the Eastern shore, one in the lower counties of
the Western shore, one in the Western counties of
the State and one in the city of Baltimore. And
the gentleman, [Mr. Harbine,] said it could not
degenerate into a political machine—that it ought
not to be a political machine, and yet, in the
very next breath, he answered his own argument
by saying, that one of the commissioners to be
elected from the Eastern shore would be a Whig
—one from the city of Baltimore a Democrat—
one from the lower counties on the western shore
a Whig and one from the upper counties on the
Western shore a Democrat, and yet, according to
the gentleman's theory, no political machine.
He, [Mr. D.,] had listened to learn what were
the duties of this office. The only defined duties
contained in the proposition of the gentleman
from Frederick—and what were they? He had
often heard it said that a person in after life was
apt to betray his early training. The gentleman
said the board should "exercise a diligent super-
vision on all public works, a board to superintend
a board—one overseer to overlook another over-
seer. That was a singular idea— a clear definition
of duties—a diligent supervision." Well,
he, [Mr. D.,] was put to it at once to see where
this idea came from. A committee to superintend
! He could only find an analogy for it in
the political theatre in which the gentleman had
been reared, had spent his early life. Both par-
ties were accustomed to have committees of vigilance
to look after political concerns, to hunt up
voters and bring them to the polls, and to incite
them to action—a committee of vigilance—a
board to superintend a board.
Now the gentleman said that Baltimore ought
not to control the Potomac interest, and he sup-
posed vice versa. Let us suppose the gentleman
elected to this board, and in the performance of
his new duty, he addresses himself to the Presi-
dent of the Railroad company, says, "Mr. Swain
your rates of toll are wrong and ought to be
changed." It was "his duty to exercise a vigi-
lant supervision and control over him,'' &c,
Mr. Swann would reply, that the Legislature
had given him the sole power over the subject
by its charter, granted twenty years ago. Will
you, Mr. THOMAS, do me the favor to examine it?
It was unnecessary for him, [Mr. D.,] read
it, every intelligent gentleman knew that the
President and Directors had the control over the
whole matter, and no committee of vigilance
could have any control over them whatever.
The gentleman would be brought to a standstill.
And so it was in reward to the Susquehanna rail-
road company and the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal company, except as before said in the lat-
ter company, a negative upon reduction of tolls.
They had given each company a board of public
works, otherwise called a board of directors.
They had given them perpetual charters—they
had defined their power and duties—they could
employ engineers—let out contracts—fix salaries
—adjust tolls, &c., &c. You might control and
manage it as you please, but it was utterly out of
your power. You could not, with all your para-
phernalia get away from these works the power
52 |
they already have. It had been said that a com-
petition for the coal trade had been gotten up,
between the Chesapeake and Ohio canal and the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad companies, that
each one had drawn down the tolls in order to
draw the trade from the other. Now, he felt it
his bounden duty and pleasure to say, acting in
the condition he did, as a representative of the
State's interest in both works, that Mr. Swann
had put that question at rest, and had placed it
in its true light. He had said here in regard to
the coal trade and the action upon it this:
"In regard to the increase of coal transportation,"
(Mr. Swann in his letter to the City Councils,
says,) " I would remark, that the subject is
one which has engaged the attention of this
Company, and that during the progress of the
work to the Ohio river, an increase supply of
coal may be expected to pass over the road.
This looks to the coal trade only during the
progress of the work towards the Ohio river.
He goes on, " To what extent this transportations
will be augmented must depend upon the market.
in New York and the eastern cities, and the facility
with which the Cumberland coal may be
brought into competition with the Pictou and
other coals now sold in those markets."
But this was the point he (Mr. D) wished to
call the attention of the Convention to. "In the
quality of the article, it is believed that no coal
in this country compares with that of the Allegany
region for the various purposes to which
steam is applied, and with some reduction in
price it is likely to become no less popular as a
domestic fuel."
"In the recent action of the Board of Directors
of this Company reducing the cost of transportation
on coal, on and after the first of June next,
reference was had solely to the importance of
giving encouragement to this article with a view
to increased consumption."
Here, he (Mr. D.) took it was the cause—the
true reasons for the reduction of the tolls on coal
by that Company. He was bound to believe it
was the sole cause, because Mr. Swann said so,
and if it was not, he of course would not have
said so. He (Mr. D.) avowed it was the reason
that operated upon his own mind, when he gave
his assent to a reduction on the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal. It was the competition of the Pictou
and other coals in New York and elsewhere,
and he would refer to the price of coals in order
to show the absolute necessity there was for this
reduction. It was well known that the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal was commenced twenty
years ago—that, owing to circumstances, the
completion of it was retarded till last autumn—
that through other avenues the anthracite coal
had come into very general use. He held in his
hand the price of that coal in New York from its
introduction in 1838. He presumed, however,
it was before that time—for, he believed that in
1820 anthracite coal was introduced into Phila-
delphia.
In 1838 Schuylkill coal retailed in New York
at $8.75 per ton. The price has since been gra-
dually coming down, and it is now retailing in |
