Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-04
SENATOR QUAY'S BILL.

| It Creates Widespread Interest Among
Local Politicians and Prompts George
Shiras, Jr, to Talk on the Subject
Quay's slngle-Mindedness Questioned.
The proposed amendment to the River
and Harbor bill, proposing that the Gov
ernment buy out the Monongahela Navi'
CATION Company, introduced in the United
States Senate on Monday by Senator Quay
has created somewhat of stir in Pitts
burg, not only among the stockholders OF
the Navigation Company but among the
politicians also. The Quay people are de-
lighted with the Senator's efforts to secure
the support of the river people in his cam
paign for reelection to the Senate while
Congressman Dalzell's followers in Pitts
burg look upon Senator Quay move as an
effort to injure Mr.. Dalzell in his own dis
trict, and, by making him unpopular at
home, hurt him politically in the State.
Senator Quav's amendment to the river
and harbor bill provides that:
The Secretary of War is hereby authorized
to enter upon, take charge of and operate,
subject to the provisions of an act approved
July s, 1884, the locks and dams numbered l..
Company. Immediately upon taking pos
session OF said locks and dams, the Secre-
tary of War Is authorized to institute and
carry to completion proceedings for the
condemnation of said locks and dams and
their appurtenances.
The amendment provides the manner in
which condemnation proceedings are to be
conducted, and continues:
Provided, that in estimating the sum to be
paid by the United States, the franchise of
said corporation to collect toll shall not be
considered or estimated.
George Shiras, Jr., attorney for the
Monongahela Navigation Company, who is
being urged by friends for the vacant seat
on the United States Supreme Court, re-
fused to say yesterday whether or not in
his Judgment Senator Quay was prompted
by political motives, but said:
I do not know what motives prompted
Senator Quay in introducing his bill yester-
day. do know, however. that the Monon-
gahela Navigation Company is chartered
under the laws Of Pennsylvania. The State
and the people took the stock Of the COM
pany. the stock fora time paid but little.
Recently, however, it has paid handsomely.
The looks and pools constructed by this
Ptttsburg district and 1t els abled the coal
men to take from this district to the West
ern markets th, coal that naturally be-
longed to Il Q industries and enterprises of
this section. These locks and pools not
only enabled the coal men to get their prod
not away to a valuable market in the West
ana South, but 1t also enabled them to in
crease the price of coal to their home con-
sumers by keeping their stock low at home.
When Congressman Stone, of Allegheny,
recently Introduced into Congress a bill
similar to that of Senator Quay's the House
refused to consider it, for the reason, then
thoroughly explained, that the Supreme
Court of the United States would soon pass
upon a case exactly similar.
The Monongahela Navigation Company
recognizes the auth ority OF the General Gov
ernment to take their property on their own
conditions, but the company claims that the
Government should pay for the property
taken in the way of locks and pools, but
should also pay for the money making power
of the property. The stock of the naviga-
tion company is held by rich and poor peo-
pie alike. 1t is considered good stock, and
1t would be inj ustice for the General Gov
ernment to take that stock away without
some recompense other than the market
value OF the locks and structures.
really don't know what Senator Quay
means by his bill, especially in the face of
the action OF the House in refusing to con-
slider just such q measure until the United
States Supreme Court had passed upon the
question it raises. Attorney Genera Miller,
after consulting with all parties concerned
in such q dispute has had the case now
pending advanced on the calendar of the
United States Supreme Court and it will be
considered likely in October, year earlier
than it would otherwise have been heard.