The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-07-09
senator Morrill, on Railroad Power.


Senator Morrill, did honor TO hmsc #
and the State by his vigorous though un-
successful opposition to the passage Of the
Baltimore and Potomac railroad depot
bill, giving to that road a million dollars
worth OF the capital grounds, donated by
Washington, with the express understand
ing that it should always remain public
grounds) for depot site. The scene is
thus described This project, after a
fierce conflict, passed the House and went
over to the Senate. While one of the most
important questions Of the hour, the Gen.
eral Amnesty bill, was before the Senate,
Mr.. Cameron Of Pennsylvania moved To
lay it aside and take up the Baltimore
and Potomac Site Depot BILL" allowing
the location Of depot for the accomoda-
ton of Tom S;ott's lines Of railways on
the public grounds in the most beautiful
part of the city Of Washington, near the
Capitol.
Senator Elmunds made an appeal that
f the Amnesty bill should not be laid aside
for a mere railroad I'LL, but the Senate
decided to take up the bill by vote Of
80 to IS. Mr. Cole Of California, asked
that the bill might be laid aside, inform
; ally in order to proceed with the confer.
ence report on the deficiency approprif e
tion bill, another important measure. At
this Senator Morrill, expressed his sur.
prise that Mr.. Cole Should presume TO ask
to proceed 1cih the business Of the nation
,clcn bill in the interest Of a railroad
corporation ,cqs penfiny. This facetious
hit brought laughter from the grave SEN
ators Mr.. Morrill, chopped 10 bill OF
merely national Importance would be al
lowed to interfere with measure for the
benefit Of the Great lnr. Scott Of Penn.
sylvania, who came near receiving the
unanimous nomination for the Presidency
at Cincinnati" When Senator demand.
ed the ayes and noes saying he wanted 10
see if Senators intended to push aside
business in which the whole nation was
interested for the purpose Of proceeding
with 4 private railroad bill, it had the
effect Of taking up the appreciation bill
When the railway bill was proceed 4
with, Senator Morrill, said lie regretted
that he felt impelled 10 gave his views
against this bill when he know that a
large majority Of the Senate was already
committed to its support He alluded tc
= the Pennsylvania Central kraiIroad as a
corporation possessing more capital than
> the old United States Bank, which some
+ people thought threatened the liberties oi
the country This Baltimore and Po.
l tomac road was branch of the Pennsyl.
vania Central. lie read from the charter
of the Baltimore and Potomac road, e;
passed the Maryland Legislature in 1888
. and said that il conferred the most extra.
5 ordinary privileges, all of which Congres'
! was asked to confirm The ground whcl
: waste be given away to thi: company
: could not be purchased for halfa million
, the streets were 10 be blocked up, the
: public grounds to be marred and the very
, doorway Of the Capitol to he invaded
. Congress was going to DO also what II
, never yet mad done, vo,' - incorpora'
r 4 railroal IA State Ia conclusion Mr
-h"rrii oH'rrd 'hf IoNNWlnS amenN'
ment
io >if'@' "'ii h'i a'''r the rnac'l"-
clause o' thc h''i ana insert provls>ot
: tha' the chief Of engineers of the arm
the engineer IA charge "l the public bull
my ana ~" 'lnar;'Fm'S''r Neneral d"
| the army Shall ho con tjtut,i comm
sion to eNim'nc A' 10 'he lay'os of stea"
rali"ay TRACKS IN ihe ''ty oi Washington
= both hy existing roads and 'hoSe in pr"
cess oi construction also, as to the loo'
: ton anu construction OF depots as bearlu1
: on the obstruction OF streets, avenues ol
pubic pafNS' ana 10 report as soon e'
possible lnlI and comprehensive plan
emoracIng inc aDo7e particulars.
After discussion OF the bill, Senatoi
l Morrill, sad tins was the sixth time thu
. Pennsylvania Central railroad had CONF
+ to Congress ior tavors. l. never gav'
= anything Tor what 1t had received, an.
: never offered to give anything back
J. Every visitor to Washington for the mex
r half century wonld 60 away denouncn.
D the Congress which had given up to sucl
] indecent deseeratlon the ground whicl
! had been destined for public park from
t the very foundation OF the government
S aud Ohio railroad to remove its depo
from one SIDE OF the avenue, and now
Is giving permission to another railroa'
5 corporation to come IN on the other side
4 Even 1t the government did not want th
land, It was very valuable and should n
t be given away for nothing to an overgrow
and overbearing corporation-a eorpor
; tion which did not build railroads, bn
: bought them, aud for the selfish purpo
c Of making money, not for the purpose %
. developing or building mp the prosperitJ
n Og tho oauntrv