The Democratic advocate., 1906-03-24
Legislative Notes

ANxAFoIIs, March o.
The men who are representing the people
OF Maryland in the fight against the b. 4 0.
nov going on Al Annapolis have no right 20
talk of selling the States interest 10 the
Washington Branch OF that corporation for
one cent less than all II IS worth. Il belongs
to the people. "a fair price is not fAiT
price unless it represents the greatest sum
which can be exacted for this properly. No
individual with any sense would sell for less
why should the State Doubtless the people
shoald be thankful for q prospective "iAir
price aud still more thankful that this Leg
islaiarc has developed the fact that 500
share IS not a fair price. But further inyesti.
CATION may develop the fact that $3.50 = share
IS not a fair price either. The lare Of speedy
reduction Of taxes, in return for an immediate
but probably sacrifice sale, is being held out
for consideration by the people, but it is not
a new idea
Apparently there is no good reason for sell.
ing the States interest in the Baltimore aud
Ohio Railroad al once, except that number
Of gentlemen, uow in public life, will soon
come up again for reelection, aud, as they
well know the plea, Il lowered your taxes,
is q good campaign argument. IL Assuredly
is, but III you bAGnt been in such a harry.
someone might have lowered them siill more
may not be 4 bad answer. Who in the world
but politicians, playing politics on q time
margin, would talk OF selling property las
soon as possible" when Congress has already
appropriated 81, 500, 600, a good share Of
which the State will get, If its Representatives
will only not break their necks IN consumal-
ing sale Most any individual would think
Of taking this appropriation first, and then
talking sale afterward.
The present State administration seems to
be doing everything III its power TO be 10 po.
sition TO avail itself of the above mentioned
campaign plea The canal sale al $780, 600
was apparently better business proposition
Mr.. Nandiver did not think so-provided the
cash be received now, than half million or a
million or two to be paid later on, possibly
during the administration of someone else
who might get credit for it.
Apparently this whole Washington Branch
investigation is strongly analogous to the tail
wagging the dog, with every hea on the dog
in mortal terror Of being shaken of. There
has been very evident fear of the B. L o.
apparent among some members OF the com
mitlee since the investigation began, and the
attendant talk Of selling ''at fair price" or
reasonable price" rather than 60 into what
Twill prove long and expensive litigation, is
but an evidence of that fear. This view of the
situation completely ignores the great strength
of the States case. 1t also ignores the fact
that right and justice are more TO American
people than mere money. Has ii come to
such pass with the people of this State that
there is nothing any more id their sight but
dollars and cents, money, money, money!
The very purpose of this investigation is to
determine what the States stock is worth.
Talk of q sale al any price until the investiga-
ton has gone the lImit-until 1t has determined
this point is perfect foolishness or almost
Il l.,
the situation for a moment must see. i is
impossible to tell, short of a complete investi-
CATION, how much the B. l. o. has mulcted the
Washington Branch during all these years in
unfair arrangements of various kinds: termi
nal charges, undue assessments, withhold div
idends, withhold interest on withheld divi-
dends, excessive commissions, and every other
sort of rank leg pulling which an individual
would naturally suffer at the hands of a per.
fectly inscriptions and unhsmpered power,
which is at once pay master and check on his
own accounts, judge, jury and entire court in
the matter of what charges he shall fix and
receive. 1t is further impossible to tell, short
of complete investigation, how much of all
this vast sum may be recovered by proceedings.
1t is not impossible that by the time such
stage has been reached the B. Il o. will be
ready and only too willing to escape further
punishment by paying all that this foots up to,
besides fair valuation on the stock, consid.
erng such price what the property is worth
to it, and recognizing the hopelessness of con-
testing what even now appears to be daily
growing more incontestable case. A big
corporation is no more anxious to enter ex.
pensive litigation than is the State and is Just
as much less anxious. as its case is weaker.
Why talk of selling the stock then, until it is
known what it is worth -Four hundred and
fifty, six hundred, any figure is guessing.
The whole thing may total up to $1,000 a
share for all any member of the committee
can say TO the contrary. They simply don't
know.