The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-02-07

region, so, 600 tons only being mined there
aud sent to market, while in 1871 Clearfeld
mined and sent out ,374 900 tons. In 1873
the receipts Of the Retailing Railroad Company
for transportation Of coal was sn,OOO,OOO,
which was reduced ia 1876 to $500, 900 aud
in 1877 it was 81, 500, 900, decrease oinearly
$1,000 600 in the trade OF that company, aud
yet it is alleged that the decrease in the price
we received for tonnage was owing to pollll'
cal mismanagoment. Now, Sir, ! desire the
testimony of these gentlemen who control the
mining interests of Allegauy, nearly all OF
whom reside in the North and believe are
opposed TO me politically, and If these gentle
men say we have not managed the work with
view to the best interest Of the trade and
canal we are willing to suffer public censuge.
| They will, | am sure, concur in the statement
that during 1871 the Maryland coal-helds sui
fered the seyerest season known in the history
of that industry, and the canal company en-
deavored, in view of this, by reducing the
tolls, to do all in its power to retain and pro
tect its trade The act of 1873, the passage
Of which / advocated on this floor, was neces'
sary, but they charge It was detrimental to
the interest of the bOndholders by placing the
canal in danger Of being sold in default OF
the payment of interest to the great injury OF
the bondholders of 1874. Tofully understand
. Nuie part Oh the case we must lobh bhNh ~
| 1871 when our troubles commenced by the
labor strikes and the conflict with the Balu'
more and Ohio railroad, correspondence con.
corning which was submitted TO this General
Assembly. When the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad endeayOred TO obtain an unfair pro-
portion OF the coal trade and il was decided
that we should maintain our trade at what
I ever cost, and when, about the close OF the
season in November, 1877, the great flood in
the Potomac came aud swept the canal from
/ Cumberland to Georgetown, leaving scarcely
one mile upinjured, II found US with but a few
thousand dollars in the treasury and with no
credit anywhere in the country.
| The president aud directors determined 1t
shonld be restored, but when we went to the
/ coal companies, who did business over the
| line, they would not advance dollar, unless
we as individuals Endorsed and became re-
sponsible, and every dollar OF the officers Of
the company was placed in jeopardy. We
| then determined to come before the Legisla,
ture as last resort aud ask the State to waive
her lieu TO enable us to sell these bonds and
put the work in n condition TO produce Il net
revenue in the future Now, in procuring
that legislation, there was gentleman then
hanging around the halls of legislation here.
! will name him-Mr. John p. Poe, now one
Of the counsel ia this case in the interest Of
the bondhOldcrs sand knowing his familiarity
with this matter, We employed him as coun.
sci, to assist in preparing the bill and memo
rial to the Legislature, stating the reasons for
the legislation desired. He Mr., Poe drew
up that memorial, which will be found in the
Senate documents of 1873.
Mr.. German here read from the memorial
in which Mr.. Poe sets forth that the passage
of the act Of 1878 was not question of Dor
Al
company, but n vital question of raising
means TO put the work in condition TO earn
any Terenue whatever aud the practical result
Of the rejection Of the act would be either to
compel the company TO sell its bonds at most
disastrous rates or suffer the canal TO 90 to
decay and ruin.
Mr.. German then continued This me.
mortal, as stated, was drawn up by Mr.. Poe
aud now, as counsel for the bOndhoders, he
attacks the validity OF tho bonds issued by
reason Of ii. This may be perfectly profes.
sional-that do not know-but such as are
not Of the profession and take an honest view
OF matters would hardly indorse the attorney
of the canal company who drew this act as a
principal mover in the attack upon its valid.
ity. 1t may be asked il the present manage.
ment have paid to the bgndholders more than
they received for twenty years previously,
Why this attack Ny impression is that it
will appear upon investigation that there is
yet another-not yet made public-reason for
1t. These gentlemen, who now attempt to
get possession Of this work, in 1867, by mis-.
representing the management Of the canal
and by other means, induced the General As.
sembly to pass an act placing the canal in
their hands; | mean Messrs. Poe and John
son. but when it came to the annual meeting
OF the Board of Public Works, Gov. Swami,
Treasurer Fowler and Comptroller Leonard,
or Jump, ! forget which, they refused To
transfer Maryland's work TO few creditors
and declined to execute the law. Your con.
sututional convention shortly aiterward met
and, what ] suppose was never done before
inserted provision repeating this very act
and thus these gentlemen were fooled ia their
attempt to take the work IN which you have so
many millions. They then contracted with
Virginia 10 represent her interest and secured
from the canal company large sum of
money, which they claimed to be due her.
They come again to the Legislature and ask
the passage Of an act to make the State a
party to the suit instituted by Virginia aud |.
Mr. Corcoran. But the cause Of this suit
against the canal may be found in n case pend
ing elsewhere.
Mr.. German then stated that the Msssrs.
Poe and johnson had been employed By the |.
State of Virginia to prosecute her claims /
against the canal company and having done
so they had by their contract which was n
matter of public record, claimed and retained I
illegal fees amounting to over S227, 900; that
the State of Virginia had since brought suit
against these gentlemen TO recover SlG0, ZOO |
OF the amount retained as funds on the ground
as claimed by the attorney general of Virginia |
that they had not properly settled their &C. /
count with the State and had not complied |
with their contract 10 place the canal ia the |
hands Of Il receiver. Mr.. German concluded |
by asking reference OF the matter to the |
joint committee Of tho Legislature under sec. /
ton 3, article u, of the constitution.