Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-02-22

Annapolis. Nd. Feb 22.-senator
Joseph l. France of Cecil county yester-
day introduced in the Senate bill
amending the charter OF the Chesapeake
a Delaware Canal Co., authorizing that
company to charge a moderate rate of
tolls on passengers carried through the
canal. The bin was referred TO the COM
mittec on railroads and canals, and IL is
expected a public hearing will be given
the friends and opponents of the measure.
The bill proposes a maximum toll of
25 cents on through adult passengers
and onc-hali this sum for children not
over ID years old. Local passengers,
whose destination may be TO points be-
tween Philadelphia and Baltimore, will
be charged tolls proportionately less than
through passengers. IL is stated that the
bill is backed by the universal sentiment
of Cecil county, through which the Mary
land end Of the canal runs.
The Ericsson Steamboat Co., whose
boats carry passengers through the canal,
between Philadelphia and Baltimore, it
is understood, will vigorously oppose the
bills passage, and the company will prob
ably be represented before the Legisla-
ture by its president, John Cadwallader;
its chief manager, Il. $. Groves. and Sec
retary II. l.. Cav, all OF Philadelphia.
4 The original charter of the canal company
was granted IN the year 1899, giving as
a return TO its promoters the right to
charge a toll on traffic carried through
the canal. At that time there was no
J passenger traffic and no passenger boats
running through the canal. Some years
after the construction of the canal pas
sengers were carried through on boats
and toll paid on them. A legal question
was raised as to whether the original
charter was broad enough 10 cover tolls
on passengers, and the Supreme Court
of the United States, by a divided court
decided that no authority under the
charter existed TO make such charge
saying, in substance, that If there had
been a passenger traffic at that day
d799l there is no question that the char.
ter would have contained clause grant
ing such right II it had been requested
supporters of the bill introduced to-
day assert that the Ericsson Line ha.
Disseminated both in freight and pas
senger traffic against the citizens of Ken
and Cecil Counties
These alleged determinations. i'm oX
cess Of the regular passenger traffic. an
said TO be more than double the propose,
maximum toll which the canal compan,
could possibly. charge under the provision
OF their bill
The canal company in memorial {,
the Maryland Legislature asking th
right 10 collect passenger tolls and ais
10 operate a transportation company
frankly states that the tolls collectei
from merchandise and vessels do no
meet the annual fixed charges. Las
year closed with deiiceit OF 81 900. anl
during the last II years the earning
have fallen Sll .6s7.3l short of it's fxe
charges No dividends have been pai
ON the stoock for 30 years, and its bond
holders have received, since 1898 fou
per cent per annum instead of five pe
cent. upon which basis the bonds wer
issued,
The canal company asserts that th
present tolls on merchandise and vessel
are moderate and equitable, but canno
be increased and expect 20 retain th
trade In competition with railroads an
the ocean routes of trade between IN
Northern and Southern States. Il
estimated approximately from 10000 {
100000 passengers use the canal ever
year.
1t is claimed by the canal compan
that unless this relief is granted, It wi
be impmctioable TO maintain and operat
the canal, as the owners cannot be G.,
pected to continue TO 60 into their ow
pockets and make up an annual recu
bring deficit for the porpose Of keepin
the canal Open
The canal is Is 5-S miles in length q
feet wide az water lnc. at narrowc.
point, 36 feet wide at the bottom. !