The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-05
THE PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE.

REPORT BIZ THE COMMITTEE ON RAILROADS ON
THE sUsoUEHANNA RIOT AT THE ERIE RAIL-
wAY-cPPosrr1oN TO THE susouEHANNA BOOM
COMPANY.
HARRISBURG, Feb. l. 1876.
At the last session OF the Pennsylvania LegIs-
lature the Committee on Railroads IN the. senate
was instructed to inquire into the cause of the
riot at Susquehanna depot, on the line Of the Erie
Railway, and report what II any, legislation Is
cxpedient and to indemnify the State for the ex-
penses sustained and prevent q recurrence OF
similar difficulties. To-day the committee re-
ported that they had made full investigation
and come to the conclusion that the men
employed In the railroad car shops who committed
the acts Of violence on tho 25th OF March, 1874,
were at fault; that in no view can the Erie Rail-
way Company be made responsible for the ex-
penses incurred BY the State Tor DO so would be
to sanction By public authority the right to re-
dress grievances BY riot and breach of the peace.
The merits OF The controversy between the com.
pany and the men have nothing to do with the
question. The act Of the men was unlawful It
was In defiance OF the public authority. and It was
pl0y all necessary force TO protect property and
preserve the peace. The company did not deem
cost the State nearly $1,000.
THE sUsQUEHANNA BOOM ACT.
Inc COmDlttee gu INC Judiciary In tho HOUSE
to-day reported negatively tbs bill providing for
q repeal OF the supplement- to the Susquehauna
Boom act, which nxes the rates OF tile boomage,
rafting and wedgtng at 81 Is per 1000 feet. The
committee claim that this action IS IN accordance
with an opinion given by the Attorney General oil
the State. who nolds that the proposed repeal OF
the special act would virtually amount to an
amendment to the original charter OF she corpora
ton. and that such an amendment Of q SPECIAL act
IL positively prohibited by the constitution OF
Pennsylvania. The SusQuehanna Boom CON-
pany was Incorporated In lS4a and It's
immense boom Is located near williamsport. the
original charter oil the company authorized
charge OF nity cents for boomage Of logs per 1000
feet. At the commencement OF tho war the char
ter was amended TO allow an extra charge OF forty
cents per 1000 Tor rafting and wedging, and In
1866 the company had q further supplement to
their charter passed nv the Legislature. increasing
the rate Of bo0mage thirty-ive cents. The last
advance was procured on represent atoms that the
company required 1t TO complete large dam
necessary to the profitable prosecution OF It's
work. me umDermen agreed not to oppose the
legislation, with the understanding That as soon
as the dam had paid itself $l60,OCO the Boom
Company should reduce the rate to Its previous
standard. The enterprise mas Melted the CON-
pany over ST. 000 900, ana yet the Old charges are
de nlanded. The umbermen are making strenu-
Gus efforts TO secure such Legislation as will COM
pei the corporation to put the rate down to nifty
cents per 1000 ieet. II tine DILL prepared by the
lumbermen Is unconstitutional, as the Attorney
General thinks, another meeting viii be held.
Great interest Is shown In the pl opposed reduction
OF the ooomage rates by New York and Pennsy-
vania lumpermen, who are well represented here.