The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-05-17

Drore that this is so. Not only do wick
ed and corrupt men accomplish their
purposes in this way, but even great
lend their assistance by
debauching clerks, and purchasing our
rulers. The Legislature, instead of be-
ing body representing the people, is a
mere piece of machinery for carrying
out the designs of corrupt men. We
will give as an instance the legislation
in what is popularly known as the
"Grade Bill"
Some thirty years ago, after overcom-
ing almost insuperable difficulties, the
Catawissa Railroad was completed from
near Tamaqua to Milton. Some time
after, the Sunbury & Erie was construct
ed, and both being under serious finan-
cial embarrassment mutual arrange
ment was made by which cars from the
Catawissa road could pass from Milton
to Williamsport, At that time the
Sunbury & Erie had no eastern connec.
ton at Sunbury. Subsequently the
Catawissa road procured authority to
extend its road TO Willlamsport, but
the time was limited to November, 1871.
Knowing that the Pennsylvania Rail.
road company (Which had leased the
Philadelphia & Erie road) would moi
consent to an extension by the Legisla'
ture of the time for constructing the
additional road-the Company also hav-
ing a lease of that body-the Catawissa
Company resolved to proceed at once
and complete their road.
The people of the West Branch were
deeply Interested in this improvement,
as il developed new territory, and
opened a competing route for the trans
portation of lumber, &c. In fact Muncy
and Williamsport each took 100000 Of
the bonds of the Company at par, and
smaller amounts were taken elsewhere
along the line.
The route surveyed and located, ne
cessarily crossed at grade the line of the
p. & Il. II. r.. After the grades had
been established, the bridge masonry
and considerable portion of the grada.
tion of the road completed, the Com
pany were informed that the Pa. II. r.
Co., would prevent them 6yJorce from
crossing their track. The former then
filed bill in equity in Lycoming coun-
ty asking for an injunction to restrain
the latter from interfering with them
in their crossings, which the Court
granted, and on an appeal to the Su-
preme Court by the defendants, the
Court below was sustained.
And now comes the iniquity Of the
case. During the session of the Legis-
lature of 1871, two different bills were
presented in the Senate affecting cross-
ings at grade, one of which was indef-
nitely postponed, and the other defeated
on its merits. After the adjournment,
however, one of them was ascertained
to be in the hands of the Governor for
Senator Buckalew, who hap
pened to be in Harrisburg, accompa-
MED Mr.. Cummin, the counsel for the
Catawissa Railroad Company, to the
Governor to get him to either veto the
bill, or at least withhold his signature
to it. Buckalew assured the Governor
that it had not passed the Senate at all;
that he knew of the grade crossing bills
that had been introduced, his attention
having been directed to the subj ect, and
ue Woe r"nitiun the bill was naun- -
fore the Senate.
Mr.. Cummin also discussed the mer-
It's OF the bill, and made the following
points:
1st. 1t gives corporations and individ-
aals powers equivalent to quo ,oarran-
10, without consulting the Common
wealth, which might be bound by the
result.
End. Courts are compelled to include
mandatory matter, and determine ques-
ions of engineering.
3rd. Because grade crossings are the
rule, and properly so.
4th. 1t is unjust to railroads building,
Or to be built.
9th. The courts now have power to
upon cause being shown.
The Governor in reply said he had
Noticed the bill when it first came into
lis hands, and thinking there was sOme-
hing wrong in it, had laid it aside for
uture consideration, that he was glad
ne had received it so late that he had
lime until the next session to consider
It. He added that he wanted all the
light he could get on it, and thought
hat under the circumstances the bill
'ught not to become law Considera-
lie complaint had been made to him
bout the presentation for approval of
bills that had not passed the Legisla-
ure, and he intended to call their at.
ention to it in his next message. He
hen made memoranda, as he said, for
hat purpose. He assured his visitors
hat the bill would not be hastily sign.
I'd, and he would gladly hear more on
he subject.
He was written to five days after by
Mr.. Cummin,and shortly after that, let
ers were placed in his hands from q
arge number of Senators and members,
tating that no such bill had passed. In
act, letters from 22 Senator'S were fur
lished him to that effect-two- thirds of
he whole number-and yet Geary hast
ly signed the bill. AS sample of the
etters furnished him, we copy a few:
LEwIsBURG, Pa, June IA, 1871.
DEAR SIR; l certainly never saw
cad, or heard of the bill submitted to
ne, number 22l2 Senate file. If It
passed the Senate it was done certainly
without my knowledge, and my con-
,iction is that it was passed by the
bird House. The subject would un-
have attracted my attention,
IS you know from the character of pre-.
1ious legislation on the same subject, or
'ather proposed legislation, and of the
interests involved. / concur entirely
With Mr.. Buckalew. The bill NAV be
marked all right but it was never done
With the consent and by the direction
# the Senate. Truly yours,
A. II. DILL.
ALLENTOWN, Pa, June 10, 1871.
DEAR SIR: Yours of 18th inst, en-.
losing copy of Senate bill, 22l2 and In.