The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-13
. u0v 4-o,1 on the ola Grldiron.

burg, Mr.. Grabal, nom Setemup cIuuty,
called up the resolution providing that the right
TO establish passenger railways upon all the
streets, lanes, ccurt', and alleys 10 the Rec
tnugular City which are not preoccupiel by
existing lines, shall be granted to Jobu smith,
John Jones, and John Thomson. He supported
this proposition in an eloquent speech, showing
that it was the most popular measure that had
ever been brought forward In any age or couu-
try, inasmuch as one citizen out of every
twenty-five thousand on the line OF the propose
roads had signed petition in its favor. He
claimed that, as the other "a 900 citizens would
hear of the law after 1t was passed. their assent
could be presumed from their failure to get up
antagOnistic petitions in advance of their
knowledge OF the intentions of the Legislature;
and he alleged that the new law had not been
opposed by more than nine out OF ten Of the
newspapers OF the city. He also proved that the
Committee on Supplies, who had closely inves-
tigated the subject were fully satisfied that 1t
was "a good thi0g;" and he hoped that no
member present was so lost to sense of self
respect and to the privileges of the House as to
Quarrel with the bread-and butter of his fellow.
members.
MIR. Overnice offered an amendment He
thought it possible thai something might be
made out of railways on all the principal
streets, and he was not the man TO jeopardize
the welfare of his colleagues, but as he eX-
pected to be reelected, and had a regard for
the future as we'll as the present. he moved to
amend the bill by striking out the provisions
relating TO lanes, courts, and alleys, so that ii
might be made to apply only to the streets, aud
he cOntended that if the whole ground was
covered at once there would be no chance left
for profitable passenger railway legislation at
future sessions.
member here rose to q question OF order
He contended that no parliamentary rule was
better established than that each Legislature
should take care of itself, without regard to tue
interests of its SUCCESSORS, and the Speaker
instantly decided the point of order to be well
taken. So the obnoxious amendment was
not considered, and, indeed, no member present
seemed disposed to second 1t.
MIR, Playfair rose to ask an explanation. He
was fully convinced that after thing had
been fairly set up 1t was contrary to all rules OF
propriety and legislative precedent TO dsap
point the just expectations of industrious and
enterprisng members. The only question which
deserved even a moments consideration was
whether all the members from the city had been
"seen" In reference to this measure, and whether
none OF them had been "left out in the cold"
While his mind was fully satisfied on all other
points, he would be content with nothing less
than explicit information on this momentous
subject. Political parties had sought safety and
strength il the maxim that ito the victors
belong the spois, and 1t was evident to every
| observing member who wished to improve to
the utmost the opportunities offered by the
session, that legislators must, for their own
safety and profit, insist upon an eQui-
table division of the spoils Of legisla-
ton, On that great principle he took
his stand, and demanded to know the
sentiments of every member of the Rectangular
delegation. If they all favored the bill he would
vote tor it, but if there was q dissenting voice,
OF single complaint of gouging he would
oppose the bill, and postpone action until the
happy period had arrived when, if he might be
allowed to use a more forcible than elegant
agricultural expression, ''all the pigs were fed
out Of the same trOugh!n Great appause.)
Every eye was now turned to the Rectangular
delegation, and the whole house awaited with
breathless anxiety an authoritative answer to
the mighty question on which the fate of the
law hinged. As soon as assurances were given
by the Rectangulars that everything had been
done on the square, the oil passed, as q matter
Of course, and before you could say Jack Ro-
blnsonl the Speaker had given a healthy i'm
pulse to business by asking, who's the next
customer?"