Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-04-04
EVENING STAR.
CONGRESSIONAL.
Conclusion Yesterdays Proceedingx

Conclusion Yesterdays Proceedings.
sion as continued on the bill giving the assent
sf Congress TO the subscription Of the District OF
Columbia To the stock of
The PIEDMONT AND POTOMAC RAILROAD COM
PANY.
MI Edmunds went on TO say that the charter
Of this railroad was a. vague as the wind; there
was no Cuarantee whatever in il: that the cor
V0ratOrs could sell out the franchise at any
lime, to anybody. The proposed route had
never even been surveyed or located
In a cOiloquy between Mr.. Lewis and Mr.. Ed
munds, the former said that the Pennsylvania
Central railroad bad been negotiating with ref
erenCe 10 taking the franchise of the proposed
road. but had abandoned the idea.
Mr.. Edmunds said that was sufficient to show
that Il was
ALL MoONsHINE.
The Pennsylvania railroad was a prosperous
aud an enterITising corporation. and the fact
that it.had concluded to have nothing 10 do with
the road shOue cd that there was nothing in it.
lie then said that IL would cost at least eight
times a. much to build his road as W set down,
and claimed that the people had been hood
Ninked into voting for the subscription by false
representations. The whole thing was a snare
and dclu>iOn.
Mr. Morrill, OF Vt, said there was not a single
Senator on this floor that would invest $500 in
this road. and IL would not be right or Just tor
Congress to permit the city OF Washington to
become involved in such
HOPELESS ENTERPRISE.
lie said that this city would now be bankrupt if
II were not for the financial skill and standing
CI the governor oil InlS DISlrict.
Mr.. Nye deprecated the assumption OF guar
'laHship over this District by the Senators from
Vermont. He said the question had come down
10 this Was the city of Washington to be bound
hand and foot forever, and 20 fast or slow at
the word OF a Senator from Vermont? The
PEOPLE OF Washington had in the most solemn
manner sanctioned this subscription. If the
people of Vermont wanted to make internal
improvements, the Senators from that state
would think it rather imPudent ii the people of
Washington would attempt to stop them
Mr. Stewart said he had been in favor of Civ
ing all possible railroad facilities TO this city
ever since he had been here. This District had
been paving tribute to the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad for thirty years, and in consequence
the price OF living had been immensely en-
HANGED He was for railroads; he wanted TO
bring down
he wanted the Baltimore and Ohio railroad TO
build the Point of Rocks road.
Mr.. Sumner said the whole thing was IN a
nutshell. This road, IL built, would be doubly
dyantageOuS-adyantageOu 10 Washington
and TO the people of the whole country, short
eDihg. il would, the distance between the
cities OF the cast and the west.
MIR. Wright stated that he should oppose this
bill on principle. He would never give his con-
sent that the maj Ority should tie up the minOri-
" so that their rights would be disregarded. The
minority might represent all the property, and
Vet they would be POwerless to save their own
MT. Morrill,. of Vt, moved to indefinitely
postpone the bill; which was lost-ayes 10, noes
Mr. Hill offered as a substitute for Mr.. Nye's
amendment, that before any part of said sub
scTiVtiOn ~hall be paid, the Governor and the
Board OF Public Works, acting separately, shall
lie satisfied that the said railroad will be com
Ileted and used to a point on the Potomac river
opposite the CITY of Washington or Georgetown
by the aid OF said subscription" Adopted
MIR. Edmunds moved a further am endment,
ssand this subscription and stock taken shall be
first lien upon all the property and franchises
OF said railroad company, in favor of said Dis
tTict OF Columbia, and shall be so enforced"
MIR. Nye. l hope that will not be adopted.
MIR. EdmUnds / thought 80.
Nr. Sumner opposed the amendment.
Mr.. Morrill, (Me.) threw doubts on the wisdom
or expet.iency of authorizing this subscription.
If this capital needs more railroad facilities, let
Congress come out manfGlly and make the ap-
preparation
The question was then taken on the amend
ment OF Mr.. Edmunds, when il was rejected
sVeS Is. noes %
MIR. StewaT; then renewed the amendment of
Mr. Nye, when Mr.. Morrill,, , Of Vermont, moved
to amend IT by providing that the private sub-
scriptionS stall first be double any amount
which NAV be called in Of the subscription OF
the District
Pending further action, the Senate, at ) p. M,
adjourned.
HOUSE.-After our report closed, cOnsidera-
ton of the steamboat bill was proceeded with
hut no definite action was taken previous to ad
jOurnment.