The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-28
OUR NEW STEAMSHIPS.
Tho AmerIcaa stenm.hip COMPANY.


the State House of Representatives. This
company il engaged 10 perfecting a great
enterprise that will have powerful innu-
ence upon the prosperity not only Of
the city of Philadelphia but OF the
Stste of Pennsylvania, and yet such inn
maculate representatives of the people AS
Messrs. Albright, Cloud, Duffy, Dumbell, Hagar,
Lamon, McGowan, Mooney Qugey, aud
ThOmpson-the Philadelphia members who re-
fused TO suspend the rules on Thursday y-put on
virtuous air, and affecting to believe that there
may be 10 it q snake of gigantic dimensions, de-
clare that they must have time to examine into
Ii before they can coascientiousy vote
for 1t. The bill as our readers
can zee for themselves, is brief, aud
any man of ordinary intelligence can peruse
1t in a few minutes, aud understand all its
points without the slightest difficulty. 1t asks
for no extra privileges for the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company, nor any for the steamship
company itself that ought not TO be granted,
and the great enterprise it seeks to legalize Is
one that Is in every way worthy of the cordial
support and onG engagement of the Legislature.
Such bill ought TO be passed without the
slightest difficulty, and the public will
not be deceived to the real ch lracter
of the opposition to it., or The motives OF the
Philadelphia members who on Thursday voted
con gned it to The committee. We sincerely
hope that the steamship company will show the
proper pluck in this matter, and utterly refuse
to expend u single dollar to procure the passage
of the bill. 1t is important that the company
should be incorporated at IA early day as pos
sibe. but if 1t once yields to the demands Of cor
rupt Legislators, 1t will dud ere IL has gone far
that the bleeding process Il an amending ono.
There Is no counting upon what certain members
of the Pennsylvania Legislature may or may not
do, but we scarcely think that the House of
Representatives will dare to refuse affirmative
action on this bill, although its passage may be
impeded until there is no longer any hope that
the company will come down with the ''stamp5."
It would be better, however, to submit to this
than to the extortionate demands of certain
conscieDceless members of the Legislature who
scarcely take the trouble to deny that they are
on the make from the hour they enter Harris
burg until they leave IT, The following is the
text Of the bill in full passed by the Senate:
An act to Incorporate The American Steamship
Company Of PhttadeiPhia.
Whereas, 1t Is matter of great Importance
to this Commonwealth aud to its citizens gene
rally that line Of American built vessels
should be established between the ports of PhiIa.
delphia and Europe, and it is proper that the
Commonwealth rhUuld extend liberal grants and
franchises to promote and encourage such an
enterprise; therefore,
Section l. BE 1t enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the Common wealth
OF Pennsylvania. in General Assembly met, and
1t is hereby enacted by the authority of the
same, That j. Edgar Thomson, Edward g.
Knight, Samuel T. Bodue, John Rice, Thomas
A. Scott, Washington Butcher, Wsttr Morris,
Josiah Bacon, John Price Wetherill, J. o James
Henry Winsor B. II. Bsrtol, James II. Orne
Andrew Wheeler, A. r. McHenry, C. j. Hof-
man, and Edward X. Stevenson are hereby
appointed commissioners, who, or any nine of
whom, shall have the power and authority to
open books and receive subscriptions ut the
Merchants Exchange, in the city of Philade
phia, 10 the capital stock of the company
created by this act: and upon the subscription
of seven thousand shares said books shall be
closed, and the subscribers 10 the capital stock
be notified by advertisement, for not less than
five days In at least three newspapers
in the city Of Philadelphia, to meet
at the said Merchants Exchange and
complete the organization of the company,
by the election of nine directors, one of whom
shall be designated as president and all of
whom shall he citizens of Pennsylvania; and
tbereupon II shall he the duty Of the Governor
of the Commonwealth, upon being certified of
such subscriptions, and Of the election of pre-
edent and directors, to issue letters patent under
the great seal of the Commonwealth.
Incorporating said company a
body polite and corporate under the name.
style, and title Of the American Steamship Com
paDy of Philadelphia, aud by the same nans,
style aud title the company shall have per-
petual succession, and he able and capable in
law to sue and he sued To plead and be i'm
pleaded, 10 have Il common seal, and To possess
and exercise all such rights and powers are
or may be useful TO a corporation having for its
object the receiving. storing, loading, deliver
ing, and transportation of passengers aud Of
mails OF goods, wares, merchandise, and traffic
of any description, by means of steam or other
vessels between Philadelphia and Liverpool or
other European ports. The company hereby
Incorporated shall have power from time to time
it,a tI. r.fHi 1nfI
of said company their powers and the mode Of
exercising them, and to make such bylaws
from time To time as they may deem proper:
Provided, The same shall not he iuconss
with the Constitution and laws of the United
States and of this Commonwealth.
Section g The said company shall have power
to build, own, possess. receive, charter, employ,
buy, sell, and dispose of ships aud vessels with
their appurenances, and the steam engines and
other machinery necessary and proper or useful
for the propulsion and navigation of the same,
wise all necessary real estate, warehouses,
whaTyes, landings, docks, and other proper
useful easements and cOnyeniences for receiV-
ing storing, loading, and delivering merchan-
disc and traffic OF every description transported
or to be transported In said ships or vessels,
to be cu7tomarlly owned used, or navigated by
them, and To prescribe from time To time aud
collect such rates aud charges for any
business transacted under the provisions
of this act to them NAV seen expedent
and ehall also have power to issue warehousing
receipts which shall be negotiable instruments
transferable by endorsement la like manner and
with like effect as prOnissOry notes are
Section 3. The capital stock Of said company
shall consist Of 1000 shares, OF Sl0O each, with
the power TO increase the same from time TO
time to any amount not exceeding 900 shares
of 800 each, each share thereof TO be entitled TO
one vote and said company shall have full power