National Republican., 1875-06-18

when, in fact, he occupied no such position.
E. @. Ingersoll was called In reference to GER
tain papers that were presented on the prelim-
mary examination.
L. J. Squires testified that the bids which were
put In were genuine bids and that the signatures
The court at the close of Mr.. SquIre's testimony
adjourned until this morning.
CITIZENS PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION.
A Letter from President Odsn Bowie, of the
Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Company
The Property Holders not yet Satisfied.
The Citizens Protective Association, of South
Washington, held an adjourned meeting last
evening at Island hall; Mr.. J. L. Kidwell, prest-
dent, in the chair, and Mr.. T. D. Wright secretary
DR.. Morgan, from the committee appointed to
wait on x-GoVernCr Bowie, president of the Bal
timOre and Potomac Railroad Company, pre-
sented the following reply from that gentleman:
BALTIMORE, June Il, 1875.
Or. James E. morgan, MeSsTs. Church, RtdLoeH
GENTLEMEN: At our interview, on last Thurs
day, took your written communication with a
aton Of its Contents dia not tf then Know Whssi
have since seen in the papers of your city, that
the meeting Of the Protective Association would
be held SO soon as tomorrow evening; and 1 re-
gret that what have now to say cannot be as
Satisfactory or conclusive as would wish, either
to your committee or myself For in q matter of
as much Importance as you represent this to be to
some Of your citizens, and as 1t certainly is to
the Potomac road, I would like to have had the
opinions and concurrent action not only Of those
officers Of tho company under whose sphere Of
duty It more properly comes but also Of our board
of directors. 1t has not been possible in the short
time intervening between our interview and the
meeting tomorrow night to obtain q meeting OF
our board. A majority Of our directors reside
out Of Baltimore, and some Of the city directors
have been, If they are not now, absent from the
city.
Some of the grievances complained of It is in
so with the least possible delay We viii stop the
unloading Of cars on the streets as soon as the
coal depet can be completed with expedition and
used. We will provide another and unobjection-
able place for unloading stock, and speedily re-
move the other nuisRnces recited. The trouble
aDSt shs 15aSES one not % sas Sly
action by my board before giving you q final
answer. An examination of our charter satisfies
as they are now laid, and as we have recently
placed them under the direction Of Lieutenant
Hoxie. When we placed the tracks according
satisfaction had been given to your citizens who
had previously complained; was therefore quite
taken by surprise when heard this complaint
The charter granted us by the Maryland Legis-
lature defines "that the road when completed
shall not be more than sixty-six feet wide, except
at or near its depots and stations where the width
may be made greater with as many tracks as the
president and directors may deem necessary"
the road into the District rectes the granting Of
the charter by the Maryland Legislature, and
hautlOrtLeQ" the company Ito exercise the same
powers, rights and privileges in the extension and
construction Of the said railroad into and within
the District as they may exercise under and by
intent OF their charter in the extension and con-
struction of any railroad within the State OF Mary
land, and shall be entitled to the same rights,
benefits and immunities in the use Of the said
their said charter" while this seems to me 20
establish legal right to the tracks now laid
SSwn y No. Sl5 TSa 70 III tS tnssS rg6Es
erty-holders, II the road can be successfully
worked without.
This is the question we have not had time to
solve, and upon which wish our board Of direct
ors to act when our proper officers shall have
carefully inquired into and reported upon 1t. 1t
bly, can, to maintain the friendly relations which
have existed between the citizens Of Washington
and our road since they first welcomed our en-.
maintained If we are arbitrary, unjust or too ex-
acting in our demands. Nor, on the other hand,
ties denied us By the citizens, we are unable sat
isfaotory to them TO transact our greatly increas
ing business. While two tracks may be all that
date our tTafac next year and yet, 1--WE surren-
der our rights to them now, they may not be re-
stored to rs when actually needed. The act OF
Congress eeding the Long bridge to US provides
that We "shall give other railroads the right to
pass over said bridge upon such reasonable terms
rs may be agreed upon or IS Congress may pre-
scribe" There are several roads into WGshing-
ton which have already approached rs upon the
subject Of depot accommodations.
We have recently erected will furnish ample 40.
cOmmodation to all such, provided We have sutti-
olent iSt access 70 ~; thueeo your eom
companies would be allowed to use the tracks and
depot. If the tracks are insufficient for our own
another company, no matter how much they may
be in excess Of our own needf I have dwelt at
length upon this point to convince the committee
that we are not disposed to hold on to rights we
think we possess in opposition to your wishes,
and perhaps interests, unless We nnd that it is
% absolutely essential We should; ! nave no doubt
YolYed viii lead to Q satisfactory and mutually
advantageous adjustment Of the only question
which now seems TO separate US. You Will, am
sure, admit there has not been time to decide so
important matter since II was first brought to
my attention, all Of our oficers having thought
that the action of the Commissioners had been sat-
factory to all parties; and would suggest that
II your Protective Association" cannot at their
meeting tomOTEGw night eOnfIpds T n view & Of me me
Successful operation Of the Potomac and other
contemplated roads, to allow the company to re-
now laid down, leaving thirty feet on either side
for driveWays, that the committee be further con-
tinusd, ana no extreme measures resorted to until
We see whether our Efforts at an adjustment can
not be successful.
hope need not assure you that do not seek
delay Tor any other purpose than that ex-
Thanking you, gentlemen Of the committee, for
your courteous reception on last Thursday, am
'M M. V Church SPOKE q the &c. of Congress grant.
ing the railroad charter, and BY which the COM
pGny professed to be entitled to 30 many rights.
their rights, and then cited another Of April 8,
1870 giving the authorities Of the District power
to park certain streets, and anSther Of June
| company TO the Long bridge. He could not find
any authority for the rights they claimed; and, As
between the president and the company on that
point, he hoped Q committee would be appointed
to hold 0 consultation with the Commissioners on
MT, F: A. Boswell said there was something In
the communication he did not understand. 1t
/ did not show whether It was issued from livery
the baltimore and Potomac Railroad Company.
Then IL was signed BY Oden Bowie. He was an
astute lawyer and knew that signature was
his directors should meet and disapproye Of the
contents Of the communication he could reply
TaasY sSd nSt iS bis ofhciai cSpssity. he did not
/ think It made much difference whether Mr..
Bowie consulted his directors or not. His tracks
are in the streets and he thinks they are entitled
to them and you cannot get them out, His con.
yietion was that the dtiEens should institute
damages against the road. he believed Gov.
ment, but he did not thiDk he possessed much in.
/ ausDce In the matter. He had thought these
pursue 1 different Course. he had visited Mr.
Merriek and he expressed the opinion that there
was not doubt but that they could institute .
ance, In laying down more tracks than the law
alloWr. and damages secured.
1.-THE courts refuse to hear them he would 20
with them to Congress and seek redress. 1t had
been suggested that he offer resolution suspend.
Ing all further action until they heard dennitely
Il from the directors Of the Baltimore and Potomsc
Il road. He would not offer II because he would
oppose IT, In regard to the action OF Lieut. Hoxie
/ hewould say that he believed the Commissioners
Il side with the citizens, and were opposed TO the
4 location Of the track where Il has been laid.
1 Or. Morgan wished 10 say decidedly and ex.
plicitly that Gov. Bowie was nistaEsn, n he IN.
1 derstood him or any member OF the committee 10
say that they desired any other cars 10 run over
| these tracks. There we're too many passing over
Il It already, and more now than the citizens
wanted. The Governor had fallen into another
error IN charging that he said that the employees
Of the road had been doing all possible to injure
the property Of the citizens Of South Washington.
| He said the road had, not Its employees.
DR.. Morgan then moved that the association
adjourn subject 10 the call Of the committee, and
20 await further answer from the president OF
4 tha Raltimore and Pot0maa Railroad OopOanV