Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-02-24

~ Oaio Oubpa2y iuebhhoshSH "AsA "As~
interest In 1t.
OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDED oHARrER
At this, as at every other stage of the
proceedings affecting the charter, the only
opposition to the granting of the amend
ments asked for came directly from or was
fostered and directed by the Philsdelphis,
Wilmington l. Baltimore Railroad Com
pany, the agents of which persist
emily represented that Colonel MoComb
was trying to get privileges granted
him with a view to selling them out
to them, while ct that very time,
and especially at the time when the agents
of that company concocted the resolutions
passed by the House last Friday. the
Philadelphia, Wilmington q Baltimore
people were actually in negotiation them
selves to sell out to the Baltimore Ohio
company, aad In that way escape the
danger OF an opposition which they knew
contemplated new road which would be
q rival to them. There never>was more
sudscious game of bluff played by the
most inveterate of poker players, and the
Delaware Legislature was beaten by
1t and threw away Its chance
of securing for our people
competing line of railway by the over
smartness and timidity which usually char
acterize ignorance and lttle-mindedness.
Ii the Legislature had passed this pending
bill last week as 1t came from the Senate
the Baltimore 4 Ohio road would have
been committed beyond recall to the
scheme, and the surveyors would even
now have been on the line. They were,
however, merely verbally committed; and,
as oil they we're after WAS road from
Baltimore to Philadelphia, the tom ptation
which the company that was apparently
fighting them here at home, was holding
out to them elsewhere was too great in
view of the difficulties it had been able to
apparently throw iu the way of their snc-
cess bY their own plan.
SIGNS OF THE CHANGE OF PLAN.
On Thursday Mr. Robert Garrett sent
repeated kilograms to Col. MoOomb asking
him TO go to New York for important con-
sultation. On Friday Col McComb went
and was followed next day at his request
by Mr.. William NJ. Candy, President of
the Delaware Western, and Mr.. Bates his
counsel Az soon as he saw Col. McOomb
Mr.. Garrett laid before him the nego-
tiations with Mr.. Thayer and the
other leading stockholders of the
Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore
| road residing In Boston; begun at their
solicitation through Mr.. Pratt of Balti.
more, wee president of the company, for
the sale of controlling interest in the
road to pool headed by Mr.. jay
| Gould, in which the Baltimore & Ohio
was one of the parties. Colonel McOomh
instantly refused to have anything to
do with the scheme and said be was
bound in good faith to his friends
and counsel and to the Delaware Legisls.
ture not to enter into any such scheme.
He had given assurances that the scheme
was bona Jide one, and he would take nc
part in any thing to supersede it. Mr.
Garrett snid he would withdraw from the
arrangement previously made, and Offered
Col. McOomb as big share in the new
combination as he had had in the old
Col McOomb insisted that Mr.
Garrett had no right to withdraw
Mr.. Garrett persisted in his design o.
Withdrawing and gave us one OF hi
reasons the delay in granting charter fo
a road which they could not finish for
year, white the old road was ready fo
their instant use. Col MoComb wa
unable to overcome the objection, but b,
resisted with such energy that he com
pollrd Il halt in the proceedings. Mean
While those representing the p. w. Il b
@ero importunate in pressing the sal
of their controlling interest and tn
sch' me would have been consummated b.
Saturday noon had not Col McOoml
fought it with oil his might and beef
splendidiy backed up by Mr.. Vanderbilt
who must honorsbly stood by him in in
si5tnH on the Carrying out OF the origina
agreement.
HALT CALLED.
Col McComb's determination was s.
effective that up to 3 O'Clock Saturda
nothing was accomplished toward break
ing the old agreement and making ne,
one. Ca Saturday after 3 ococ
Mr.. Garrett gave assurance Of ed
herring to the agreement original
made and az Messrs CANDY an
Bates left New York, Mr. Garrett repeate
in their presence to Col. McOomb
promise he had previously made to go {
Dover next Wednesday to urge the pas
sage of the peuding bill. They left Ne,
, York fully assured that the new negotia,io
was broken up, and that the supper
promised them would be given at ID ave
next Wednesday.
IMPORTANT TELEGRAM-M COMB S AND van
, DERBILT's POSITION.
On Saturday, while in New York, Co
} McUomb sent tue following dispatch t
, the Philadelphia capitalist already mer
toned as associated with him In til
matter:
a NEW YORK, Feb. 1910 a. MI met Have
, and Garrett at 8 last evening. Their propt
| EltiOn verbal mt wrlttnn no | ut.
; 1t should have been, and is to this effect
Haven and Garrett are to buy control of stoc
' Of p, W Il Il. Mt 10, putting us all in, and |
I working this market are to put it to 100-w
s reaping the profit and taking chances in I'll
future for management of the property whic
. they are to get with the contrtl OF the stool
now; Could | understand, to be benin
them. 1t is pure, bald speculation, nothin
else. Later III the evening called on NJ
/ Vanderbilt and spent two hours with hin
| giving him what | understand to be vol
q views Az well az my own which he entire
a agrees with.
!, lie de.llues to go into the speculation an
y says he went into the project with you an
: me in the most perfect good faith to bull
e the road AZ an investment believing 1t to |
y one of the very best railroad openings no
d unoccupied; that Garrett ID committed to ,
r and cannot honorably stop.
:. He says, which | confirm, that he went
A with these parties himself, you and /, wit
il the understanding that Garrett or the Penn
- sylvaula should have a chance to come int
: and participate with u.s. He lis willing now
t stand to that agreement, to build with bus
e ness contract with either b. Il o. or Pennsy
r vania, or ID willing to go on and build withol
either and s further willing to build throug
to New York If that should become necessar
In my first interview yesterday with Care
% made the point you put to me in your la
"a dispatch yesterday viz: NV position befo,
d the Delaware Legislature and our people
/, and told Garrett and Haven distinctly thu
!. they could not offer mo Involvement larl
enough to make me do an act th
would SAVIOR of dishonor or stulti
e my pledge to our people; tn
IL IL the project fell through my recoI
E, should stand clear and unsullied before IL
Il associates and the people of my State Aft
If seeing MIR. vanderbilt, we met last night at
o and began my statement to Garrett al
u Haven BY repeating this position and said
Il them, did not want any offer like what tn,
= mad nrSt made, repeated to me, to wit til
= should be taken care of if
e would JOIN them, | said no ca
ID can be taken of me other than VIII
Il Mr. - Or Mr.. vanderbilt accept as a II
n aud honorable Identification and partlcipatio
\, ! repeated what l have here given YOU as NJ
4, NanderblltH views and interests, and end,
by absolutely refusing to be parties to the
~ specializing scheme. Garrett teegraphed la
TX last night for Cassatt II Roberts to come oy
e, this morning. My impression is they will II
or come and will not JON them. You can fiji
Id out whether either of them has left for Ne
" York.
q | am to meet Mr.. Vanderbilt at - tod
- and would like your advice and COUNSEL an
X what more | shall say to him and the
Do people, though l would prefer you shou
communicate your views direct to Garrett III