The New York herald., 1868-05-13

accelerate the completion OF the road and therefore
Mr.: PRICE gave Is reason for the provso the fact
that the eighteenth section Of the original bill the
I'VE Of over the only
Mr.. UPsoN replied to that argument that Congress
had reserved the right to alter and amend and to re-
Mr.. JOHNSON, (dem) OF CAL, asked Mr.. Price to &C
cept an amendment to the substitute by adding the
lollowfng-"And provided further that the tariff OF
prices SO nxed shall not exceed eight cents per mile
sengers.n
Mr.. PRICE said he had no authority to admit the
Mr.. WAsHBURN rcp) OF Ind, asked Mr.. Price
when the joint resolution would probably take
MI. PRICE replied that. judging the future by the
past it would take effect in about two years.
S T. Of naHs aa
OF the grants made TO the Pacific Railroad COM
panies, and commented on the fact that the adyan.
the last report there were but ty three sharehoders
In the Central Pacific Railroad Company. He pro-
tested against the Injustice Of letting these COM
panies impose such high tariffs on freight and pas
sengers
Mr. BAILEY (rep.) OF N. Y, having fifteen minutes
allowed him. spoke Of the substitute being eyasive
and unsubstantial.
Mr. JOHNSON spoke Of the high rates which people
had to pay on the California end OF the road being
ten cents mile for passengers and fifteen cents per
ton per mile for freight In gold.
M Of az made se ese
in no case exceed double the average rates charged
on the different lines OF railroad between the MiSss
slpp river and the Atlantic Ocean In latitudes nof
Of St. Louis. -
Mr.. FARNswoRrH, trep.) Of Ill, moved that the
report bill regulating the tariff Of freight and fares
on the Pacific Railroad. He did not believe in the
py out %s Of the Of @
power In the hands Of any three men, who might be
either friendly unfriendly to these railroads. or
putting it in tn ontr0l of other railroad companies
which might friendly un1riendlY,
The morning nour being about to expire Mr.. PRICE
moved the previous question, which was seconded.
the discussion, divided his time among the members
who desired to make remarks.
Mr.: WAsHBURN OF Ind, moved to strike out the
pS' Mr. PRuYN M M dem Of n. Y, favored adding to the
commission two men to be selected for their expe-
rience In railroad matters.
Mr. DONNELLY, (rep.) OF Min, spoke for ten
minutes in general defence Of the Pacific Railroad
Mr. HIGBY, (rep3 OF CAL, proposed that the Pacific
Railroad Committee, or some other committee,
should be instructed to make q Thorough investiga.
passengers can be carried for and that Congress
should fix the limits OF prices. II they proceeded in
a Ty ey ne nave no IN G ON pr e
posed in the Joint resolution.
Mr.. CovODE, (rep) Of Pa, spoke as one having
great experience on the subject of organizing trans
poratOn, and declared that railroads in Pennsyva-
MIA could afford to carry freight for one-third OF what
1t could be carried for on the Pacific Railroad,
and the absence OF 1t along the lines Of the Pacific
Railroad. He declared that the time had not come
to fix the tariff Of prices on the Pacific Railroad, the
original bill having provided that the prices should
be fixed only on the completion Of the road. The
was now maze an% @ 10 fe e e out 81 e
gentlemen. II he owned the Pacific Railroad he
would hot hesitate moment If he wanted to charge
exorbitant prices. He could buy three men cheaper
than he could buy two hundred. He had
tried it on-Qaughter)-and knew what could
be done with the head OF department. He had
knONQlOe Gnllipct a lpa
sion. The heads OF departments purchasable il
members Of Congress were and should know better
than the representatives of the people what the
Mr.. ELIOT, (rep) Of Mass, asked Mr.. Covode what
the average prices OF members OF the Cabinet We're;
Mr.. PILE, (rep) OF NO., replied to the general re-
neclons made upon railroad corporations, and re-
marked that many members were present whose
districts would now be trackless wiIdernesses II il
had not been for railroads.
Mr.. CLARKE, Of Kansas, remarked that merchants
In Topeka used OK teams for the transportation OF
their freight from LeavenwOrth, IL being cheaper
than the railroad rates charged between those points
Mr. PILE went on TO argue that the effort to regu-
late this subject by ENACTMENT Is impracticable and
can produce no favorable result.
MI fNGERs01f, (rcp.l Of ILL.,, argued at length in
favor Of the policy Of regulating the subject, and
protecting the interests Of the people against the
eXactions OF railroad companies.
Mr.. WAsnBuRNE, Nep) Of Ill., mentioned that the
gentleman from Wisconsin mr. Washburn) had pre-
pared speech on this subject, but was too III to
attend the session Of the House to-day. He asked
speech in the Globe. He favored the amendments OF
the gentlemen from Indiana tMr: washburn) and Of
eTea I%e nat W the adoption of those
the joint resolution would be acceptable to the
House and country.
Mr.. WooDBRIDGE, (rep.) OF w., in response to the
assertions as to the immense value OF the Pacific
Railroad charters alluded to the fact that the six per
cent bonds, payable with interest anu principal IN
gold were selling at ninety cents on the dollar and
that the stock was going begging mt little over
ffty cents. lie remarked that several times within
the last two or three years the entire work would
have been stopped but for the patriotism, the bold
ness and the money Of member OF the House (Mr.
Anes. He argued that by the terms OF the original
bill the government had no right to interfere to nix
the tariff OF prices until the profits OF the company
amounted to ten per cent.
Mr.. PRICE closed the debate In argument In
support OF the Joint resolutions He suggested that
II those restrictions were imposed II was within the
range of possibility that the companies which had
now the most difficult and expensive part Of the
work TO construct might cease operations, and In
that case he asked what the investments of the
government already expended would be worth.
They would he good for nothing.
The House proceeded to vote on the various propo-
sitions. The first question was on Mr.. Farnsworth's
proposition to recommt, with instructions to report
u bill regulating the rates OF tarin and fare.
Mr.. WAsHBURNE, OF ILL.,, suggested that the COM
mittee would not have another chance of reporting
this session.
Mr.. FARNswoRfB asked unanimous consent 10 add
TO his motion that The committee should have leave
20 report at any time.
Mr. CuANlER, (dcln., of n. v, objected.
The motion 10 recommit was r,jecicd-yeas 90,
nays pS.
Mr., BESJAMIS. ,rcp.l Of No., moved TO lay the
whole subject on the table, which was relected-3t
TO 6l.
| The question reeurrcd on the amendment OF Mr.
Washburn, OF Indiana, to strike out OF the Joint
luton the proviso ''that IL shall not take efec
unr there shall be continuous liue OF railroad com
| pleted and running from Omaha to SacramentO.r
| Tie amendment was ad0pted--yeas 16 nays ~.
| The question recurred on the amendment ofreret
by Mr.. Clark OF Kansas, that the iarn shall ex
ceed double the average rates charged the diner
ent lines OF railroads between the Mississippi rive
| and the Atlantic ocean, In latudcs north of st
! Louis The amendment was agreed to without divi
slon and the JOINT resolution, as amended was passe,
! by a vote OF = to -.
| THE ALLEGED ouTRAGEs on AMERICAN CITIZENS II
| MEXICO.
| Mr. CHANLER asked leave to Offer resolution
requesting the President OF the United states to IN
form the House OF al the facts, when they come &
his knowledge ~ to the treatment ol certain Ameri
citizens reported TO have been uniusty arrested
! imprisoned and logged while in prison by tn
authority OF an officer OF the government oi Mexico.
| Messrs. BUTLER and HARDING objected.
PRIZE CLAlMS--INIERShL rAXEs.