The Van Buren press., 1873-04-15
The Railroad Bill-A Letter ftom Judge
Wiltshire.
lIrrLE Rock. April s. 1873.


for an article " ritteH 10y me over the name o
"A Republican" and appearing in your pa
pcr of the 3 inst aud believing You deslft
10 represent the interests of the people in the
gurSi Ion known MS the Railroad steal, pre-
sumo Ia trespass again on your indulgence II
you viii allow me The space
hear il stated by some who advocate tat
ill proposing To- assume the debt of 80 2'V UU
tlrrady issued To railroads by the state. tliNt
it will release the State from any further ls-
sue uf bonds to these roads. ! assert that the
bill does not propose to release the state rom
the issue Of the amount Of bonds not Issued
hut on the contrary by the provisions of the
bill. other companies who, wi hin ninety days
after the passage of this bill, NAV obtain an
award of the aid surrendered under this bili
aud put themselves in condition TO be en'l-
tie TO Ic. cive the bond, aud then rcli
,rm>, Ives from any liabilit, 10 the State bN
rendering To the Treasurer full paid stock IN
| their com panies equal To the amount OF Their
| indeb ednc>s thus created and thereby obtain
their release. etc. That is clearly the mean
| ing of the bill.
| .Why is this thus ?" Because nearly II not
| all the roads to whom aid has been awarded
are not now entitled to the issue OF another
dollar Of the bonds of the state. Section 5 OF
| the act granting this aid, which law had the
| honor To draft. provides in substance that II
| the governor is satisfied that the bonds issued
| to these companies, or ANY of them. are not
being used as intended by the law he may
withhold all or any part oI said bonds and
take such other steps as he may deem proper.
tn the end that the bonds shall not be squan-
dered to the manifest injury OF the ci.t.ens OF
the State.
! Now. will any, or all, Of these gentlemen
! who are try ing to pass this bill. say that any
OF the roads to whom these bonds have been
issued. have complied with that provision Of
II. 4
shah be used solely for the ironing. equip
ping, bulding and completing said roads?
don't think they will The law requires that
the president Of such company and at least
four Of its directors shall make. and file with
the governor. an affidavit stating that the
bonds issued to the company shall be so used
Whether they have been used rs required by
the law or not is a question Of some impor-
tancc in the consideration of tins bill and Of
which | viii speak in the future, should it be
necessary.
The position | assume is. that there is not
one of the roads to whom aid has, been award
Ell legally entitled to draw another bond from
the State. Fist, because the companies in
corporated prior to the passage of the act
granting the aid OF the State, who accepted
the aid. were required to construct and put
IN running order one fourth of their entire
line OF road within Two years after the aid act
became a law. and unc-h7lt of their entire
railroad within two years thereafter and to
have their whole line finished within seven
years after the passage OF tn act; and falling
In these conditions, such companies should
forfeit their charters, etc, 1t j. II notorious
fact that I, one of the roads to whom aid was
awarded. chartered before the passage of the
aid law except the Memphis and Little Rock
road. have cornplied with the provisions of
the aid law in the matter above stated See
ond rs to the companies chartered after the
passage of the aid law, Few. ii any, possessed
available resources in subscriptions. money.
lands, and other means sufficient to prepare
one hundred miles. or one.third OF the whole
line of road for the iron rails. II that be true.
although the award may have been made it
would be the duty OF the governor, upon in
formation of that fact. to cause that matter Ia
br inquired into and. II any such COMPANY
did NOT possess such resources, TO refuse to is
sue bond, 10 such company. such is clearly
the intention OF the law. Hence do not think
that any more bonds can or will be issued TO
any railroad company, and. If SO. the reason
given by tho advocates of the bill for its pas
sage, that it would release the State from the
obligation or liability 70 Issue the remaining
Sc 200000. The bill contains no such pro-
vision and can receive no such construction
Then the whole propositions contained in the
bill resolve themselves into the question of
whether the people will release certain rail-
| ruad companies from the payment Of the in
! tercst and principal of 50 2Ol0 900 issued to
| such companies b, the State. and assume the
payment themselves. These bonds were in
! too many cases used to enrich II few and elc-
vatc others to high official positions instead
of being used solely to iron, build and equip
| their railroads These are matters too well
understood TO require further comment at this
! time.
During the late canvass defended the re-
! publican party and the authorities who issue
| these hond- (sclicying they were properly IS
| sued). upon the ground that the State was
andy protected by the provisions of the law
under which they were issued. | believed
| then and do now that To be true That opin-
| ion il now strengthened by the desire mani
| tested hy the interested PARTIES in this bill.
and the terrible and reprehcn>iblc mean. re-
sorted to accomplish its passage.
! The questions for the consideration Of the
public arc: DO the masses Of the republican
| party wish to relieve few gentlemen, who,
ior the last five years. have been rcyeling in
| luxury and uotouS living in the eastern ci-
I ties and watering-p places, of the pay mept OF
Owe 50 POO 600. and force the payment ct the
same upon the people of the State who are
taxed already To such an extent as to almost
deter immigration from coming into our bor-
! ders 4?
i think can answer Tor ninetv-n;ne cases
not desire or propose to do any such thing. II
woull be \ very nice little scheme il these
gentlemen who are urging this measure could
have the state ,Ssume the payment OF these
bonds. and gather annually from the hard
earnings OF the people thrce.nills on the dol
lar on all the taxable property in Luiteo
States carr Rcy to put chirtl, into the pockets
ol these clever gents. to support them in New
York city, Cape May. Long Branch, and other
! places of tas .iOnahlp resort
The people, without regard to party. are not
going TO see it in that light, and, what
/ ever the facts may be. it will be very hard tu
convince the republican or democratic masses
that the supporter, OF the measure. in the
Legislature rs well out of that body. welc
not actuated by pecunary and corrupt con
Esiderations. The monstrosity OF the fraud is
too palpable to lead to any other conclusion
! | hear it whispered that should the bill
pass the Senate. and the governor should veto
H. articles OF impeachment would be he pre-
lrrred against him, This hint i thrown OUT
no doubt To intimldatc his eXcclrncy, but
such gentlemen count without their no {
Gov. Baxter l. not composed of that sort OF
material. Ifhr should feel it his duty under
| his official oath. in the discharge OF his con,ti
| tutiunm duty. to veto that hill. all the i'm.
peachmcnt threats that the little brains OF
such political pigmies could invent W luli not
divert him from the discharge of that duty.
Besides. impeachment, are tp dyed swords.
and there is no telling where such an effort
might land. Children and fools ought not
TO handle olged tools" don't think auv
one feels any alarm Of such threats. But If
such /. the policy OF the bond thieves. tncn
say" Lay on. Macduil. and damned be he
who first cries, hold. crouShw
Us Tue keIn .lcAh OF this morning appears