The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1870-02-19
The Railroad RO1U,

The Railroad RO1O.
We very much regret to know that the B.
D. R. R. fight has occupied so much of the pre-
cious time of our Legislators to the deriment,
We fear, of the interests of people 10 various
sections of the State and to the State generally.
The term has half expired, and but little else has
occupied the attention of that body but this I'M
profitable bellicose proceedings with the John
W. Garrett row.
We are in much need of general legislation
for the advancement of the agricultural, com
mercia and financial interests of our ancient
commonwealth that is likely Ito go by the board
unless this Mary land railroad row is soon quelled
and the wheels OF legislation put in motion to
pass bills asked for by the people and demanded
by their interest
There are many changes in our local affairs in
various parts Of the State that are called for by
the citizens of those particular localities, and de-
manded by the interests of the localities, trade
and business, and which must eventually see
the session Of the Assembly close without any
action being taken by that body, concerning the
suggested changes.
Many matters of Importance, unless backed by
considerable legislative influence and vigilance,
will unavOidably be neglected in the hurry, bus
tie and excitement of the closing hours of the
session. But if the battle must be fought, let it
be sharp, quick and decisive. If we are to have
State submissive to the mercy of one of her
corporations, let us submit tamely and not waste
the ammunition OF our Legislators idly five are
to assert the dignity of the State government
and the supremacy of our Legislature, let that
body speak as one who has authority and lei it
Vindicate that authority by the execution of its
mandates
1t appears that under the charter of the CON-
paHy, incorporating the Washington Branch of
the road, granted by our Legislature in 1880, the
State reserving the right, however, to take the
entire stock of the road, "by paying to the COM
"pany the whole cost, principal and interest,""
within 1.-TWO years after its completion" or to
take within the same time any amount Of stock
she might desire, not to exceed ive-eights of
the whole In 1882 this charter was amended,
annuling the States right to take the road two
years after completion, in lieu OF which the COM
pany agreed to pay one-ffth ofthe gross proceeds
of the whole amount, received for the transport
tation Of passengers.
The State holds sterling bonds of the compa-
ny, the interest of which is payable in London,
and which the company has paid for series of
years. The company's claim against the State
upon this account amounts, according to the
showing of Mr.. Merrick, of Howard, to be Sl76-
600 annually, but the company by the arrange
ment is annually indebted to the State in the
which now amounts tic $4,000. This is the
bona fde Indebtedness of the company to the
State, and which the company shows no dispo-
sition to pay, should the set-off they claim be
allowed.
Mr. Garrett resorts, among his many other
subterfuges, to shield the company from its liza
blities, by saying that other companies. hostile to
this are not required to pay this bonus TO the
State, therefore he should not do it.
In reply to this aspersion of CARROTS against
railroads, we give below the remarks of Mr.. Mer-
rick of Howard, who says:
'Like mighty it pushing its branches and
spreading its leaves and proclaiming that shedding
prosperity all around, whereas its mighty growth is
impoverishing the very soil that nourishes its
1t charges twenty dollars for carrying load of
empty barrels from Frederick to Harpers Ferry, and
thus by its eXactions for freight destroys the
industry of the people, who cannot afford to send their
products to market No brewer in Baltimore afford
to send barrel of ale to Hagerstown. By ofthe
unfair discrimination against local feights barrel of
ale will cost more delivered in Hagerstown than in
Pittsburg Baltimore merchant, who buys a cargo
of tobacco in the West is compelled to resort to the
wreched subteruge Of shipping it to New York, and
then stopping il IN trdnSitu in Baltimore. merchant
from the West Southwest finds it more profitable to
buy his goods in New York account of the low rates
Offreght competing lines, and thus this unfair dis
elimination drives him away from its natural market
lie would not deny that the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road had done great good, but it had also done great
HARM and for its sake it needs be brought under
the restraints oflaw. gentlemen doubted these facts
let committee be raised with power TO send for persons
and papers, and they would be abundantly verified
The city of Baltimore loaned the Company five millions
of dollars to complete the road to the Ohio river In
1852 the Congress Of the United States imposed direct
tax of five per cent. on all incomes the Company in
its payment of interest to the city deducted fifteen
thousand dollars annually, the amount of this tax
That money it did not pay over to the United States
and it has refused to pay to the city The United
States cannot it further back than October 1868
The city Baltimore has brought suit for this money
in the Federal Courts Here Mr.. Merrck read letter
from the City Register detailing the facts in the case
and stating hesum wrongly withheld to be something
SIP 600 He then continued Shall we not ar
raign her for these misuses and abuses Shall we not
call her to account for the $500 900 she owes the State
Shall weforbear lest we injure her stock Shall
refuse to bring her to justice lest be called sanderers
and malice-bearers towards this Railroad Company
How Protean their arguments against this just
demand Of the State Here Mr. Merrick recapitulated
the arguments set forth in Mr.. CARROTS paper They
say this Company has purpose desire appropriate
this money to its own use If not, why don't they re-
turn to the passengers Or why don't they offer il
Up as holocaust to the offended Federal Constitution
1t is not difficult to see from this that the pol
icy of the company is nimical to Maryland en-
tsrprise and commerce. Its course should be ar
rested and the interests of the State protected
On the 18th instant, the House of Delegates
adopted the amendment offered to the resolutions
Of Mr. Merrick--which provides for the appoint
ment of committee OF four from the House and
three from the Senate, to whom shall be referred
all matters of dispute between the State and the
eompauy-and that if the company refuse to
comply with the recommendation of the com
mittee for 20 days after the adoption of their re-
port, the Attorney General Is directed to vacate
the charter by seirs .fdciqs, and the Governor is
authorized to employ counsel to aid the Attor-
ney General in prosecuting the case. This is the
shape in which the stands now
The Legislature gin now have a breathing
tnOt talklng} spell, after which we hope to see
the work finished up speedily.
va The Union Orphan Asylum of Baltimore