HALL. Mr.. Speaker, did not intend, when
made few remarks on thus bill the other day to
cupv the attention of the Senate any furthern regard
to it. When repeated votes showed from eighteen TO
twenty in favor and from eleven TO sixteen against
1t, supposed that the minds of Senators made
up and that would not be warranted IN taking up
time to the exclusion of other matters OF legislation
And should now, had not been for the remarks
ofmy friend the Senator from Bradford Mr. Landonl-
do rise to reflect upon any railroad corporation
have had quite much to do with that corporation
as the Senator from Bradford, and quite fanli-
with the region of country raversed hy that great
railroad. am well aware that 1t has greatly enriched
Central its value has been increas
that road constructed. have never lent myself
either directly indirectly, any effort that
calculated crush this railroad impair It's useful
ness | have never opposed or sought to thwart any
legislation calculated to strengthen and encourage it,
when such Legislation tended to the pubic welfare
But with all due difference 10 my Drother en'toiS
must say that any one who knows the popular sent-
ment must know that the people of Pennsylvania are
determined to have Tree railroad Jaw. butthe peo-
pie do not want railroad law so loaded down and
clogged with restrictions that it will be impractcabe
even to construct railroad under il. Let the Sena-
tor go his constituents, and think he Will find that
they, well my constituents, are IN favor OF Tree
railroad law. But they do not desire such a law as
will be practically imperative and nuy. hoId IN
my hand the inaugural of General Geary and the last
message of Governor Curtin, in which they say the
be the unmstakaole sentiment OF the people OF bTad
ford county, where addressed portion Of them last
fall and IN part of the State did find a more de-
termined and earnest feeling in favor OF the move
ment than in Northern Pennsylvania where the peo-
pie gave their majorIues by thousands for General
Geary. Believing, as do that Stlch Is tile genera
sentiment and that the wants of the people must he
needed by their chosen representatives. IN YleW TOO,
of the speech lust made by tho Senator from Brad
ford, challenge the supporters of this socaed free
railroad bill, who lmperatVey demand ITS passage
without a single alteration. to discuss It's merits.
free
last winter by my distinguished friend. the Senator
from Erie Mr.. Lowry and gave satisfactory rea-
sons the other day. for my opposition thereto 1t Is
not necessary to repeat those reasons now Nhat l
demand, in the name of the people, Is liberal rail
road law; not one in name simply, but IN reality Is
it not deudng and cheating the people TO call that
free railroad law which requires fifteen thousand dol
lars of capital stock for every mile of road to be sub
scribed and paid IN before anything can be done
Senators know that this clause will have the effect 70
embarrass railroad companies and to retard ana pre-
vent the development OF the country py nf IN ~
provements in short, that no railroad would ever be
built under such law! At least fear not and is 1t
| not better to strike out such proVisionsl
You have also nerpolated into this bill most on
condition in the shape of an individual liability
clause which is intended to ntmidate persons and
prevent them from taking stock. The Pennsylvania
railroad, that opened up and developed Central Penn
sylvania and TO which the State is indebted such
large measure for its wealth and prosperity, and which
is admitted be the greatest and best managed ROAD
in the United States has a special charter 1t con-
tains no individual liability clause, and why should
such a provision be embraced in this bill! When Y
proposed to pass law similar to that OF ono ana
New York, it voted down, and no sufficient rea
son has been can be advanced to warrant such ac
ton. And now when an amendments offered to this
| bill, which would tend to promote and encourage the
building of railroads. the arguments advanced agalns
| 1t by its opponents equally futile and empty And
when is proposed to add section, in the New ork
law SIMPLY allowing corporations TO cohhect lIl !
roads and to embrace in this bill the provisions OF
law voted for by the Senator from Bradford IN 1861
we told it is wrong to do this-but whyi SIMPLY
because nineteen Senators say the bill shall not be
| changed. convincing reason. ,.,,.,
| Let a law be passed allowing people to build rail-
roads wherever they choose, provided ttey pay foI
them they 60, subject to reasonable RESTRAINTS and
these are contained as far as think 1t necessary 70
go in the provisions of the act of 1919. liberal ra
road law is not demanded by the people of Pttsburg
alone but by the people of the entire State. law Sc
liberal that charters can be obtained, that capital viii
be invested and railroads constructed under 1t with
out the corporators being obliged to come to the Leg
lsature. ii is plain to me that q majority of the Sen
ate differ with in my views. Ny votes on the bll
! in committee of the whole well as in the Senate
have uniformly been for what thought was the mos
| liberal policy. We of the minority have briefly ano
explicitly as possible stated the for our votes
| We see and know that one-thIrd cannot vote dowr
two-thlrds. And when the bill clothed IN the precise
language that it came from the Railroad Committee
changed IN letter, WORD or hne Is ABOUT 10 pass
tainted that we nave peeh aoe 10 glNeho gooI
reason for our votes and that efforts to amend tht
bill as it came from the Railroad Committee have
only added increased strength to the majority anC
added a renewed determination their part that tht
bill shall pass unamended and unchanged either IL
the sections voted in those which to follow
| The Senator from Bradford Mr.. Landon desires tha
the issue shall be made, that the people shall un
| derstand il. The Senator is clever well as bold
and as he thus declares that the bill reported by The
Railroad Committee is perfect 1t can be made per
init me to point out what think are striking defects
| in it.
First | think the amount of capital stock per mile
required is too large and that II may tend to dlscouT
age the construction of railways can see no reason
why the should be larger than now required
in the general law under which railroad companies
are organized Pennsylvania. Ii there Is any gooC
| reason, | would be glad to hear 1t.
Second. Whilst | think 1t Is very possloie therf
should be some individual liability clause for the pro
| lection of aborers and mechanics, apprehend the
stringent wording of the section might RESTRAIN th'
| construction of railroads. / aware that under
The General railroad law of New York stockholders art
liable to the of their stock not pald IN, ant
also for the wages of labor, for Perlod not exceed
ing thirty days. This provision OF the Ne" 1orh laV
was offered amendment to the sectoh as IL nov
stands in the bill, by the Senator from INDIANA M
| Whuel And although | voted ior II, IL was Yote(
| down by decided majority, the Senator rom BRAD
| ford Mr.. Landon being of that majority. Iher
ia no individual liability clause in the charter OF an.
railroad now in existence in Pennsylvania lhaI knoN
| of And | respectfully submit TO the senate, IL 1
neither liberal or wise, in this beginning OF new sys
tenn to test that system by sections so stringent II
their character There is nothing OF the klnd IN TN
act incorporating the Pennsylvania railroad company
And | have heard reason IN laVor OF IL now, say
that the bill must pass as it came from the hailfoa
| Committee without the erasure OF word or the OF
liberation of line. And this IS the nat as wen IN ti
sections that are to be voted on as IN tose on Wlc
the Senate has acted. | cannot tnnk, MT. speaker
with all Difference to the views OF my orotheF Sena
tors that this is liberal, or that II VIII luly meet Tn
| wishes of the people whom we represent
| fIinG mans is too short The survey Is to be com
menced within thirty days aud TO De coupleteo WIFE
in six months. This too short Ihe history OF 10
railroad litigation of the state SHOWS tnlS ana ye