If this state of things does not corrupt legislators, it is because legislators are incorruptible. We know its results in other States, and we may well fear it here. Special legislation has totally failed in securing the results intended, and left behind a train of unmitigated evils which must increase with the increased magnitude of the railroad interest, and the growth of railroad corporations. The establishment of such a corporation as is provided for in the majority bill may well be dreaded. The creature will be more powerful than its creator. CONTROL OF THE TUNNEL. The committee were clear and unanimous in the opinion that the State should under no circumstances part with the absolute control of the Tunnel to a private corporation. The majority bill is the first step in giving up the control of the Tunnel to a private corporation. It gives to that corporation control of the whole line, except the Tunnel; and entrusts it with the operators of the Tunnel itself. The pressure upon the State to part with the Tunnel will grow with the increase of business; the whole power and usefulness of the line must rest in the hands of the corporation which owns the railroad entering the Tunnel on either side. I am not old in railroad tactics--but, Mr. President--with the bill reported by the majority of the committee, I think I should have no difficulty--with less than one-half of the amount of the money expended in the efforts to pass the bill--to capture the Tunnel from the State in three years, and it would be accomplished in such a manner through the representatives of the people, that no one would presume to question my honesty. The Commonwealth, owning the Tunnel,--the most valuable portion of the line, the _key_ to the whole line,--has no voice in its management except a minority in the board of direction; no voice in fixing rates, no influence in its operations. This is all placed in the hands of a private corporation, governed by stockholders, whose stock is at all times in the market, and may be purchased at any time by any parties who deem it for their interest to control the line. The corporation may at any time combine with existing corporations to fix rates, and thus the main object sought by the State in constructing the Tunnel--an independent and competing line--be defeated. THE PURPOSES OF THE MINORITY. The minority of the committee in the plan which they propose to the legislature, have had two purposes in view. _First:_ Absolute and perpetual control of the Tunnel, built with the public money for the benefit of the people of the whole Commonwealth; and _second:_ _state control_ of the Tunnel line. I use the words _state control_ designedly, as distinguished from state ownership, or state management.