The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-01-29
The Power OF the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad in the United states senate.

Railroad in the United States senate.
EztTGct from Warrington Letter
The influence excited by monopolies
and capitalists upon the legislation of
Congress, and especially upon the ac-
ton of the Senate, is subject to which
think the people ought to give more
attention than they commonly do. I
have watched a great many contests in
the Senate during the past few years,
in which moueyed corporation was
arrayed upon one side and the common
good upon the other, and have never
known the former to fail yet. Inthe
House OF Representatives, where men
are held to a more strict accounta bilitv
before their constituents, this is not
I true, at least not always. though il is
sometimes. l have no disposition to
charge the Senate with venality or cor
ruption in this particular, but do say
that there is no monopoly so tyranical
I that it cannot find apologists and de-
Tenders in that body, and that the fact
is not creditable either to the Senators
who there apologize and defend,
or to the people who permit such
action TO go unreproyed. It will not
be forgotten, that when the Internal
Revenue Bill was under discussion n
year ago, the gas companies and other
corporations had fight to make on the
question as to where the manufacturers
tax should be laid-whether on the pro-
ducer or on the consumer. There was
no good reason why a man who had a
contract for making thousand pair of
shoes should be ompelled to pay this
tax himself, while the company Who
had contract for supplying city with
gas should be allowed to charge it di
rectly to their customers, thereby yio-
lating their contract. The House deci-
ded in favor of the people; but the
Senate quickly turned the scales the
other way. It was SO with the tax on
railroads. And when, three wears ago.
the whisky spectators wanted to make
fortunes out of the necessities of the
Government, they relied mainly on the
Senate, and their reliance was not in
vain.
For half dozen years there has been
q struggle between the existing railroad
monopoly extending from here to New
York, and a company ready and anxi-
Gus to build competing line. The
House has passed, l don't know how
many bills, TO accomplish purpose so
desirable to the people, but they have
been invariabIe either smothered in
Senate. You might as DeH try 10
pass the gates Of he'll nth Eeo
Of ponder under each arm, as to
pass q biLL iniIHtcdL to the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad IN the United
States Senate. Just mention the Sub
iect, talk of chartering new company,
and instanter there will be an explosion
some of the EXTREMIST Radicals of
that body will jump up and talk of
State rights. till they make you think
its lot OF Democrats you are listening
to, and the time is twenty years ago.
Men who sneered and scoffed at "CaI-
hounism" when you spoke to them of
State rights during the debate on the
Civil Rights Bill, when the funeral
kne0 OF that doctrine was rung, talk
eloquenty of State rights when you
propose 10 the detriment OF the BaIri-
more and Ohio, or Camden and Amboy
Railroad. With such gentlemen so
much of that old-fashioned and perni-
ciouS doctrine as is necessary TO protect
monopolies and foster Cooperative
tyrannies has been retained-the rest
has been scattered to the winds. So
much Of State rights as is necessary to
compel travellers between here and New
York to pay tribute for the support of
the governments OF Maryland and
New Jersey remains with full force;
the balance died out with slavery and
secession.
The latest development of this novel
phase of our political system occurred
on Saturday last. Mr.. Wade made a
persistent effort to pass a bill author
tzing company, already chartered, to
point on the Potomac River below
Washington, to build a branch road OF
ten miles, extending into this city.
4 his would give US two roads from
Baltimore to Washington, with direct
connection for the West by Way OF
Harrisburg, which we can never have
while the Baltimore and Ohio road has
it in its power TO compel the travelling
public either TO go west, by way of
Cum berland, or to drive through Balti-
more in hack, and change baggage
and everything else TO get TO the Har-
risburg depot. All that IS asked of
OF road as q lateral branch of a road
already chartered. But you ought to
have heard the State rights champions
then. What! violate the rights of the
sovereign State of MaryIandi Heaven
forbidt It IS true we passed a bill
year ago repeating half the criminal
laws OF Maryland, and making IL
penal offence to enforce them, but then
you know, that's nothing-that's not a
violation OF the sovereignty of a State
But, good heavens, If you let this com
pany put down ten miles OF rails, we
may as well abolish State lines and
make consolidated empire right on"
That's about what they said, and what
they always say. We have a very fine
sort OF Republic OF independent States
now, but just put down these ten miles
of railroad track, and presto, change!
here is q centralized despotism, right
OF.
Al st. Paul, Minnesota, four old
people, whose united age was about
three hundred years, danced a quad
rifle.
.,lI.r-i,,- 49,. .,