Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-08-14
Mr. Dill'S Battle for the People.

Mr.. Dill's Battle for the People.
Mr. Dill, the Democratic candidate
for Governor, having been q member
of the House and Of the Senate fol
many years, and being announced to
the workingmen, shippers, and trans
porters of Pennsylvania as an Anti
corporation Candidate, the following
is presented as brief record of his
Legislative struggle In behalf of the
People against the Pennsylvania Rail
road Company and kindred corpora
tons:
Mr.. Dill being a member of the
House OF Representatives voted for
the Nine Million Steal-a bill pro-
posing to take nine million dollars
from the securities in the sinking
fund for the benefit of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company and auxl-
iary corporations.-See House Jour
nal of 1870, page 81.
At the same session bill was pre-
sented to authorize railroad compa-
MES to lease or become lessees. and
to make contracts with other railroad
companies, corporations, and parties.
Under its provisions gigantic combi-
nations took life, and by merger and
consolidation of corporations, indi-
vidual enterprise was crushed Mr..
Dill voted AYE. See House Jour
nal of 1870, page 335.
The act to incorporate the now
notorious Milford and Matamoras
Railway 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 introduced - diverting
$4,000 paid annually by the Erie
Railway Company from the State
Treasury to the treasury of the Mil
ford and Matamoras Railway Com
pany-Mr Dill voted AYE" See
House Journal of 1870, page 1119.
This naked theft of $4,000 annu-
ally from the State Treasury having
been detected and brought to the at
tention of the Executive, Governor
Geary, at the session of 1872, by a
special message recommended a re-
peal of the law A bill for that pur-
pose having been introduced, Mr..
Dill, then Senator, voted mo. -
See Senate Journal of 1872, pages
795, 796.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany desiring sort of Credit Mo
bilier Charter to enable it to operate
its Western leased lines, an Act was
introduced to incorporate the Penn
sylvania 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.
Ar. Billingfelt, Senator from Ian
caster, having offered the following
resolution, viz: - ResolUed, That the
Committee on Railroads be instruct
ed to report bill fixing the maxi
mum rates of freight and fare to be
charged by all railroad companies in
this Commonwealth a motion was
made to indefinitely postpone the
resolution. Upon which motion Mr..
Dill voted AYE" See Legislative
Journal of 1871, page S41.
Upon the Act to incorporate the
infamous South Improvement Com
pany, which corporation was the pre-
cursor 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.. Gowai1 ac-
quired control of the coal fields of
Schuylkill county, being before the
Senate, Mr.. Biliingfelt offered 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 or mining
company existing under the laws of
this State to subscribe for, or pur-
chase, or guarantee the bonds of the
company hereby Incorporated" Mr..
Billingfelt's amendment having pre-
vailed, and being fatal to the purpose
of Mr.. Gowan, the vote was, on mo
ton of Mr.. Dill, reconsidered, and
the original section reinserted. See
Legislative 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
%, 1874 extending the provisions
of said Act to embrace within the
provisions of the same the transpor-
tation of oil and natural gas by means
of pipe lines, Mr.. Dill made a dila-
tory motion to commit the bill to the
Committee on Finance See Senate
Journal of 1875, page s39. The bill
having been again reported on March
3, 1875. was defeated on March 4,
1875. Mr.. Dill poDGED on the call of
yeas and nays.
A bill having been introduced to
authorize and direct the Attorney
General, upon complaint made by
parties whose interests are thereby
affected. to institute proceeding &C