Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-01-19

The Providence Journal, q paper owned and
conducted BY Senator Anthony, has deservealy
great weight throughout the country for its
ability and the judicial fairness Of its express
sions Of opinion. II il therefore with grear
satisfaction that we find in that journal the
following views upon the current subject OF
interest in Washington:
"The Introduction of the Sherman bill to
incorporate three railroads from Washington
will revive an old controversy. The taxes
imposed by the States Of Maryland and New
Jersey upon the transit by railroad through
those States, and the Inconveniences imposed
by he companies who monopoliZe the roads
extending through those States have become
intolerabIe. so that the Federal Government is
apparently presented with the Alternative of
affording additional facilities to approach the
capital. or OF having the capital removed to
some other and more accessible locality This
bill proposes to incorporate new roads, one to
Cincinnati.
Prom 1:o2 to 1896 the power of Congress to
establish national roads and canals was one of
the SUBJECTS of party controversy. The friends
OF the protection OF domestic industry and of
INTERNAL improvements struck hands, and the
Cumberland road and the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal We're fruitful topics Of stump speeches
aG0 Congressional debate. The celebrated veto
OF Mr.. Monroe Of May ith, Iss2, admitted the
night IN Congress to pay for, but not to acquire
Title 10 these improvements. His rea. oning, il
II had any effect upon Congress, tended to con-
nrm them In favor of the bill.
''Story, in his commentaries on the constitu-
ucn, vol 3, 1869, says: Congress may there
fore authorize the making of canal as Incl.
cent 10 the power TO regulate commerce. and
In pl21O says: sfor the same reason Congress
may authorize the laying out and making OF a
military road, and acquire right over the soil
for such purpose and in 6127l, Congress can
not aurhOrize the making of a canal except for
some purpose of commerce among the States,
or for some other purpose belonging TO the
Union; and il cannot make a military road un-
less il be necessary and proper for purposes of
war;
'sThe provisions that would authorize the
construction of a canal for the purpose of COM
merce would, we presume, authorize the con-
structon of railroad for the same purpose.
These were the views of Mr.. Webster ex pressed
on The question in relation TO the Louis Vile
Canal and upon other occasions.
"The question involved in this railroad legis-
lation is as to the power Of States to obstruct
Interstate commerce by the imposi ion of
onerous burdens. well as to the power of
Congress to establish roads in aid Of inter-
STATE commerce.
THE railroad companies controlling the
lines leading to Washington have organized
powerful lobby, il is SAID, TO defeat the Sher-
man bill. The Camden and Amboy monopoly
expires we believe. during the current year
But II is hardly possible that the State Of New
jersey will show strength enough to emancI-
pate itself from the control of this corporation.
- We shall watch with interest the progress
OF this important bill. As we understand the
measure now, the bill proposes TO create cor
poratIons to construct these roads only, and to
leave them TO be constructed by private capi-
tai
~Lsst year 81 divorces Were granted in La
pOrte Comfy. Ind