Evening star., 1870-01-07
Bowie Against Garrett.

1t Is refreshing TO find IN opposition raised to
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company in
Maryland that threatens to contest with viyor
II not with immediate success the supremacy of
that monopoly in the State. Governor Bowie
in his able. but unconscionably long message to
the Legislature, draws mp formidable bill of
Indictment against Garrett. At the same time
the Governor defends his own road, the Balti-
more and Potomac, from the allegations that IL
rs subordinate to Pennsylvania interests and
Pennsylvania politicians; and he asks with
point If because that road happens To run
rival to the interests Of another, are the
people Of those sections of the State through
which 1t is to penetrate always to be debarred
railroad facilities, and the taxable basis of their
LANDS never to be enhanced? He makes the
positive charge that the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad was offered the opportunity of building
the Baltimore and Potomac road, the Southern
Maryland road and the Drum Point road and
that the offer d was Ontemptuously rejected v
Governor B. comes to the intelligent and lin
view of his own railroad interests) liberal con-
elusion that to put the State OF Maryiap md On
the path Of true progress the Legislature sbould
- at this session" pass a free railroad law
under which the citizens of that State NAV be
enabled to build railroads whenever capital can
be secured for the purpose. This is what we
have long maintained is the only remedy by
which the State can relieve herself of the thrall-
dom OF the great railroad monopoly that is now
strangling every interest in MARYLAND. except
Its own No single steplthat the State of Mary
land could take would do so much to reiustate
her in the good opinion OF the country as the
adoption af a free-railroad system, permit
ting free approach to the capital of the
nation from all parts of the Union
AT the same time network of railroads open-
ing up every part of the State would deyelop
ner resources to an astonishing extent. With
her position, resources and climate MARYLAND
ought to be one Of the wealthiest. most populous.
and most prosperous States in the Union: and
nothing prevents il but the want of roads tn
make IL accessible. As Governor Bowie trulv
says "many Of our county towns are far more
inaccessible to travellers, after leaving our cars
and steamboats, than cities Of the West Of recent
settlement
As regards the contest OF the State with Mr..
Garrett upon the refusal of the latter to pay the
capitation tax he has collected on passengers
over the Washington Branch, thu sympathies
Of our community are with the latter, Ut would
be if 1t was thought the result would be a cor
responding reduction in fare, but 30 long a. he
continues to collect the tax, We have not much
interest really in the matter. 1t is evident that
ne only objects to pay the capitation tax because
the Baltimore and Potomac road Is not required
To do 20. Governor Bowie argues that
~ his road Is required to pay State and county
taxes, while the Baltimore and Ohio road is ex-
empt from all such taxation, it would be most
Unfair II the latter was released from the capi-
taton tax because the former has not this mar
hcuiar form of tax imposed upon 1t. Governor
.. argues at great length to show that if the
Baltimore and Ohio road refuses to pay the capi-
tation tax, the Legislature can repeals its
acts exempting the road from State taxa
sion. IL is too late, however, to attempt
TO cOerce Mr.. Garrett into o compromise
by threats Of this sort. He has admitted
that the capitation tax is Illegal, and IL he
were weak enough to yield to the threat, he
would not be permitted to collect the tax any
length of time. The determination has already
been made, we believe, to test his right to c l.
iect II b. parties who hold that its infiction i,
. serious drawback to the interests of thi, Dis
tIict.