Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-06-07
sB.v.sTOR MORRILL, O.v R.fIL-
RO.fD POWER.

RO.fD POWER.
Senator Morrill, did honor TO himself and |
the State by his vigorous though unsuc |
cessful 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 Wash
lngton, with the express understanding
that 1t should always remain public
grounds,) for a depot site. The scene is
thus described: This project after fierce
conflict, passed the House and went over
to the Senate. While one of the most i'm
pcrtant questions Of the hour, the General
Amnesty bill, was before the Senate, Mr..
Cameron of Pennsylvania moved to lay it
aside and take up the "Baltimore and Po-
tomac Site Depot bill," allowing the loca-
ton of a depot for the accommodation of
Tom SCOTS lines of railways on the public
grounds in the most beautiful part of the
city of Washington, near the Capitol.
Senator Edmunds made an appeal that
the Amnesty bill should not be laid aside
for mere railroad bill, but the Senate de-
cided to take up the bill by vote of 80 to
Is. Mr.. Cole of California, asked that the
bill might be laid aside, informally in or
der to proceed with the conference report
on the deficiency appropriation bill, an
other important measure. At this Senator
Morrill, expressed his surprise that Mr.
Cole should presume to ask to proceed wM
the business Of the nation phen a bill in tie
interest Of a railroad corporation iCdS pend
ing. This facetious hit brought laughter
from the grave Senators. Mr.. Morrill,
chopped no bH of merely national impor-
tance would be allowed to interfere with a
measure fer the benefit of the Great Mr..
Scott of Pennsylvania, who came near re-
ceiving the unanimous nomination for the
Presidency at Cincinnati" When Sena-
tor demanded the ayes and noes saying he
wanted to see if Senators intended to push
aside business in which the whole nation
was interested for the purpose of proceed
ing with private railroad bill, it had the
effect of taking up the appropriation bill.
When the railway bill was proceeded
with, Senator Morrill, said He regretted
that he felt impelled to give his views
against this bill when he knew that 4 large
majority of the Senate was already COM
mitted 10 its support. He alluded to the
Pennsylvania Central Railroad as cor
poration, possessing more capital than the
old United States Bank, which some peo-
pie though threatened the liberties of the
country. This Baltimore and Potomac road
was branch of the Pennsylvania Central.
lie read from the charter of the Baltimore
and Potomac road, as passed the Maryland
Legislature in 1858, and said that it con-
ferred the most extraordinary privileges,
| all of which Congress was asked to con-
firm. The ground which was to be given
away to this company could not be pur-
chased for half a million, the streets were
TO be blocked up, the public grounds to be
marred and the very doorway of the Capt.
tol to be invaded. Congress was going to
do also what it never yet had done, vote to
incorporate railroad in a State. In con-
clusion Mr. Morrill, offered the following
amendment:
To strike out all after the enacting clause
of the bill and insert a provision that the
chief of engineers oil the army, the engi-
neer in charge of the public buildings, and
the Quartermaster General of the army
shall be constituted commission to ex-
anime as to the laying Of steam railway
tracks in the city of Washington, both by
existing roads and those in process of con-
struction also, as to the location and con-
struction of depots as bearing on the OBJ
struclion of streets, avenues or public parks,
and to report as soon as possible full and
comprehensive plan, embracing the above
particulars.
After q discussion of the bill, Senator
Morrill, said this was the sixth time this
Pennsylvania Central railroad had come to
Congress for iavors. 1t never gave any
thing for what it had received, and never
offered to give anything back. Every WIS.,
| tor to Washington for the next half centu-
nv would go away denouncing the Con-
gress which had given up to such indecent
desecration the ground which had been
destined for public park from the very
foundation of the government. Congress
years ago forced the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad to remove its depot from one side
of the avenue, and now it is giving permis-
sion to another railroad corporation to
come in on the other side. Even if the
government did not want this land, IL was
away for nothing to an overgrown and
overhearng corporation-a corporation
which did not build railroads, but bought
them, and for the selfish purpose of max
ing money, not for the purpose of develop
ing or building up the prosperity of the
country.
Mr.. Morrilrs amendment was subse-
quently rejected by vote of II to q.
Mr.. Morrill, offered another amendment
that for the privileges herein granted, the
Baltimore and Potomac company should
pay annually into the Treasury of the Dis
trict of Columbia 100000, TO be applied to
the benefit of the common schools of the
District. This he contended was very
moderate rental for so valuable a piece of
land. This also was rejected by vote of
l6 yeas to "a nays.