Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1888-01-27

letter of commentator from those officials,
including himself, would more likely injure
than benefit my reputation in the county,
and do not therefore desire 1t.
Mr.. Bowie says the original charter Of the
Baltimore and Potomac Railroad was grant
ed In 1853, and that Col. Clarke was then
in Illinois and did not vote for it. did not
say he did. But do say that that charter
required the road to be built from Baltimore
to the Potomac river at Port Tobacco, via
Upper Marlboro, with branch from MARI
bore to Washington. And Mr.. Bowie
knows well that no road from Baltimore
directly TO Washington could be built under
it. Mr.. Bowie, in addition to the above mis-
representation of what | said, says the only
legislation asked or obtained by the Balti-
more and Potomac Railroad Company dur
ing his term as Governor was an act ex-
tending the time for the roads completion,
it being under active construction 10 1875,
10 provide for an increase of its capital stock,
and for ratifying the action of the Mayor
and City Council of Baltimore authorizing
the building of the tunnel. That is neither
candid nor 'plan reply" TO what l had
said in that connection. l repeat that un
der the legislation to which he refers whilst
he was Governor, the language of the orig
inal charter was so changed designedly as
to enable a road to be built from Baltimore
directly to Washington, with branch from
it at some point between Baltimore and
Washington, and running thence via Mari
boro' to the Potomac river at Port Tobacco,
and any one can see who is right by refer
ring to those laws themselves. l further
said and repeat that under that new charter,
obtained for the purpose, the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company extended its roads from
Baltimore to Washington and built branch
read from the station which bears his name
on or near his land, via Marlboro, TO the
Potomac river, at or near Port Tobacco If
that statement was not true he ought TO have
corrected it, as gave him an opportunity
to do in my letter. He knew ii 10 be true,
and therefore made lame effort 10 evade
the fact. lrf.
Again, he says as to the amended legis
lation mentioned by him-there was no OBJ
| lection, &c. Now he knows that his bill
| Tor the amendment to the charter was de-
| laycd in the Senate by an equal division of
the Senators for and against, exclusive Of
the vote OF Mr.. Isaac Young, who was then
the Senator from this county | visited Au-
napolis several times and urged Mr.. Young
not to vote for the bill unless amended by
inserting clause requiring the road TO be
subject to the same capitation tax as the
b. d o During my last visit to Annapolis
he approached me and insisted that ought
not to oppose the charter of road which
would be of so great benefit to the counties
through which it would pass. said l did
not oppose charter Tor the road; only
want il to be subject TO the same capitation
tax as was imposed on the b. q o., and if
he would so amend the BILL l would cease
all opposition. He said he would not do
that. | said, then you will force the legis-
lature to release tue b. d. o. from that tax
and occasion loss OF over seventy thous-
and dollars annually to the State.
He said the release ought TO be given and
the loss of that revenue u the State sup
piled by other taxation. said then will
do all in my power to defeat the bill. ear
nestly urged Mr.. Young not to vote for the
bill, without the amendment, and he said
he would not do 80. But 10 my regret and
surprise MIR. Young did vote for the bill
without the amendment and his vote was
the casting vote which enabled il ~ pass the
Senate Mr.. Bowie, Mr.. Young and Mr.
Benjamin Fawcett. (who seemed to be act,
ing as guardian angel for Mr.. Young, but in
the interest of Mr.. Bowie) knows the above
TO be true. t.4.
Mr.. Bowie says it was not true as stated
by me that Col. Clarke was in the employ
ment of the Pennsy lvania Railroad Com
pany when he was elected to the Senate and
voted for his bill, but was in charge of the
Ashland iron works, in Baltimore county.
But | am informed, and believe, those works
were owned in whole or in part by the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company, or operated for
that company, and that Col. Clarke man
aged the works for the railroad company
But it is immaterial whether be right or
wrong in that particular The important
fact remains that Col. Clarke was there in
the Senate and voted for the passage of the
bill aud was afterwards made President OF
the canal, as stated in my speech.
The further fact Is true, as stated by Mr.
Bowie, that Mr.. Isaac Young, who, as Sen
ator, gave the casting vote for the passage OF
his bill, was, also purely with reference to
the public interest, complimented with a
place in the Board of Directors OF the ca.
mai under President Clarke. concede Mr..
Young TO be quite as much esteemed 10 this
county as myself, us Mr.. Bowie states, but
am sure Mr.. Young will not say he is more
| so.
Col. Spates and were in the canal board
at the same time. Mr.. Bowie tells why he
turned Spates out and put Clarke in. Now
the public will be glad to be told how he
got Young to vote for his bill, and why he
turned me out Of the Board and put Young
in my place, when he comedies in his plain
reply that we are equal in character.
Mr.. Bowie spends much OF his efforts in
laudation OF Col, Clarke. All | said about Col
Ciarke's management Of the canal was that
he had not done better, ii as well, as his pre-.
decessor, Col. Spates, had done, ut one
fourth of Clarke's salary. But will now
add that if Col. Clarke had ever had any
experience in constructing or managing ca
mails before his appointment to the manage
ment of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
never heard of it, ami do not believe that
he had. But hold Col. Clarke in high es,
TEEN as a first class ralroa manager, and |
wish To say nothing to his detriment as
good business man in general. The COM
plant Is against Mr.. Bowie.
Mr.. Bowie saws that DR.. Wootton, in
strong contrast with my "nsane phillipic,"
&c, said Mr.. Clarke had managed the canal
well. 1t is due to Dr. Weston and to truth
to correct that misstatemeut He followed
me and very properly in his situation had
nothing To say about so much OF my speech
rs charged that the canal had been ruined
by the p Iliticians, but commended what l
had said what the canal had done under the
bushes management Of Col. Spates, and in
siste that it could be made to pay again if
placed in the hands of business men to be
managed by business methods for business
purposes only, watch Was precisely what
| contended Tor, only beng very different
| from what Mr.. Bowie makes. him say.
| refrain from all comment, but ask our
people to read those facts aud draw their
own conclusions from them.
W. VEIRs BouIc.
|