The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1873-02-15

| Especial Telegram to the NEW MONTH wEs1.l
lEnEl fn00 non. WIN. b clAoeII
HE vjescs On the RNtlssaS llses'
ti0n. 8 81
(rSom Herald February IL ISsal
WAsurxGroS. d. c.. Jan. 10. 1873.
CExrLEMEN:-In answer to your Telegram
requesting me TO secure an appropriation 4
defray the expenses of ~ extra session Of
the Legislature to be called Immediately
and stating the Governor has written me- q
letter to this effect. beg leave to state that
psesaos this y fas shs puspose Of ,skisl
steps 70 secure = Rsiirnsd connection south
"a proposition which the papers have been
full of for some time past. .l.'
This requires should give briefly what
propose doing in the premises and my reas.
ons therefor. l have, carefully read all
have seen in the public press Ut Montana on
this subject, and find there is not single
point relating 10 practical methods Of sccur.
ing such connection upon which there ap-
pears to he anything like substantial har.
n,ony among the people. The point If dis.
cord seems to he the question If subsidy.
and on this question large proportion Of
the people are opposed to any subsidy what
ever, while its advocates seem to he divided
both as to its amount and application. Some
want 10 substitute the Northern Pacific ;
others the Central Pacific. others the Utah
Northern, and others local corporation
controlled by the people of Montana. As
to the necessity for speedy railroad connec-
ton there does not seem to be any difference
of opinion. If an ex ira session OF the Leg
islature were called now It could tlO nothing
Of practical nature, exccp. 10 provide by
law for Substituting some outside rOad, back>
ed by capital and influence, US any local
road Of our own would bc without this out.
side capital and without the right of way
across the public lands it could not get ito
capital from abroad, and our own unaided
resources could not build il.
The gentlemen who have been canvassing
the Territory on this question have, SO far
40 have seen. all committed themselves to
the formation Of domestic corporation, and
I presume this may bc taken as the plan that
will in the end lie adopted.
will suppose al extra session If the Leg.
islaturc called, n general railroad incorpor.
porati0n law passed under the act Of Com
grcss of last winter, . corporation duly
formed under the Territorial law thus
passed, a subsidy authorized TO he voted to
cid this corb 'ration and tina. this subsidy,
whether small or great, il voted. Docs any
one suppose that this without outside capital
and without right Of way would build .
roadI Your county bonds would not, IL
issued In such quantities as would suffice II
par value u build roa,c. be worth ten cents
on the dollar They would only be valuable
10 some outside company to build road
without subsidy, and which could afford to
bold on 10 them until the construction
Of the North Pacific would bring them
up TO par: A domeatic company would not
have this capital and would not, in my
judgment, be able to g. il from abroad for Z
road Of the length prop,sed, without the
right of way across public lands. I may
add tina, the temper Of the people Of Mon>
tsns At present seems 10 be SO excited ON
this railroad question, and everything re-
laiing thereto involved In 50 much uncer.
taiDty and doubt, that No fair Or temperate
discussion Of the merits of the several propo.
sitions submitted could he had should the
Legislature he convened ut this time. Know.
ing that it IL in just such states Ut public
mind that crude, reckless, buukruplinx
legislation ON railroad questions 10 always
secured. lam unwilling l,y any net Of
mine u run any risk of sucl, legislation
until some. necessary and ordinary safe
guards are thrown around this subsidy vOt>
iLg proposition. I have. in,rod uced q bill
granting right Of way scross public land. to
oil railroad companies incorporated under
our local laws and requiring a two thirds
vote OF the Taxpayers 10 authorize county
or municipal subsidy. This restriction in
some form or other IL found IN the c0nsti.
tutions or laws Of nearly all the States, and
while It furnishes full scope FIR oil legi,i.
mate railroad enterprises. IL will prevent
reckless expenditure Of public money Or
credit. may add that there 10 very
strong feeling In Congress in fsvorof tot.lly
prohibiting any Territory, or county or n,u.
nicip~liiy therein from lOsning its credit to
any railroad company for any purpose
whatever. Such prohibition was conls,n-
81 In the general Incorporation law reported
BY the Senate committee on Pacific railroads
lest winter, and which the united efforts Of
all the delegates could not At that time mod.
ify. have sent copy VI my bill " The
Herald for publication. I believe 1t will
become law, rs ii has leen agreed 10 by
the committee on railroads and canals in
tho hoass, and the general expression Ut
members ~ fur - l have heard 10 favorable.
When this bill psrses I will DO my level best
TO secure an appropriation for Nh extra
session Ut the legislature. This bill and the
one passed hst winter taken together. will.
1st-Givc the Territory power " form
domestic railroad Interpretations. ,
sd-Confer the right If way upon COR
porations 20 formed.
ad-Aushorise county and municipal aid
~ such eorrorssions. Hea 3d
4tls-lmpose such healthy restrictions up.
on such power Is will secure II against
abuse. .,. IS a.,,.r..,
have written very briefly on this subject.
Please publish what 10 written for infor. !
nation OF the peuple and >blige,
r Truly your friend,
.r WV H. CLAosrr.
To Nesss. Hedges, Wheeler, woolm.s |
md others. Helena, n. 7. 49,
IL SesWast 1eilpool M
men ~ Nsw Yosk Trihu.c. Jan. q.
WAsatxarox, January a, 1913.