The Commonwealth has full power in the case, and it is only necessary to invoke the same power which the majority bill gives the consolidation company to take property from the Fitchburg, to take from the Lowell Railroad Company the property which it now represents as not needed for its business which it has obtained under the representation of a public necessity. _Secondly._--The question of terminal facilities is too unimportant in itself to be permitted to determine in the least degree the decision of a great State policy; other facilities can be obtained as good as the Lowell. _Finally._--We object to the plan of the majority because it continues the policy of placing our last remaining line to the West under the control and management of a stock corporation. It cannot be denied that there is great and wide-spread dissatisfaction with our present railroad system, and its management. We have tried in vain to control by special legislation, and it may well be acknowledged that the trial has not been very successful. REGULATION BY SPECIAL LEGISLATION. No system has ever been devised better calculated to introduce corruption into our state government than the present method of regulating railroads by special laws. Every senator knows what influences are brought to bear to promote and defeat the various projects of special legislation. No! Mr. President, I have over-stated--I am sure that no senator at this board does know _all_ the "ways and means" that are used to influence members to secure votes for the passage of various bills in the interest of railroads. Every senator is aware how powerful and wide-spread is the pressure when public railroad legislation is under consideration. If these influences were confined to the questions of special or general railroad legislation, great as the evil is, it would not be irreparable. But unhappily the evil does not stop here. Hardly a question of special or general legislation is decided by either branch of the legislature without being affected in a greater or less degree by these railroad questions. It prolongs our sessions and fills our lobbies with the advocates of private corporations, and these special guardians of the rights of the people in the service and pay of railroad corporations astonish the members from the rural districts by their disinterestedness in their "labors of love" and benevolence--making their stay at the capital so pleasant and agreeable without money, but not without price--as to create a strong desire to serve the "dear people" another term, and obligations are exchanged that demand the presence and service of these men. No I not men alone, but men and women at our town caucuses and conventions, that favors granted may be reciprocated in securing the nomination, and thereby the election of the men who are willing to be run by rail road interests.