New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-03-09

posed to the whole bill; but it it has to pass,
I should like to have it pruned OF lhconsls,
tency and improprieties, and, therefore, i
shall not say another word upon 1t to-h'gnS
if they determine TO pass sa d.
but 1 shall say this, that they have passed
it without giving those opposed to 1t, at
least myself, a propar time for examination
of a bill of SO much Importance. II the
State is to be saddled with q debt OF three
millions of dollars, for which 1t procures
nothing in return except the general oenent
to the State, by the construction OF TINS
road, it is a matter OF great importance ,ha'
the bill should be properly guarded. "nen
we were discussing the Texas bill yesterday,
of three million dollars, which was a matter
of much greater interest TO the State, lmnie-
diately great objection was made. anc they
asked a reduction of the amount 10 Two
millions, for fear the credit OF the state
would suffer. Now. we are asked to pass q
bill giving a railroad o gratuity OF three
million dollars without any return for two
or three years. WIN this not affect the
credit OF our State? l say, then, | am
opposed to this whole bill; bat If it is
to pass, IlwouId like to make such examin
alton and amendments as will make it less
intolerable. For this reason l again move
a n adjournment. The motion to adjourn
was lost.
Mr. Lynch: As one opposed to this bill,
except IN its modified form, | Wo2ld simply
state that it has been printed over three
weeks in its original form before these
amendments were proposed to.lIght. Il
has been accessible TO ev2Fy member III the
Senate and in the House. [ feared II my
self that this bill would be sprung on us
before those notifications were made. But
1t seel1s strange, after al this time, thaE a
further delay should be urged. The Sena-
tor from Ouachit& says he is opposed to the
v.lat ~ rN- Isn~ .,2sL -In- 81
weekS-!Or a ItCe more progress than he
was emitted 20. In answer to what he has
said, | have this to remark, that have
facts within N own knowledge
that this gratGity given to this
company, paradoXical as 1t may seem, will
enhanCe the credit of the State. l assert
that | believe | can convince any senator
who will cal on me that it is the action Of
the iGcOrpcrators OF this railroad company
which has caused the bonds of the State 70
appreciate in the last thirty days thirty or
forty per cent. Now, sir, i'll the face Of pub
lie denunciation Of this scheme, II OF SEN
ators who support it as enemies TO their
country, and IN the face of measures look
ing toward reputation, these bonds haVe
appreciated IN forty days fifteen per cent,
and in addition to that one of the largest
stockholders in the company is now, sir, in
in Europe, making b market for the bonds
Va S'o O"'SfH- 80 - BN1[~SN
nent investment, and bringing them iuto
greater demand every week; and | look TO
their going up still higher unless by some
l,-advised legislation, or such resolutions as
those passed at the LafayeLte Square meeting
should induce people to believe that there
is something in the wind about Reputation.
But, 50 lar from this three milliOn dollars
g~ratuity depreciating the credit OF the State,
L am told the capitalists of Europe-One OF
The largest capitalists in the world is now
8 s~tCckhol0er IN this company, and the TACT
being known, the bonds appreciated in three
days ten per cent. Ispeak from information
within my own knowledge. Now, sir, for
one am prepared to go on and vote fer this
biii for Tonight.
MIR. Couplaud: The Senator from Carroll
has stated his surprise at the action OF SEN
a.ors III asking time, and stated that the bill
had been printed three weeks. That | grant;
but ! would like to know when these amend
ments have been laid before Senators ?
They are laid before the Senate now for the
first time.
Section two was then adopted.
Section three was read.
Mr.. Lynch: l move the adoption OF the
section.
Mr.. BraUghn: / move that all of section
three, after line ftty two, be stricken out.
Mr.. O'Hara: | move to lay that motion on
the table.
The yeas and nays beng ordered, the
amendment was laid on the table.
Mr.. Lynch: l renew The motion to adopt
the section.
Mr.. Bacon: Mr.. President, l wish to give
some good and substantial reasons why this
section should not be adopted. The section
proposes to give this company aosUiutlon
from any liability Tor damages in any ca e
which may 90 against them IN the courts
for damages done to passengers, carried Oy
them free.
Mr.. Beares: That is the case on all rail
roads.
Mr.. Bacon: Well, the gentleman does not
understand as much about this as / do.
Now, | venture to say, Sir. that the pisseu-
gers carried free by railroads do them more
coed, and, IN fact, pay them more, than
those who are carried by them for hire, for
money, which they receive. The reason is
as good why they should be responsible for
the damage done to those carlled free, as
those that thy are in the habit Of carrying
for hire. | will appeal to any member here
who is acquainted with rai!rOading, or who
has had intercourse with railroad officers,
if those whom they are in the habit of carry
ing free are not more useful to them than
those from whom they receive hire. In most
cases they put on the back OF a free
pass that the roalroad company will
not be responsible for damages or loss
G6 lltl lbiSub HHppcu w cuIh GItltG
The courts have held that every principle of
Justice Will hold them responsible where
their employees are careless and ind tferent,
and damage happens TO those persons. But
if the reason given IS that taey are carried
free, that is not ii reason why they should
be exempt, because the persons whom they
carry free do them more good h oth2r5,
and all railroad men Will tell You That.
Newspaper men, steamboat men. legislators
do fhnr, mara Good than +EpGn from whom
| they receive pay. So that is not a good
reason Why they value o mans life at only
a thousand d0ll4rs and his limbs at only the
amount he pal for MS pass. Then, sir, as
10 the employees. the Excuse made tor the
| employees is That they are going into q
risky business, but that is no reason; their
poverty c0mpels them to go into this risky
business, and if the Carelessness Of the
engineer or g broken bridge cause the death
Of q breakman or any other employee whose
poverty compe!s him to go Oh the road, they
should pay the damage for the loss of his
life as well for the man who pays his passage.
| They should vote down this whole PROPOSE
lion. l. is uuiust-the courts have decided
that 1t is unjust, even where the passenger
has accepted Il ticket with this Endorsement,
hat the company will not be liable-courts
not only of the United States, but the courts
Of every State, that they are liable, because
it was bad i'll principle to allow them to be
exempt from this liability Of a common car
| rier. It would be wrong for us, toward our
constituents, to accept this feature III this
bill, and others who NAV come in our terri
tory, and pass over it. We may not feel any
Inconvenience for this. but we aCelegislating
for others, and We should lot except this
| company from these liabilities, which may
affect the welfare of our constituents and
fellow c~itizeus. | trust, sir, that this sec
! ton will not be adopted, and tor the pur.
pose of testing This matter, | shall ask that
| the yeas and uays be called upon the adop-
tion Of this section.
Mr.. Lynch: | second the call.