The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-04-03
The Chesapeake ana Ohio Canal


Communication In the BALTIC. sun.
am astonishe'l at the want of in.
formation displayed in some of the
statements made to correspondents in
relation To the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal and the bill now before the
Legislature. Your report from An.
napolis, published in this mornings
Sun, under the head of Legislative
Matters" says: "A friend of the
measure says the bill provides for
leasing the canal by the board of pub.
lie works, who are, by the cOnstitu-
ton, the authorized officers to have
charge of the canal" When, where
and how was the board of public
works placed in charge of the canal.
or when before the erection of the
House of Correction and the insane
asylum at Spring Grove did Mary
land own or acquire any public works
for the board of public works to man
age ana nave charge of?
The canal, like the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad, is corporation repre-
sented by its capital stock of 500
each per share, which alone has the
power TO elect a president and board
of directors, who, like the railroad,
under cath, are charged with the
duty of managing the canals affairs.
l should like to see the board of pub
lie works who in the lifetime Of the
late lamented John w. Garrett, for
26 years president of the railroad
company, would enter his ofiiee, and
by virtue of the constitution of the
State demand possession and control
of the railroad. For such an assump-
ton they, l imagine, would have re.
ceived such rebuke as would have
sent them down stairs at the speed of
three to one with which they ascend
ed to Mr.. CARROTS presence, and yet
by frequent repetition, and The fire.
quency with which they meet it, the
people of Maryland have fallen into
the error that the Chesapeake and
Ohio canal belongs to the State of
Mary land and is managed by its
board of pubic works.
The creation of the board of public
works. with no public works to man
age, is about as ridiculous an idea as
the bungling manner in which it was
attempted to clOthe it with authority
and give it something to do.
Section 2, article II, title public
Works." says; "They (the board of
public works. shall exercise a dill
gent and faithful supervision of all
public works in which the State may
be interested as stockii older or credi-
tor, and shall represent and vote the
stock of the State of Maryland in all
meetings of the stock holders of the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal, and shall
appoint the directors in every rail-
road and land company in which the
State has the legal power to appoint
directors, which said directors shall
represent the State in all meetings of
the stockholders of the respective
companies for which they are ap.
pointed or elected.
l. The duty in this section assigned
to the board is diligent and faithful
supervision of all public works in
which the State may be interested.
The words diIigent and faithful SUI.
pervision imply great deal. They
mean steady application, industrious,
heedful, true to trust, watchfuI over.
sight, &c, and to report to the Legis-
lature. Who for the thirty years that
this board has been elected have ever
seen report of this diligent and
faithful supervision How many
breaches foreseen, how many strikes
arrested and how much discrimina.
ton prevented?
2, They are to appoint the directors
y \ which said directors shall rep
resent the State in all meetings of the
stockholders of the respective COM
panies. Now here appears to be a
double authority. First, the board
of public works to represent the State
in all stakeholder meetings; second,
the directors they appoint are also to
represent the State in all meetings of
stockholders. in case of a conflict
which representative is to be admit
ted? Such is the simple power of
attorney to vote stock adopted by the
convention and published under the
imposing name of the public work S
of Maryland. --,..