The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-23


Iowa LMr DoDcEl takes 80 deep interest. Ii 10 hill
upon several senators this floor are INSTRUCTED
BY The Legislatures q .hs stslss and hops will be
measure 70 proceed TO The consideration and TO the dis
posal OF that s@.
am Mr. President IN some degree respoosp Bile for The
auTDdment which is now under discussion since some
Important provisions have been incorporated in il upon
my own suggestions and therefore desire 10 briefly
the considerations which Will govern my vote favor OF
it, The general merits Of the bill have been discussed al
great length elaborate Arguments have been made 10
satisfy the Senate that railroad 10 the Pacific
saTy, and that The interests OF the country require It's
speedy construction Now, MIR. President, who upon
this floor doubts that Who has manifested any ndis-
position 10 the construction OF this road some way and
by some means Ii seems 10 me might well spare
elaborate discussion upon topics IN regard 10 which the
Senate is nearly unanimous.
But while large majority of the Senate are agreed as
10 the construction OF road, there may be- and there
are, considerable differences OF opinion the mode In
which that object shall be attained
Mr President, am in favor of this road No senator
upon this floor is friend to it, or who more
fully appreciates the advantages which will flow 10 the
country from lis construction than land yet desire
practical, common-sense legislation upon the subject
wish 10 legislae to the construction of the
road over The best route IN the shortest tme and with
the least expenditure.
Now, what does the amendment, which has been SO
condemned by the senator from Connecticut, IMr
SMITH, propose In the first place. it proposes surveys
and explorations These surveys and explorations, we
are told, will consume Years. Who knows that! Who
has authorized any senator TO that the SURVEYS and
explorations nemplated by this amendment will con.
sumo more time than the surveys and explorations con-
templated by the bille Sir the bill, much as the
amendment conlempates previous surveys and in order
TO ascertain the best the most practicable the cheapest
route, the route which will best accommodate the com
merce and the travel OF the country, the prelmi-
nary examinations will be necessary the gent de-
csion OF the President as are necessary to the intelligent
decision OF Congress No objection then, lies on the
bill 1a' '''
But is said further that the amendment contcmplaes
the employment OF civil engineers in addition the topo-
graphical engineers already in service Well sir the
bill contemPates precisely the thing II directs the
employment Of the typographical engineers and pro.
vldes that they shall be aided by the employment of
Others at the discretion of the President within certain
limits That objection also lies Just as strongly against
the bill as agans. the amendment II is further objected
that the amendment proposes that proposals for the
sucton OF the road shall be received until the next SEES
aon OF Congress That is true but will not the effect OF
the provisions of the bill be just the same It authorizes
contract by the President with corporation or com
pany OF individuals. Well sir will the President enter
into this contract without proposals. Do ex
pec that he Will act bindy upon question of this i'm
portance' Will he not invite proposals for the construc
iion of this road Will he not ascertain the best terms
upon which II can DC constructed for the government
Undoubtedly he will
Mr.. RUSK. Ii is required by the bill
Mr.; CHASE: My friend from Texas says it is re-
qurcd by the bill then why object TO this amendment if
proposes precisely the thing which is required TO
be done by the bill What is the objection 10 the amend
ment!
Mr.. CHASE. So far as have gone, il does propose
the things 1t proposes surveys and explorations
80 does The Dill. III the employment OF
graphical engineers connexon with the civil engineers
employed by the government by companies, private in
dviduals. The bill proposes the employment of both
descriptions of engineers 1t proposes to receive popo
Gals from company or corporation The bill proposes pre-
csely the thing and the only difference so far IT,
that the bill not merely authorizes the President
tract with these Individuals but II proposes also to ncor
porate them. Now, what do gain by the adoption of
the bill rather than the amendment
can see nothing for we are told by senators who
have advocated this measure that the explorations which
required to be made under the authority OF the Pres
dent before entering into any contract with the parties to
be incorporated under the provisions of this BILL will
the whole time between the passage of the act
the next session. What, then, do gain Nothing
at all, except 10 transfer this whole question from the
discretion oil Congress to the discretion of the Execu
tive.
know that some senaors--amonss them the senator
who last addressed us [Mr SMITHl-hink this great
object He told that the Congress OF the United States
had become incompetent TO the transaction OF business
that the Senate and the House of Representatives were
longer fit TO be nrnsted with the business OF the coun
try. He seemed TO think that henceforth every import
ant question should be referred the discretion OF the
Executive. Sir have much confidence in the in
coming administration, dare say, other senator's
look 10 the Executive, TO be inauguraed for a
wise, prudent, benehcent, sklful conduct OF public
affairs but am not one of those who proposed TO abd
cate constitutional functions in favor OF any President
believe il is the duty OF Congress TO make the laws
and is the duty OF The Executive execute the laws
am not willing TO confer upon the President OF the United
States, under any circumstances, and least OF all when
end OF great practical Importance be attained by
doing, the power OF organizing corporation such
As mat PROVIDED l0f Dy inns Dill. l am not willing to
place at his disposal fund enormous Why, this
bill provides for an appropriation OF twenty millions OF
dollars in the first place. and then, in addition TO that
for the appropriation OF fifteen millions OF acres of land
al the lowest estimate OF money and value offers 10
The company which you propose incorporate by its
provisions forty millions OF dollars. The capital OF
the company must be al least one hundred millions
The road cannot be undertaken with less than that,
Now ] not disposed to such corpor alton
and furnish twohfths OF It's capital, substantially as
bonus to insure the construction of the road
Mr.. RUSK. Will the senator allow me 10 correct
him
MIR CHASE. Certainly with pleasure.
MIR. RUSk The senator talks Of a corporation. Why
bonus OF forty millions OF dollars being anted 10 The
company II he will look at the bill, he will find that
not one dollar is be paid until section OF The road is
done, and then not until the company has invested three
fourths than the government in the construction OF
The road Besides, in nearly every line OF this bill this
corporation which is such bugbear to gem
temen, is controlled and restrained from mischief
Mr.. CHASE. That is the universal answer to argu.
against these great and powerful corporations II
ia always said that the corporation limited and con-
tTolled that il do no mischief.
+. Mr RUSK, The gentleman TO strike il ou,
il be does not like it.
Mr.. CHASE But it stands there now, and | am ar. |
guing this bill II stands and comparing II with the
amendment under consideration. 1t is SAID Also by the
honorable senator from Texas that this amount of forty
millions is only TO be appropriated the work proceeds
Grant but still the road is 10 become the property of
this corporation, and they to have the forty millions
Ii makes difference that the road is built, whether
The forty millions be paid at the commencement or on
the compilation OF the road. The only object OF with.
holding paymeAt is to insure the construction OF the