68 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Jan. 20,

Brewer, Knight,

Cooper, Lee,

Dennis, Lawrence,

Freeman, Newcomer,

Ford, Stevens,

Getty, Suit—19.
Gorman,

NEGATIVE.

Messrs. Lloyd, Phelps,

McCulloh, Steiner,

Mudd, Walsh—6.

On motion by Mr. Dennis, it was

Ordered, That leave of absence be granted to the Senator
from Wicomico county until Wednesday next.

Mr. Gorman presented the following :

The undersigned, holders of the Preferred Bonds of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company, have observed, that
in the secret discussions between that Company and the rep-
resentatives of certain interests in Allegany county. A spe-
cific charge has been made, that there is or has been an ar-
rangement between the Bondholders and the President and
Directors of the Canal Company, or some of them, whereby,
in consideration of the regular payment of the overdue cou-
pons on the bonds, a percentage is paid by the Bondholders
to the President and Directors, or to some of them. This
charge is repeated in & late number of the "Cumberland
Times," but is there confined to Messrs. Gorman and Bannon.

No one at all familiar with the management of the Com-
pany, from the year 1869, when the payment of the coupons
was begun, after many years default, through the whole of
the administration of President Clarke, when their payment
was continued and increased, and for the last three years,
during which the present Board has persevered, with still
more marked success, in such a just and proper policy, can
credit an accusation so offensive alike to the Bondholders and
the Board.

But lest some who are not acquainted with the mode by
which the coupons are paid by the Banking House of Messrs.
Alexander Brown & Sons, and with the past history of the
Company in this respect, may be misled by such a public
charge, the undersigned feel that they owe it to themselves
and the Board of Directors, to declare that it is without the
least foundation in fact. No such arrangement exists now,