The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-02-11
Another Raid on the Treasury.

OF all the cunning devices to filch money
out of the State treasury none is more plaus-
IDLE and at the same time more indetenslble
than the one contained in the following bill
which is now pending before the Legislature;
Mr.. ROGERS (Philadelphia) introduced the
following bill, which was referred to commit
tee
Whereas. 1t is proposed by Reuger Brothers
to establish regular steamship line between
Philadelphia and Hamburg or Bremen; and
Whereas, 1t is manfestly for the interests OF
Pennsylvania that such line he established. and
it is sonnd policy to encourage the project by
reasonable donation; therefore.
Be it enacted, &c, That five thousand dol
lars be paid to the projectors for each round
trip not exceeding fifteen, to be made during
the term of one year from the date OF the pas
sage OF this act, the trips to commence at Bre-
men of Hamburg, and the money to paid as the
steamers leave Philadelphia, each trip of the
steamers to be not less than twel We hundred
tons burden, with four hundred emigrant ca
pacity. In event of the disability of a steamer,
another may be substituted The line has the
privilege of touching at Southampton.
1t is conceded on all hands that Philadei-
phia, the second city in the Union III point
of wealth and population, ought to have
line of steamships to Europe. That she has
not long since had such line in successful
operation speaks loudly against the enter
prise and public spirit of her own citizens.
For many years a vast amount Of talk and
great deal of newspaper writing have been
expended on the subject, but nothing has
been accomplished. In this respect Balti-
more is far in advance Of that city. having
regular line of such steamships, which has
been established by the liberallty Of her own
merchants without any foreign aid or sub
sidy from the Maryland Legislature.
The proposed line of steamships will enure
to the benefit Of three parties-the owners Of
vessels, the city of Philadelphia, and the
Pennsylvania Rail Road Company. If the
steamship company itself is not competent
to start the enterprise, what is to prevent
the two rich and powerful corporations we
have named, aad who are to be tho recipients
Of the profits if there be any, from standing
between the steamship company and fail
ure of the project. If they are to be the
gamers in the event Of success why not run
the risk of possible loss in the event of a
failure The very fact of asking donation
the possibility but the certainty that the
scheme will not prove remunerative. In
view Of this contingency the State is mod
estly asked to make good the loss. We
doubt whether any other city than Philadel
phia or any other corporation than the great
mammoth Pennsylvania Rail Road Company
would make such demand under similar
circumstances. As well might the State be
asked to cover the losses Of a steamboat COM
pany engaged in carrying passengers and
freight between Pittsburgh and New Orleans.
The claim would be equally as meritorious
in the one case as in the other. We deny
the right of the Legislature to put its hand
in the State treasury and pay to this steam
ship company FIVE thousand dollars Of the
peoples money as a bonus every time that
one of its ships steams into its dock from
Hamburg or Bremen. The peoples treasury
cannot legitimately be invaded for any such
speculative and unwarrantable purpose. 1t
is a burning shame and humiliation that the
great and opulent city of Philadelphin, IN
stead of putting her own shoulder to the
wheel. should call on Hercules for help. 1t
is still greater shame that the Penusylva-
MIA Rail Road Company should knock at the
door of the State treasury imploring aid to
the extent of seventy-fve thousand dollars
instead of unlocking the vaults of her own.
AS the enterprise is purely local so will be
the distribution of its benefits. If the mer-
chants of Philadelphia want line of steam
ships to Europe. and if their interests will
pay this subsidy themselves or do without it
in the future as they have done in the past
Washington and Harrisburg.