Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-02-16
HOT RAILROAD FIGHT IN HOUSE
Over the Resolution to Reduce
the 3. g. O.'s Taxes.
CHARGES OF CORRUPTION MADE
In Connection With Legislation
of Years Ago.


IL
the Baltimore & Philadelphia Railroad |
Go. (the Baltimore e. Ohio) tax re-
bate OF $40, 2Q3 30 during the next two |
years enlivened yesterdays session of
the General Assembly. The hall of the
House of Representatives was the scene
of the battle. The fighting began upon
the introduction, by Representative
Robertson, of joint resolution author
izing the State treasurer to accept
from the B. Il o. Co. S25, 900 per year
for the next two years, in lieu of all
other State taxes. The resolution is as
follows:
.'Be it resolved, &c. : That the joint
resolution concerning the Baltimore IL
Philadelphia Railroad Co., adopted at
Dover on April 25th, 1889, being chap
ter 76l, Vol. XVIII, Laws Of Delaware,
be, and the same is hereby, readopted.
and all the provisions thereof continued
as part of this resolution for the
period Of two years from the first day
of April, 1899, during which time, viz.
From the first day of April, 1899, to
the first day of April, 1901, the State
treasurer is hereby authorized, en-
powered and directed to receive of and
from the Baltimore & Philadelphia
Railroad Co., in lieu of all State taxes,
the sum of $4,000 per annum, in
manner following, viz. /: The sum of
s12, 500 thereof on the first day of Ooto-
Der, 1899: the further sum of Sl2, 500
on the first day of April, 1900; the
further sum of S12, 500 on the first day
of October, 1900, and the further sum
Of az, 500 on the first day OF April,
190l.''
Representative McNulty started the
fight by moving that tho resolution be
made the special order for 3 o'clock
next Tuesday afternoon. 60 do not
know that 1 will oppose the rcsolu.
tion,'' he said, "but l do think all
tho members do not understand it. 1t
means loss to the State of S22, 600 in
two years. IL the amount asked by the
State is unjust, why not pass bill re-
ducing the tax, instead Of renewing the
resolution adopted by the last five
General Assemblies. y
The vote on Representative McNulty's
motion was as follows:
Representatives Buell., Burns,
Cottingham, Davis, Dennison Ewing,
Frizzell, Hazard, Kitchen, Hushe-
. beck, Jenkins, King, Lattomus, Robert
son, Rose, Satterfeld, Short, Taylor,
West and Speaker Clark-20.
Representatives j. b. Clark
Donahoe, Donovan, FAIRIES, Frazier
Hunter, McNulty, Shallcross and Waga
mon--9.
Representative Donahoe said: 9TH,
first resolution granting the railroad
company a tax rebate was adopted il
1889, and its adoption was secured b,
means similar to those being employed
today-by persuasion. The origina
/. charter cost $4,000. A judge, nov
dead, was retained at $4,000, and
member Of the General Assembly VIII
had the deciding vote put $4,000 q
his price. On that occasion, there wer
baths Of champagne here. The rebate
have caused the State to lose $3.50, 00C
This railroad company is a foreign cor
poration. The State treasury is empty
and every man who votes for the reso
luton votes to take $4,000 from tn
State. It il one of the most giganti
steals in the history of Delaware.
Representative Robertson said: q
am interested in the railroad compan
only as matter Of Justice. The ia
imposed is unjust. The Baltimore
cent of the length of the p, W. a. /
railroad, and the Baltimore & Philade
phia railroads earnings are IL per Gel
of the earnings of the p, W. & b. raj
road. Representative Donahoe says
is just to ask the Baltimore & Phil
delphia railroad 80 per cent Of what Il
p, W. &. B. Iailroad is asked. -
Representative Donahoe said: :"
the members go home, and consu
their constituents, they will get awa
from the influence Of the lobby whit
has been growing here since Monday.
Representative Robertson said: g,
the language of prizefghters, l say,
the interest OF fairplay, vote for h
resolution today
Representative Donahoe said: Ga
1889, ] was offered $40, 200 to vote for
similar resolution"
Representative McNulty said: g
the State of Delaware will refund
every unsuccessful farmer in the Sta
his taxes, adopt the resolution. t
Baltimore & Philadelphia Railroad
pays nothing in comparison to I
100000 paid by the p, W, IL b, Ra
road Co. III tho rebate is legitima
pass an act, and settle the matter
all time; do not have the whole to-
of Dover urging the adoption of [
resolution every two years. The Bal
more & Philadelphia Railroad q
practically the b. & o., is in [
hands of receivers, but it is not
poor to buy 1000 box cars and
locomotives. This poor, crawlil
cfcbpiuB Iudu uetuS did from tle 81
Of Delaware. 1t wants to save sl1,
in taxes yearly. Good or bad, | m
vote against the resolution, in just
to my conscience. want time, in or
to vote intelligently.
Representative Donahoe said: "Ti
off the gag, and refer the resolution
committee
Representative McNulty moved t
the resolution be referred to the CT
mittee on revenue and taxation,
Representative Donahoe seconded
motion. but Representative Robert
claimed that he had repeatedly ca
for the original question, and Rel
sentative McNulty's motion was
put.
The vote on the resolution wa
follows;
Yea-Representatives Buell., Blu
Davis, Dennison, Ewing, Far
Frazier, Frizzell, Hazard, Herr
Kitchen, Hunter, Hushebeck, Jenls
King, Lattomus, Robertson, Sat
field, Short, Tharp, West and SpeS
Clark-22.
Nay Representatives j. B. CT;
Donahoe, Jester, McNulty and WI
mon-5.
Several members refused to vote
ing they could not vote intelligent
Before the result was announ
Representative Donahoe, in order
move for reconsideration, and Re
sentative McNulty, in order to ser
the motion, changed their votes
the negative to the affirmative.