The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-06-20
THE ROCK ISLAND BRIDGE BILL
CALLED UP In THE
SENATE. ~
SPENCER q R0BINSoN's
EARNING MS WAGES.


The following brief reference to the Rock
Island bridge bill is found among the Wash
ingten kilograms:
| WASHINGTON, juno 19.-Senate Harlan,
| of Iowa, called up the house bill TO orldge tne
Mississippi at Rock Island, which was advooased
| by Messrs. Trumbull and Harlan as Necessity 70
the government, while tbs rsaifeaa company mas
agreed to bear half the expense.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vsrnont, warmly opposed the
| bill.
Mr.. Stewart of Nevada, interrupted the dis
Conference on the bill for relief from political dis
abilities. -
| Sometime ago we wrote to a gentleman in
Washington asking him to procure copy
of Spencer 81 Rehinson's remonstranee or
letter against the bridge. In due time we
received an answer from our correspondent
saying that, after much running, he had
freed the thing in the hands Of Mr. Van
Wyek, member of congress from New
York, who had promised to show ii to him
that evening. We also received copy of
the joint resolution or bridge bill, which we
published. The next day we received an
other letter, giving the substance of con-
qEfF
versation between our correspondent and
Judge Trumbull, as follows:
'Tn my conversation with Judge Trumbull he
said Robinson wanted him TO oppose the Joint
Revolution on the grcund that the people of Rock
Island were opposed 60 the bridge. Judge Trurn
bull replied: "Why dent they demonstrate %
This question Robinson could not answer. He
then stated that the War Department was opposed
to the Jsfnt Resolution. eff that be the case p
said the Judge, 'fet the War Department inform
me othcaiiy, of their objections and win consid-
or the same Robinson subsequently, wrote let
ter TO the War Department, asking them to furn-
ish Judge Trumbull with their objections, &c.
The War Department wrote the Judge that, avg
tormGtton he desired tcoaid be promptly furnish
ed. This ended the correspondence; but Judge
Prumbult told me he wanted no information-he
was N favor of the joint Resolution and would
press its passage ut the earliest possible moment
de suggested that if had any amendments in the
interest OF the people he would cheerfcly present
them when she Resolution came up.''
Abiding again 10 the Spencer q Robin
son remonstranee, our correspondents said:
"The Spencer Robinson remonstrance is net
and has not been on file anywhere. H has, ct
present no official existence, but WAS probably
gotten up and signed and used an excuse for
some yenal congressman to permit himself TO be
employs" that is the latest coinage as q sub
stitute for "bribed." If I can get . sight of it
Rock Island shah know how II reads and who
signed it."
A day or two later we received another let
ter informing US that Spencer & Robinson's
agent Congressman Van Wyekl was hard
at work, earning his wages. The following
| is an extract from that letter
"He (Van Wyek) said that he had sbilP'
which Capt. Robinson had prepared and left with
| him that he Van W yclI) had conferred with Mr.
| Morrill,, and that he (MorriID had agreed to de-
| feat the passage of the Jeint Resolution be
fore the senate Ia copy Of which sent You when
| it came up for action.
|, al went to Senator Trumbnll and posted him
| and he promised to attend to it. / win furth 81
watch the Joint Resolution before the senate
| and advisey ou as events progress"
Nov go back and read the proceedings Of
the senate, as telegraphed, and it viii be
seen that Morrill,, with Stewart TO aid him
is doing just exactly what our correspondent
said Van Wyck informed him he would do.
Examining the ground all over, does it no,
| look as though there was "a strong and sys
tematized opposition" to the bridge? The
opposition of Spencer i Robinson has been
sufficient to defeat it, 80 far, in spite of the
10000 people Of this locality. The money
they have made from the people, and the
$4,000 they have dishonesty withheld
from this city, is now being used to destroy
the free bridge and perpesuate their monop
oily.