The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-08-15
MIR. DIPS Battle for the People

Mr.. Dill, the Democratic candidate
for Governor, having been a member
of the House and of the Senate for
many years, and being announced to
the worltingmen, shippers, and trans
porters of Pennsylvania as an Anti
corporation candidate, the following is
presented as a brief record of his leg
islative struggle in behalf of the peo-
pie against the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company, and kindred organizations |:
Mr.. Dill being member of the
House of Representative voted for the
nine million steal-a bill proposing to
take nine million dollars from the Sc
curities in the sinking fund for the
benefit of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company and auxiliary corporations.
See House Journal of 1870, page 81.
At the same session bill was pre-
sented to authorize railroad companies
to lease or become lesees, and to make
contracts with other railroad compan-
les, corporations and parties. Under
its provisions gigantic combinations
took life, and by merger and consoli-
dation of corporations, individual en-
terprise was crushed. Mr.. Dill voted
"Aye."-See House Journal of 1870,
page 1886.
The Act to incorporate the now no
torious Milford and Matamoras Rail-
way Company being pending, Mr..
Dill voted "Aye." See House Jour-
nal of 1870, page 725.
A supplement to the Milford and
Matamoras Railway bill having after
ward been Notwithstanding So,
600 paid annually by the Erie Railway
Company from the State treasury to
the treasury of the Milford and Mata-
moras Railway Company. Mr.. Dill
voted faye" See House Journal of
1870, page 1119.
This naked theft of $4,000 annually
from the State treasury having been
detected and brought to the attention
of the Executive, Governor Geary, at
the session of 1872, by special message
recommended "a repeal Of the law. A
bill for that purpose having been intro
duced, Mr.. Dill, then Senator, voted
mo" See Senate Journal of 1872,
pages 795, 1856.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany desiring sort of Credit Mobiliel
Charter to enable it to operate its Wes-
tern leased lines, an Act was in
troduced to incorporate the Fennsyl-
vania Company. This Act was the
forerunner of a series of bills passed
during the session of 1871 and 1872 in
the interest of associated capital, and
| in hostility to the interests of the
working man and the business COM
munity. Mr.. Dill voted =" Aye"
See House Journal of 1870, page 9S3.
Mr.. Billingfelt, Senator from Ian
caster, having offered the following
resolution, viz: ResoIUed, That the
Committee on Railroads be instructed
to report bill fixing the maximum
rates of freight and fare to be charged
by all railroad companies in this Com
monwealth," motion was made to
Indefinitely postpone the resolution
Upon which motion Mr.. Dill voted
"Aye.n See Legislative Journal OF
1871, page S4l.
Upon the Act to incorporate the in
famous South Improvement Company
which corporation was the precursor OF
the Standard Oil Company, Mr.. Dill
voted "Aye." See Senate Journal Of
1871, page 1918.
The Act to incorporate the Laurel
Run Improvement Company, after,
ward the Reading Coal and Iron COM
pany, under which Mr.. Billingfelt of.
fered an amendment which destroyed
the effect of the vital clause of the
bill. This clause was as follows: "And
it shall be lawful for any railroad OF
mining company existing under the
laws of this State to subscribe for OF
purchase, or guarantee the bonds OF
the company hereby incorporated"
Mr.. Billingfelt's amendment having
prevailed, and being fatal to the pur.
pose of Mr.. Gowan, the vote was, on
motion of Mr.. Dill, reconsidered, and
the original section inserted. See Leg.
islative Journal of 1871, page 1922.
The original Free Pipe Bill" hav.
ing been introduced under the title OF
"a Supplement to the Act of April
20, 1874" extending the provisions o.
said Act to embrace within the pro
visions of the same the transportation
of Oil and natural gas 10y means of PIPE
lines, Mr.. Dill made dilatory motion
to commit the bill to the Committee
on Finance. See Senate Journal O.
1875, page $3.50. The bill having beer
again reported on March 8, 1875, was
defeated on March 4, 1875. Mr.. Dill
DoDGED on the call of yeas and nays
| A bill having been introduced to au
thoriZe and direct the Attorney Gen
eral, upon complaint made by partie
whose interests are thereby affected, t,
institute proceedings according to Law
against corporations alleged to hav,
violated duties imposed upon them b,
law, Mr.. Dill voted mo" See Hous
Journal of 1870, page 1912.
A bill having been introduced en-
| titled HAn Act to nreyent pambIin,