Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-20
THE PROPOSED CANAL LEASE.


l
| Yesterday the debate ON the merits of the
bill before the Maryland legislature to lease
the Chesapeake and Ohio canal to the Wash
| ington and Cumberland railroad began in the
house Of delegates. Mr.. Rich opened with
motion to recommit, on the ground that time
should be given also for the consideration of
| the proposal received from mine owners to
| lease the canal and maintain it as q waterway.
Mr.. Kilgour made q speech opposing any
| further delay. Speaking of the canal he said:
1T is lifeless corps awaiting decent burial,
| and am willing to give it such. 1t is known
to every member in the house that scarcely
had the food of June subsidized before the
board OF public works advertised for proposals
for its repair. Not a single bid was made.
They were willing even to put it in the hands
OF the ship owners. The next movement was a
resolution by this legislature for its sale or
lease, which was published far and wide. Yet
not one solitary offer. save the one now before
the house, was made. And how is it, then,
that this new bid has been slumbering all this
time? And who is this new proposal being
backed by? None other than the Baltimore
and Ohio, who want neither railroad nor canal
in competition with it."
Mr.. Rich said he believed that it was the pur-
pose of the Baltimore and Ohio to get hold of
the canal under the bill now before the house,
and that they could more easily get it that way
than by any other method.
Messrs. Keedy, Mullin and Norwood argued
in favor of recommitting.
Mr.. Norwood argued that the time elapsing
between the advertising for bids and opening
the same-twelve days-was not sufficient, for
BY the law twenty days notice should have
been given.
Mr.. Shaw said he thought twelve days long
enough and spoke against delay. Mr.. Shaw
went on to argue that the establishment Of a
railroad would give an impetus and develop
ment to western Maryland that had never been
dreamed of and it was for that reason he de-
sired to see proposition to rehabilitate the
canal rejected. The days Of canals had long
since passed He maintained that it was i'm
possible to rehabilitate the canal and make it a
paying institution.
Mr. CAN'T asked if the proposed amendments
to the Washington and Cumberland bill in
Guided provision for q connection with the
Drum Point.
THE BALTIMORE AND OHIO.
Mr. Shaw replied that the bill now made pro-
vision for a connection with all railroads. Re-
plying to the charge that the bill now pending
was in the interest Of the Baltimore and Ohio
he called attention to the section which pro-
vided that at no time shall the road be con-
trolled by any competing line under penalty of
forfeiture Of charter. He concluded by saying:
Il find appended to this paper (the proposal
received today the name of Fred Merten. 1
do not know the gentleman, but am informed
by prominent citizen of Washington county
this morning that Mr.. Merten informed him
that the Baltimore and Ohio would furnish the
projectors of the scheme with money. If Mr.
Merten feels aggrieved at this statement will
give him the name of my informant The Bal
timore and Ohio, Mr.. Merten had stated, would
also guarantee them 100000 tons of freight
annually, and failing TO do this would pay
them for the amount o. the difference. There
is the cat out of the bag Nearly all the oppo-
sitlon to the bill has come from the Baltimore
and Ohio because it does not desire a Compel
ing line. What want to see is q competing
line, and that is what this bill provides. Ii the
Baltimore and Ohio could keep the canal limp
ing along they could afford to throw their rs
bonds into the ditch
The previous question was ordered Mr..
Rich's motion to recommit was lost by vote of
30 ayes to 81 nays. and the House proceeded to
consider the bill on its second reading.
AMENDMENTS ADOPTED.
The first section was amended, so that the
building of the road shall not be delayed by
any legal proceedings instituted by the WASH
ington and Cumberland company, unless un-
avoidable and in good faith. This section was
also amended, on motion Of Mr.. Meloy, substi-
tuting six months for twelve months as the
time allowed for payments to the state treasurer
after the execution of the lease
An amendment was also adopted providing
Point railroad with the Washington and
Cumberland road. The further consideration
OF the bill was then postponed until today.