Morning journal and courier., 1883-04-19
The Hart6Ord and Harlem.

Action in the House-A Special Charter
 Refussd-Permtttea to Pass Through
 New Britain as Requestsds-A Lively
 Debate. es5 s
 The consideration of the special charter of the Hartford and Harlem Railroad company and the substitute resolution giving them power to change their layout at New. Britain was down as the special order of the House for yesterday at II o'clock. When the mat ter was called up MT. Simonds, of Canton, chairman of the Railroad. d.committee, substi- tuted the following as substitute for the original report of the committee: E.
 Whereas, it is represented to this Assembly that railroad company, named Che Hartford and Harlem Railroad company, is duly form ed and organized under the general railroad laws of this State; that it's line of railtoad will, when built, pass through the town of New Britain and that 1t is desired to change the location of said proposed line of railroad; now
 Resolved by this Assembly:
 That unless it shall appear that the said Hartford and Harlem Railroad company is not duly formed and organized, then it's pro posed line of railroad, when built, shall in lieu of any location previously made-snb- feet to approval of it's new layout by the railroad commissioners-psss through the corporate limits of the city of New Britain, to or across the line of the New York and New England Railroad company at some point west of Main street.
 MT. Cowles, of Norwulk thought that this recognized the Hartford and Harlem as le- gal organization, and he offered the follow ing amendment: ' ttBut nothing contained in this resolution shall be construed to validate any defect in the organization of said alleged Hart ford and Harlem Railroad company.
 MT. SiMonds opposed the motion as un- necessary. He would not admit that either the substitute or the original resolution rec ognized the Hartford and Harlem as legally existing. MT. Lockwood, of Bridgeport, thought it did and favored the amendment Mir. Mclean, of Simsbury, said the amend ment was in the nature of black flag and capitalists would not touch it. Mir. Perry, Hartford, did not like the repeated change of operations on the part of the peti ttoners, and was inclined to look upon 1t with suspicion. He favored the bill the eom- mittee first reported rather than the substi- ute. MT. Davis of Haddam, said that the substitute was in the interest of the thriving little city of New Britain, and their rights should be regarded. He criticised the amend ment as being in the interest of the Olmstead parallel, and hoped it would be voted down. Messrs. Towne, of Plainvilie, and Bradley, of Orange, did not see that the Hartford and Harlem company were recognized as legal organization in the substitute resolution, and were opposed to the amendment. Mir. Sim onds reiterated his statement that the substi. tute did not recognize the Hartford and Har- lem as a legal body.
 On vote MT. CowIes' amendment was lost, and the substitute resolution submitted by MT. Simonds passed.
 The House then took up the bill in the na- ture of special charter, which the commit tee reported, but refused to make any recom- mendation for it's disposal, because of insufi- cient time for the hearing. A motion to table was lost. Mir. Cowles of Norwalk moved to indefinitely postpone the resolution and his motion was endorsed by Mir. Lock wood. MT. Perry favored the motion be- cause the resolution was not properly re- ported from the committee, but simply handed in without any recommendation. MT. Bradley of Orange took the opposite view. He thought the resolution reported in due form. In order to give the new corporation fair chance he was in favor of tabling this resolution till the Senate had acted on the otEer one just passed. He moved to post pone the debate till next Wednesday at II o'clock, and after 8 little talk his motion was carried.
 Subsequently the resolution was recalled, and Mir. Cowles moved to continue to the next session. MT. Simonds said that what ever his personal preference may be he could not vote to pass this resolution in view of the incomplete hearings, because it was prac- tically special charter for the Hartford and Harlem road and unfair to the Olmstead parallel. He was in favor of continuing the matter to the next Assembly. Mir. Perry thought that this course would indirectly en dorse the Hartford and Harlem, and wanted to postpone till the first of June. After some further debate MT. Davis, of Haddam, offered an amendment that if the road shall not obtain subscriptions from responsible parties to the sum of $8, ,0OO, GOO, and expend $1, 000, 900 in the construction of the road within one year from the final approval of its location, the act shall have no effect. This was objected to. MT. Davis said it meant business and put the road on it's mettle.=
 Mir. Lockwood protested against the pas sage of the resolution. He did not think the Legislature should decide between the Hart ford and Harlem and the Olmstead parallel
 On vote MT. Davis amendment was adopt ed. Mir. Cowles Ca director in the Olmstead paralleD said that they proposed to build whether the special charter was granted or not, but he did not believe in giving privi- leges to the new concern that were refused the pioneer. MT. Simonds said that both roads were honest in their intentions so far as he could see, and he was opposed to legislat- ing for one at the expense of the other.
 After a little further debate the motion to indefinitely postpone was carried by III to 61, and on motion of Mir. Simonds both reso- lutioDs were transmitted to the Senate.