Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-03-27


comm ercial-be included There Is danger, too,
that with such vast power. such ranlhcanons IN
the business departments OF the country ana such
unlimited capital. there might be reason to trem-
hIe for the purity and sancIity OF elections,
what is equally as bad, bat our governors: legis
lators. and other state authorities might be at
fected with the establishments of its power Its
offices and its wealth.
They could make the rich richer and the poor
poorer" They could, in word. make their or
eanization a monopoly term which distln-
guished Jurist and law giver defines TO be that
which grilds the people between the upper and
neither milstone;f and its power would become
so great, that should any citizen, or even an OH
Ger Of the Government, attempt to restrain 1t
within its chartered limits and proper franchises
he would be made to feel its withering influences
There is always danger in the creation of monop-
olies for in proportion as they are increased ar
the rights of the citizen abridged. Had such
proposition been made in the early days OF the
Commonwealth, or quarter of century.
ago or when this company applied for its charter,
it would have been rebuaed by the people, with
out distinction Of party, upon its first enuncla-
ton.
am not inimical to the Pennsylvania railroad
company; but am positively its friend. hon
or the management for the energy displayed in
the share they have taken with others IN the de-
veoPment of our State, and am determined that
il and all other corpoiatio shall be protected
and defended in all their rights, privileges and
franchises already derived, or that may hereafter
be derived from egislative action; but when they
used engines to threaten. endanger and control
the interests and perhaps the very action of the
government. by the absorption of our internal i'm
provements and every branch of industry within
the State, and the holding of many thousands of
our people in dependent condition, they must be
refused
1t is said that other corporations have had un
limited powers conferred upon them and no evils
have resulted But as far as such cases have been
cited, find upon examination. that they were,
almost without exception, conferred upon the
stockholders terms, and with limitations, and
not upon the directors. And If there were such,
and they were known to be wrong in principle,
it is one of the hest and strongest reasons why the
practice should be discontinued. If it is right
that the Legislature should confer ted pow
ers upon one institution, it has right to multi
ply such corporations at its pleasure. and If they
should be managed by those whose predictions
and interests would be similar, the control of the
Commonwealth would be irretrievabiy committed
to their hands, and the sovereig gnty would depart
from the people If it is deemed necessary for
the prvper management of the pany that its
capital should be Increased let il be dOneas here
tofore requested by them. gradually by the Leg
isature Just the necessity for such Increase can
be clearly demonstrated, and after due notice
that it is intended to make application for such
increase of capital and then only 1T the request
of the stock holders
Prior to the late election. I found among the
people, throughout the State that the important
question of railroads in all its shapes and guises,
could not be properly ignored 1t was regarded
as a matter of such paramount importance that
pledges asked of the gubernatorial candi-
dates and certain interrogatOries addressed TO
them to which answers were required. One of
the interrogatories addressed to myself was in
these words, viz viii you. if elected Chief
Magistrate of Pennsylvania faithfully exert tn q
power of your administration to defeat any and
every attempt made by legislation or otherwise.
for the In onopoy and control by any one corpora
ton of the railroad policy of the State p To
which I, in good faith, replied, that whiie be-
leve il TO be improper TO bring the influence OF
the Executive Department to bear upon the Leg
islature in anticipation of IT'S actinn except i'm the
wuy OF recommendation, L am heartily opposed
to the creation of any monopoly Of the railroad
system. of the State. giving any artificial body,
Created by the law, powers which would place it
above and beYond the reach Of the Legislature
And in my reply further stated. that the spiri;
of monopoly in this and other matters should be
discouraged in Il Repu Olican government, and l
have no sympathy with any policy which may be
designed for its eucouragem. Mt -
And IN speaking Of railroad companies | fur
ther remarked while these corporations cOntin-
ue to act their part puoiic servants they should
be eaTetully.Proteeted They should not be per
mltted to overstep their legitimate functions. As
creatures of the law, they should obey and be, in
every sespect, subservient to the Law .
In accordance with the doctrines thus pronoun-
ced the public have rendered their verdict and
expect of me strict compliance of the pledges
then given. These not new doctrines or prin-
eipIes They were fearlessly enuneiated IN the
lnclpient part of the campaign, and were discus
lie speakers generally throughout the State I
feel that [ solemnly bound to obey these
pledges and have desire OF intention to evaGe
or disobey them. The people may rest satisfied
and assured that neither this any other pledge
given them when | was asking their sufTrages,
shall be violated
That the people have an indsputable and inhe-
rent right to instruct their public servants and to
mould and fashion their institutions to suit them
selves, one. believing in Republican form of
government, will for a moment pretend to deny,
and believe the correlaive obi CATION that those
holding Office are bound to obey. is equally true
These instructions were conveyed TO in the best
possible mode, throug h the ballot-box. Viewing
this question without prejudice man can doubt
that our citizens are earnestly opposed to the
granting to corporations any unlimited powers
which may be converted into mOnopoIies and
which cannot be held subservie-t to the Legsla
ture. and to the true interests of the State
A solicitous regard, therefore, for truth and jus
tice, las lmpelled me to the course [ have taken
upon this subject and with the full assurance that
| have done my duty, L herewith return the bill
without my signature. JNo. w. GEARY
Harrisburg. Pa, March 90, 1867
Upon the reading of the message, the Senate at
once passed the bin over the veto of Gov. Geary,
by the following vote:
YEAs-BuTnett, ConnelI. Donovan Fisher GIatz
Harris, Jackson, James, Landon McCandless. Nc
COnaughy, Randall Ridgway, Roger Schall, Sea-
right, Stutzman, Taylor, Wells Worthington 20
NAYs-Bigham- BiuigfeIt, Brown of Lawrence
Brown of Mercer, Davis, Graham. Lowrie, White,
Hall, speaker.-9.
ABsESr-coles, Coleman, Shoemaker and Wal
ace-4
On the 2lst the veto was taken up in the House.
Much discussion was had, but no vote was reach
ID, although the rules were suspended by vote
If 73to 20. Vice coPresident Scott was in the House
Ill day.
II becoming evident that the bill could not be
passed in the House, the veto on she morn
ng of the 22d a Senate bill was introduce ed
nto the House, limiting the en- largeuent of stock