Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-03-29

spectfulIy submit to the Senate, it is neither
! liberal nor wise, in this beginning OF new
system, to test that system by sections so
stringent in their character. There IS moth
! ing Of the kind in the act Incorporating the
! Pennsylvania railroad company. And |
1 have heard no reason in favor OF It now,
save that the bill must pass as it came from
| the Railroad Committee, without the era
sure Of word or the obllteration Of line
| And this is the fat as well in the sections
| that are to be voted on as in those on which
the Senate has acted cannot think, Mr.
! Speaker with all Difference to the views Of
/ my brother Senators, that this is liberal, or
| that IL viii fully meet the wishes Of the peo--
/ pie v hom we represent.
Third | believe the time allowed for sur
veys aud fling maps is too short The sur
yey is TO be commenced within thirty days.
/ and to be completed within six months.
| This Is too short The history Of the rail
/ road litigation of the State shows this.
| And yet the majority decline to change it.
Fourth. The power which the Legisla-
| ture reserves lin section thlrteen) by special
/ or general act, ito amend, change, modify
| or repeal the charter Of any corporation or
ganized under this act as the same was pro-
/ vidcd for IN the thirteenth section of the act
| regulating the construction of lateral rail
/ roads, approved the 5th day Of May, 1882,
Is in my judgment, both unwise and uncon-
| stitutiona UnWise, because, | fear, it viii
I discourage investments unconstitutional
| because the present Constitution of Penn
| sylvania as amended and adopted In 1888,
| SIX years after the passage Of the lateral
/ railroad law referred to, expressly declares
/ that the Legislature shall only have the
| power TO alter, revoke or annul any charter
/ Of incorporation hereafter conferred, by or
under any special or general law, in such
/ manner that no injustice shall be done 10
4 the corporation! VIII the capitalists of
| Pennsylvania and Of the country subscribe
4 their money to build railroads undeTthis bill
with this provision hanging over their heads2
/ Would the Senator from Philadelphia Mr..
/ RDGwAY who is a man Of means and a
successful manager of one Of the best pass
enger railroads in the State, invest his
money in building a railroad under law
giving any such power to subsequent Legis-
islatures?
Mr.. RIDGWAY. Certainly. have the
/ utmost confidence in this Legislature. and
would be willing TO invest my money, with
that clause hanging over It,
Mr. HALL. Well, 1t Is really strange
that the Senator who has been here several
years, never had anything Of the kind inser-
ted in any railroad bill before.
| Mr.. RIDGWAY. ] was never requested
to do so.
Mr. HALL. Surely not, and why? Be
| cause it takes money to build railroads, and
men generally are not such fools as 70 invest
| when the Legislature may repeal the law,
and they thereby lose the whole or part of
their investment.
also object to other clauses in the bill as
It came from the Railroad Committee, which
it is not necessary for me now to refer to.
The people understand this question. They
can neither be deceived nor trIAed with. If
I have changed my views, 1t is because de-
sire 10 vote 10 accordance with the will OF
my constituents, and IN accordance with
IS hat [ believe to be the wishes Of nine
tcnths Of the people Of Pennsylvania. 1
have voted and shall continue 70 vote 10
make this law as liberal as | can get 1t. |
fgust thc Scuate mag yet strike out some OF
these Objectionable elaEses. II not. and the
bill passes both branches Of the Legislature,
As il came from the Committee on Railroads
that it NAV be amended BY subsequent Leg
islagures and that the system Of making
and constructing railroads in PENNSYLVANIA
NAV be as broad and liberal As IN any other
S'ftte ttejjn jjn nJtlbse Jtbe ! MON. .,.,,h ,,or Ispis-
lature adopted free railway system. New
York and Ohio, on our north and west,
have liberal general railroad laws, and al
though it Is true that Maryland refuses to
/ permit trade and travel to pass through her
I borders, even to 20 to our National Capital,
/ un;axed, yet this great and growing State
/ will surely not wait for Maryland to act
/ I have nothing more to add, Mr.. Speaker
| [ favor free railroad law because the peo-
| pie expect and demand it, aud because [
trus. it may aid in the further development
/ of our great and grand old State.