Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-14
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ANNAPOLIS, Nd, March 13.-The House
bill to lease the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
to the Cumberland and Washington Rail-
road Company, for the purpose of building a
railroad on its bed, was taken up in the
Maryland Senate this afternoon on its third
reading, and opened to amendments. Mr..
Wootton, Democrat offered substitute for
the bill, which amendment recites that the
receivers appointed by the Circuit Court of
Washington county may not be able to re-
build the canal as waterway, and, in that
case, the bill directs the Attorney General
to procure sale of the canal by order of
court, said sale to be ratified by the court,
and which amendment also will allow the
purchaser either to operate the work as
railway or waterway, and If operated as
railway, then the road may be incorporated
under the general incorporation laws of the
State courts. During his address Mr..
Wootton said:
THE LAW IN THE CASE.
There is no question but that railroad would
benefit us more than a canal, but in the Legis-
lature of 1888 was brought into contact with
many leading lawyers. and their opinion was
that under the rights OF the bondholders Of 1874
d
waterway. The opinion of Chief Judge Alvey,
delivered recently at Hagerstown, decides that
the rights OF the bondholders of 1874 are
superior to all others, the State of Maryland
included.
The canal Company admits that 1t is de-
funct and the court has taken possession of it
and appointed receivers to ascertain whether
or not the canal can be restored as waterway.
This bill before US provides that the lessees
snail take possession of the canal. would
like to see them do it. Judge Alvey has pos
session of it, but suppose tho receivers report
that they cannot run it, then Judge Alvey says
ne will take up the question of sale.
Under this bill there would be endless htiga-
tion, even if Judge Alvey did not have his foot
on its head and throat. 1 want this canal out
OF politics. 1t was burning shame that the
officers were paid their salaries when the labor
ers were not paid their wages.
A DECIDED DIFFICULTY.
If you pass this bill these people are not going
to deliver up their property unless we can give
them the canal, and then it will come back
again to us. Which is the better way7 Who
does not understand the lease to be sale? Has
this Cumberland and Washington Railroad
Company any stamp of royalty on 1t that al
lows it only to bid for the canal? There are
valuable rights here-millions of property.
How can Senators go home and say that they
have voted away the property of the State?
1 will not stand in the way of the railroad
getting 1t in proper way. The Governor has
recommended the sale, and yet he would not
have sold sawmill of his own without know
ing. more about it than he knows about this
canal company. Open the sale TO fair competi-
tion and am with you.
Senator Writ said he only spoke at the
request of Senator Wooten, and addressed
himself to the unconstitutional points on
the bill. Senator Urner, Republican,
favored the bill. He did it in the interest
of railroad to the city of Frederick. He
said that the day for inland canals were
past.
RATHER PEssIMIsTIC.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was to
reach both the Ohio river and the Chesa
peake Bay. 1t had reached neither and
Poe, Chairman of the Committee on
Finance, made an unfavorable report on the
bill to sell the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
to the Allegheny and Tidewater Company.
Mr.. Pearre, Republican, moved to substi-
tute the bill for the uniavorable report and
that the motion lie over. So the motion
was laid over.
Mr.. Urner said that Judge Alveys held
that the canal would have to sell for S. 000,-
900 before the State could get 81. He con-
tinued:
Does any Senator believe that the canal will
This bill proposes to pay the bondholders of
1874 25 cents on the dollar, when in January
they were only worth 10 cents
Senator Stake, Republican, said the dis
cussion had taken very remarkable range.
The proposition was upon the amendment to
the bill. That was the question. The red
flag is waved here to settle all legislation.
That red flag is the Baltimore aud Ohio
Railroad. The true question and the simple
proposition is. shall we secure to the parties
entitled to it the best price possible.
A PUBLIC SALE DEMANDED.
There is $11. 100000 of property and the
question is shall we not put it up at public
sale, that the country may know it and bid
for it. The projectors of the Cumberland
and Washington Railroad propose to buy
and build their road for So. 600. 900 and pro-
pose also. to put s., 900, 900 of bonds on the
road. Will they place IS, 600, 900 of bonds
on the road, worth s., 600, 900 and put S., ,0OO,-
900 in their pockets, (sensation.) Is this
fair bid?
Mr.. Stake, continuing, said: "I am for
neither. am in hope that somehow and
someway this wreck will be restored as a
waterway" He believed the canal properly
worked would earn five or six times over its
expenses. Mr.. Pearre, Republican, of AL
legany, said the original idea was from the
brain of Washington to unite the Ohio
river and the Chesapeake Bay. He was in
favor OF the canal as waterway. It is
childish to pass this bill. The canal is in
the hands of the court.
No vote was reached. when the Senate