The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-04-01

DllStS Ill WHICH MI. oifc 10 CuShSSt, puI
only such as are generally known. Since
1919, Mr.. Tome has been continuously
President of the Baltimore and Susque-
hanna Steam Company, and is stock
holder and director in the Conowingo
Bridge Company. He is a stakeholder and
director in the Phila., vii. & Bait. Rail-
road Company, and large stakeholder in
the Delaware Railroad Company. He is
also largely interested in the Port Deposit
and Columbia Railroad, in which he is
director. and in the Susquehanna and Tide
Water Canal Company, and is the second
largest holder of stock in the Ridley Park
Association, whose lands are located on
the line of the Phila., Viii. & Bait. Road
near Chester, Pennsylvania. Through his
enterprise in connection with Messrs. J. j.
IIeckart, Robt. r.. Nandiver and Edwin
Wilmer, the outlet lock on the Susque-
hanna and Tide Water Canal at Bells
Ferry, or Lapdum, was constructed, thus
enabling canal boats to reach Port Deposit
without being compelled to go first to
lIavre de Grace.
The interest that Mr. Tome has always
taken in the business of the town of Port
Deposit led its citizens to show their appre-
citation of it, by electing him to the Office
Town Commissioner for more than twenty
years, during which time he was frequently
President of the Board. Until the COM
mencement of the war Mr.. Tome had been
too much engaged in business and in the
management of his private affairs, to be
allured by the Inducements of political
preferment. He had no time, and possibly
no taste for politics, but when the union of
the States was threatened, he was ready to
spend time and money in its defense and
maintenance. In recognition Of his firm
Union principles, as well as of his superior
business qualifications, he was elected by
/ the Union party of Cecil county to the
! Senate of Maryland, in the Fall of 1868,
/ taking his seat in January following. At
! this session of 1864, Archibald Sterling,
Esq, of Baltimore, the present United
States District Attorney for Maryland, was
/ Chairman of the Finance Committee of
the Senate, on which committee Mr.. Tome
/ held the second place, VIM. j. Jones, Esq,
of this county, being leading member of
/ the House, and Chairman of the Commit
tee on Ways and Means. These three gen
/ tlemen took the lead in the financial legis-
/ lation of the session, and which bore very
clearly the marks Of Mr.. Tones ability as
a tinancier. Although it was his first SEES
! -, h.
thoroughness of knowledge which few of
the oldest members had acquired He
quickly perceived the fact that the sinking
fund, which had been organized in the
early history of the States financial en-
barrassment, had outiived the day of its
usefulness, and that the practice of reissu-
ing to the credit of this fund, every bond
of the State which was redeemed, was cum
bersome and Objectionable, and would in
time, create fund useless for all practical
purposes, and which was calculated to ex-
cite the cupidity of those who might have
designs upon the public treasury. Mr..
Jones embodied this policy in an act passed
at that session. By this act the State was
relieved of the necessity of providing in
telest on about four and one half millions
Of dollars, the State tax was thereby re-
duced to five cents on the hundred dollars,
while the financial condition of the State
remained sound and healthy.
This legislation, as well as other no less
important to the State, established very
enviable reputation for MIR. Tome while in
the Senate, and in which he remained until
1867. The business of legislation developed
the fact, that he was more than a practical
or merely business financier, that he had
studied and mastered the theory of finance,
and his senatorial colleagues, as well as the
business men of the House, found in him a
valuable and useful member, whose opin-
ions carried unusual weight. His strict
personal integrity, and unwavering opposi-
ton to every thing in the shape of legisla-
tive corruption, were universally acknowl-
! edged and it was only necessary for him
to suspect, that improper means were being
used to secure the passage of a measure, to
beget his active opposition to it. Although
not by practice 4 speaker, yet Mr.. Tome,
| while in the Senate, always expressed his
views on important measures, in a very
direct and forcible manner, and was re-
markable for the clearness of his state
ments, and the soundness of his judgment,
always comma nding marked attention both
in committee, and in the Senate Chamber.
| This was particularly exhibited in one
! instance related to me by member of the
Senate of 1864. A proposition was pend
/ ing before the Senate, to direct the invest
/ ment of surplus revenue for the sinking
! fund in United States bonds, instead of
t State stock Mr.. Tome, as most of the
members of the Senate, had great conf
dence in these bonds and the loyal senti-
ment of the majority of the body caused
strong feeling for the measure. 1t was
| about to pass, when Mr.. Tome, who had
considered the subject very carefully, rose,
and spoke about five minutes, stating his
points so clearly and strikingly, that the
opinion of the Senate was gained at once,
and the measure to compel such invest
ment overwhelmingly defeated and the act
passed making it only allowable to do so.
leading member of the Senate remarked
afterwards to Mr.. Tome, that - always
"knew you had capital good sense, but |
"had no idea you could speak so admirably.
- y our remarks were as logical as a syllo-
"gism, and the demonstration as clear as
ga mathematical one" While in the Sen
ate, Mr.. Tones business Judgment in re-
lation to the railroad bridge at Perryville,
served good purpose. In 1853, the Legis
lature had granted charter to the Phila.,
vii. & Bait. Railroad Company to build a
bridge across the Susquehanna river at
Perryvile. For five years, Mr.. Tome, with
others, had resisted the passage of this
bill, and the bridge fights y had become
notorious as early as 1s47, in which year
the champion members of the Leg islature
who opposed the project, were Hiram
. ar In