The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-07-15
xxxlx cONoREss.-.HIRsT sEssloU
4 wAsHISorcx, July II.


xxxlx c0NoREss---1IRsT sEssIo1
A wAsHrSorox, July II.
RousK.
The House, . the business Of the morning
hour, continued the consideration of the
Senate bill to authorize the construction Of
bridges across the MisEppi river for railroad
purposes, the pending question being IN
amendment reported from the Post Office
committee, reservlng the right to Congress TO
cause the removal Of sll distractions to the
navigation Of the river, that may be caused
by such bridges.
On motion Of Mr.. Allison, an amendment
was agreed 10 authorizing the construction of
. bridge ACROSS the Missouri river, at Kansas
City.
Mr.. Alley offered an amendment to add the
bridge across the Mississippi river, at Clinton,
Iova. provided it did not materially o1truct
navigation.
Mr.. Washburne asked Mr.. Alley to accept
. modification in the shape Of proviso that
the bill shall not interfere with any law suit
nov pending in any Court in reference to the
bridge. and that the section shall NOT take
effect until the bridge shall be made to con6ne
hs width Of dnw to that required of other
bridges referred to in the act.
MIR. Alley declined to accept it or TO aeceed
TO the amendment offered.
Mr.. WAshbuine protested to this one oi
she most important bills Of the session, be
ing forced through under the previous ques-
ton. He appealed to the judgment, honesty
and fairness Of the Honse 70 say whether it
would confne the discussion Of this matter to
. single hour.
Mr.. Alley said that he was qnite willing to
discuss the question thoroughly, but at this
period of the session he could not consent to
haze the time OF the House taken up on this
matter. He would allow ten minutes to the
gentlemen from Missouri (Mr. Hogan and
ten mi9ptes to the gentleman from Illinois
(Mr. Washburne.)
Mr.. Hogan expressed sarcastically his
thanks for his wonderfully oblgipg disposi.
ron 10 allowing ten minutes 10 discuss !
subject Of auch incalculable importance to
his constituents and the people Of the West.
The ordinance OF 1857 required the Missis.
ss'ppi river and its tributaries to be- forever
free and unobstructed to the people of the
United States, and nov the gentlemas from
Missouri came here At the bidding and by the
permission ofthe great monopolies ofthe coun-
try TO destroy that navigation and take from
the citizens their rights to the free navigation
OF the greatest river in the world, while ha
hoRanl and others were constiiutionally al
lowed TO present their opposition to it. The
great monopoiies on this floor have their
stockholders here to vote. They find mem
bers here to vote on this measure to rob the
people of the Vest OF this great. God given
right to navigate freely the Mississippi river.
Mr.. Boutwell, rose to question Of order,
explaining the remarks Of the last speaker,
and requesting them to be taken down and
read at the Clerk's desk.
The Speaker decided that the words spoken
we're out of order. a. being reflections upon
members OF the House.
Mr.. Randall suggested that the real qaes-
ton was whether the statement was true.
Mr.. Hogan disclaimed wish to say any
thing improper. and that be would not have
made the remark had the debate been IN.
nounced
Mr.. boutwell, said the House had right to
kno~ whether the gentlemen adhered TO what
he SAID or retracted it.
Mr.. Hogan said be preferred, a. the words
were clearly not proper, to withdraw them.
Mr.. Boutwell, said that that was not sufi-
cient retraction, and wanted 10 know whether
Mr.. Hogan meant to maintain his position.
Mr.. Hayes said he thought the gentlemen
from Missouri had done all the House desired,
and moved that he be allowed to proceed in
order. Agreed to.
Mr.. Banks claimed that as the Journal
would show the words ruled out Of order, it
should show the retaction.
The Speaker, referring TO the rule on the
snbject, decided that was not required by the
rules.
Mr.. Ashley wanted the gentleman from
Missouri to be required to explain what he
said abont railroad companies leaving feed On
the hoor
The Speaker said the House lad passed
from the matter and given the geutleman
permissiod TO proceed 10 order.
Mr.. Ashley moved 10 reconsider. The
motion uaa tabled, and Mr.. Hogan proceeded
in order. He called the attention Of the
House to the fact that, In 1855, the reg>
istered tonnage Of the Mississippi river and
its tributaries was 292,l44; that there were
$50 steamboats, engaged in that navigation,
covering $1,000, 900, and that the commerce
was equal to the whole foreign commerce of
the United States.
tleman from Missouri was more to the de.
mands of the bill than to the specific advan-
vantages. The only difference between this
bridge and the other bridge proposed to be
built was that The width OF the draw ct Gin
ton was not Of equal length TO that required
~ the other bridge, being only 40 feet ir
the clear. i had been ID operation for Is
| months and Was structure Of the most sub
| stantisl character, built in the hest manner.
The proposition was simply that the bridge be
declared post road The trouble was that
| it interfered with the rivalry between St.
L.oais aud Chicago, the bridge being Of adj
vantage to Chicago. The city of Galens was
aomewhat in the predicament Of St. Louis,
and every body who had served in the House
with the member from Illinois rs long q he
tAllsyl had served, knew very wellthaf meas-
nres which did not bring any toll to this uill--
and BY this mill he meant the city Of Galena
never received much favor at his hands
Mr.. Washburn called the gentleman to or.
der, excepting to the last part Of his remarks.
The words objected to having been written
down and red from the Clerks desk, the
Speaker overruled the point Of order. not
deeming the words offensive.
Mr.. Waahburne asked 70 be heard on thai
point. bot the Speaker ruled that the matter
wss not debatabIe.
Mr. Alley. after soms further remarks,
yielded half an hour Of his time to Mr..
Washburne, Who denounced the measure in
regard to certain bridges, - . nsost impru-
dent and outrageous measure. These rail-
road companies wanted to dam up the Mis-
sissippi river. aud to make the comnefce 81
The country tributary to them. II they could
dam up that great and majssfic hiekway Of
commerce, then they WoaM rsiss t6eir rates
- msch - they chose. The rsilroad bridge
had canaed in s years, from 1854 to 1859, lie
wreck Of u steanefs. worth q, ,000, 900, and
many rsfts Of lumber.
Nj. Price fose and declared that althonsh
be lived wishin sight Of Rock Island be;dee,
he had never heard Of more than three boat
having been wrecked. Tho statement about
"a afea0era haxina hAan zsneka6 Ahnna -.