Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-10-02

charter. on April ?. 1870. five DAYS before the
adjournment, read in place the obnoxious sup
pIement. with the snake concealed so ingeni-
ouslv away down in the fourth and lass section.
and had it ra;Iroedrd through the House under
4 Suspension of the rules: how that the journal
Of the senate showed -he bill 20 have been re-
ported without amendment, and That no record
of its having been-a,asirdei or passed the Sen
ate could be found. but that an entry ia the
House Journal made IL appear To have been re-
t.rued from the Senate with amendment"
which was concurred H. Tue Senate had no
record of such amendment, nor could he ascer-
tain what the amendment was The Senator,
continuing, spoke as follows:
s.But there are those who allege injustice to
the legislature that this bill never tiid pass in
the shape in which 1t is now found. but that
the fourth section was attached after the others
had been agreed to by both Houses, and the
journal of the House fixed up accordingly. Se
this as IL NAV. / have no means of proving or
disproving such allegations. know only this,
there is a most singular want of everything that
might show the bill to have been properly con-
sidered. IL Is well known that copies OF all
bills are preserved BY both Houses, but this Is
an exception. / have carefully examined the
flies on both Sides and had others to assist me
who were more familiar with the arrangement
of the papers, but we have been unable to ind
ANYTHING in relation to this bill, though the
numbers preceding and succeeding are there,
and everything else that We had occasion 10
look for. The tracks are well covered lhe
parties who managed this brilliant financial
scheme knew what they were doing, and they
left no documentary telltales behind, to rise up
and plague them afterward-"
Then after quoting the obnoxious section he
continues:
There is the little joker-part of an act en-
titled simply n supplement TO the NJ lord and
NJ. And in this
connection want to call the attention Of the
Senate to section s, article XI., Of the eonsii-
tuition OF Pennsylvania, W hich provides that no
bill shall be passed by the Legislature contain
ing more than one subject, which shall be
clearly expressed in the title, except appropTia-
tion bills
Just how far this title, namely, a supple
ment to the Milford and Matamoras Railroad
Company clearly expresses the object OF the
act, others can determine aud govern their no.
tions Of rights vrsting under the bill accord
iugly.
but. sir, there is a further history in rela-
tion to this matter. Tne bill after its supposed
passage was hurried to the Secretary's olice,
and their the champion OF the measure repre-
sented that his vile was dangerously i'll; that
he had to get home that nigh; that II Was
very i'm portant for him to get the supplement
signed at once, SO that he might pay the en-
rollment tax, and take certified copies home
with him The bill was registered and he was
directed 70 take il to the Secretary of the CON-
monwealth for examination, out instead of do
lag so, he took it directly to the Governor, aud
by making similar appeals aud representations
in relation to sickness in his family, and mis-
representing the character OF the bill, be pro
cured the Executives signature.
.'Aud here let me remark upon somewhat
remarkable coincidence. When it vas neces-
sary to have this bill signed there was some
body sick. When this repeating act was TO
he erad bv the SapAfe COInIllrreP IL
put off from time to time because somebody
was alleged 20 be sick, and notice in looking
over the record, that when IL came Cp in order
in the other branch of the Assembly, the effort
was made to prevent its consideration because
again somebody was sick. IL seems in some
way to be connected with great deal OF sick
ness, enough 10 almost occasion suspicion as
TO the character OF the malady.
"But to return more particularly to the
history of the matter, some time in April,
1870, application was made to the Gov
ernor for letters patent, which he refused to
grant on account OF the popularity of the
measure, and the manner in which his sigma
ture was obtained, aud not until the 18th Of
July, 1871 were letters patent granted under
tie act TO incorporate the Milford and NatamO-
ras Railroad Company, but no reference what
ever is made therein TO the supplement- which
proposes to give this nice little annuity of ten
thousand dollars to the Company for the term
of ninety-nine years"
After quoting the language of Gov. Gelry's
messages recommending the repeal the Senator
had read an article from Harrisburg cores
poudent to the Philadelphia Inquirer of March
IS, giving a complete expose OF the matter, and
concluded as follows:
'The supplement is also In conflict with that
portion of the fifth section of the eleventh ar
ticle of the Constitution. which provides That
the credit of the Commonwealth shall not in
any manner or event be pledged or loaned to
individual cOmDlny. CORPORATION aSSCf-
ciarion.' Yet in this act the credit Of the Com
monwealtL. to the extent of $1,000 annually,
for the period of niuety-niDe years, Is loaned
or given 10 this proposed Milford and Matamoras
Railroad Company, corporation created og
the Legislature OF the State.
snow, the only allegation that | have heard
against the repeal of this Odius section, with
reference to the question of vested rights. To
that have only 10 answer in a few words II
this Milford and Matamoras Railroad Company
have any vested rights to this annuity, II re-
ceiyes them either by the letters patent or the
supplement to It's charter. But IL cannot get
such rights from the letteTs patent, for no
reference whatever is made therein To the
provisions of the supplement, and it caunot
ret them from the latter, for that IS in cOn-
flict with the Constitution, aud, Therefore,
void But even If il should be constt-
tutional, its passage aud approval Was secured
BY trickery and misreprese atatiOn, and II Is
therefore not entitled to that consideration due
TO honest and proper legislation.
''Yet upon a call of the yeas and nays, with
full understanding of all the facts, Mr.. Dill
voled against the repeal
when MIR. Dill next appears before the foot
lights in the character of reforner, let him
explain this vote, aad then Will call his
attention TO other like indiscret!ons."
FINANCIAL FOLLY.