Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-04-05
F0RTY-FIRST CONGRESS-.
This Aiterlssn's Proceedings,
MONDAY, April

MONDAY, April5 S.
SkNATH-Mr. sumner introduced a bill 10
prevent the United States court. from an sorc-
ing contracts relative TO slaves. R.fern-a ,o
Committee on Judiciary.
Mr.. Chandler called mp bill authorizing the
New York, Newfoundland and London Tel.
graph Company to land their submarine cables
on the shores Of the United States, the Question
teing on the suerdment sf Mr.. Stockton 10
authorize any company chartered by any State
to land its cables ON our shores but su6lect to
the jurisdiction OF Congress.
Mr.. Sto,kIOn ad vocated his amendment and
aIsued against giving this privilege to one
company exclusively, and taking the general
line cf argument that these matters should b.
left to the States: that Congress should make
NO legislation upon the subject The power of
Congress TO interfere with these matters was a
SUBJECT Of much doubt, and he thoug ht n ~houId
be referred 10 the judiciary Committee for ex-
animation. Ii had been over and over again
decided, both by the FEDERAL and State courts
that Congress had no jurisdiction.
Mr.. Stockton continued his argument until
the expiration OF the morning hour, when tue
the interests of the Urited States i'm the Union
Pacific Railroad, WAS announced by the Vice
President as being before the Senate.
MN Morton introduced bill in rrIation TO
tne construction OF bridges over the Oaio riyer
keferred 10 COMMITTEE on Commerce..
Mr. Chandler moved TO postpone the unfin-
isned business for the purpose of proceeding
with the Telegraph bill, which was not agreed
The Union Pacific Railroad bill was hen
proceeded with, the pending question being on
the President to fx the point or iuacuon OF the
Union Pacific and Central Pacific roads, aud
toappoint Board Aot interested in either rold
TO examine and report upon the condition of
both roads and the proper point of Junction.
what sums are necessary to complete elch OF
SAID roads; and also authorizing the President
10 wnnhold from each Of the roads a suficIent
number OF bonds to insure their completion as
nrst-class roads in every respect.
Mr. Howard opposed the adoption of the
amendment He did not think this labor ought
10 be imposed upon the President, and he did
not believe the President would wish to un-
dertake IL. Mr.. Ii. then read from yariou,
documents as to the action OF the late Secre.
tary OF the Interior, Mr.. Browning, which he
held TO d absolutely the lines from Mountaiu
Point to Echo Summit, and upon which both
companies were bound to build. But It seems
that the Union Pacific COMPANY, having
passed Monument Poin., has seen fit TO diyeIse
10 line north of the line fixed by the Secre-
tary. He Mr.. H. was in favor of settling this
question by law. otherwise a long and com pli-
Gated lawsuit would result bet ween the.e two
companies. and the people OF the United States
would be deprived for months and probabIy
tween the two coasts. He had an amendment
which, at he proper time, he should Offer and
which he thought would meet all the dificuI-
ties.
Mr.. Sherman denied that the Secretary ~ .ss
Inferior had any authority to IN the point of
junction, and II was essential that some COM
petent authority should nx the point Of Juno.
non, and AT once, for these roads were both
demanding the Government bonds. The Union
Pacific had now built their track thirty miles
beyond Ogden, which the Central Pacific
claimed was TO be the point OF junction.
Mr.. CoDkling asked which conpauy WAS
keeping en- the line.
Mr.. Sherman replied. As to that, it could
not be definitely settled, because n was NOT
certain that any line had been legally fixed
He thought II was Inexpedient 70 commit the
decision OF this matter to army officers, as was
m .alA h~rA NJ
them away from their duties, but that a should
De entrusted to board selected by the Pr,si-
Mr.. williams suggested that Mr. sherman
modify his amendment to provide that rhe
point OF Junction shall be dxed according "a,
the legal rignte Of the respective roads.
MI. Howard said tins would compel the
President into q Court Of Justice
MI. sherman would have no objection to the
modification but that IT would seem to in vite a
iessa ontfoveTsy, ana he did not think there
mr.. Heward asked Il the dc ecision of the Sec
re'iry Of the Interior fixing the poIEt of June
uon was not TO be regarded.
Mr.. Sherman could not concede that the Sec-
retary OF the Interior had any authority TO nx
the point. The Secretary had no right to fix
ths line upon the mere examinatIou of q map
winch nad been laid before him, and which
might be Inaccurate.
Mr.. Howard had heard these rnumat,on.
thrown out before about the inaccuracy of this
map BY parties who had been here an The
WINTER in the interest Of the Uaiou Pacific
Company, but he oould not think the Central
Facihc people would be 30 ollnd to their own
interests as 10 offer map which was not cor
rect. The Union Pacific Company had tWics
received notice Of the point OF junction q xed by
the Secretary of the Interior, but they had gone
in defiance of the law. He did not believe IN a
commercial corporation attempting 10 carry
things their own way, but, that they should he
made TO bend to the law.
Mr. Sherman aid he would accept the modi.
ncaiion TO has amendment, proposed by Mr.
Williams.
The amendment Of Mr.. Howard proposes
mat Generals Sheridan, Thomas, Mcdowell,
Halleck, and Thomas J. Durant be a Bolrd of
Commissioners with authority 10 establish
point Of junction winch shall be on the line
already approved by the Secretary Of the In
terror.
HousE.-Under the call OF the States for bills
and resolutions for reference, the following
were introduced and referred:
BY Mr.. Ella IA. II BILL to provide for IN.
printing OF the Congressional record. Com.
mittee on Printing.
BY Mr. Jencks (R. I.l-Bm to establish a
trencbment.
By Mr.. Negley tPa.)-BnI to reduce tn.
number OF Officers in the United States army
Ot mmittee on Military Affairs.
BY Mr.. Welker (Ohio)-EIlI TO provide for a
system OF education an the district Of Colum.
ola Committee on the District OF Columbia
the District of Col ambia. Same reference.
BY Mr. Lawrence (Ohio)-Bill to establish a
Law Department. Commirtse on Retrench-
Also, bill to preserve the purity of the elec-
tions and 20 provide for fr- discussion in the
late rebel States. Committee ON Reconstruc-
tlon.
BY Mr., Trimble (ky.)-Bil making an ap-
preparation Of SiW',0U0 for the erection of a
Court House, Post Once and Internal Reye-
nue. onAces at Paducah, Kentucky. Committee
on Appropriations.
BY Mr.. rrosssr (Tenn.)-BuI making An an.
preparation OF S25,OOO for the erection of a
United States Oustom House At Memphis,
Tenn. Com mitt6e on Appropriations.
BY Mr.. Judd (lll)-Bill anendatory Of
national bankrupt Law. Committee on the Re-
vision of the laws.
By Mr.. Magma (Tenn.)-B,u authorizing
the cities in the District of Columbia TO Dor.
row money and Issue bonde. Committee on
District Of Columbia
BY Mr. Stevens, IN. H.)-Joint resolution
regulating the houre Of labor IN the Govern.
ment navy yards. Committee on Naval Az
fairs.
By Mr. Hooper, (MasaEJoint resolution
authorizing The transfer OF the revenue cutter
s. p. Ohake from the lakes to the seaboard.
Committee on Commerce.
By Mr.. Winans, (Ohio )-Ban 10 provide for
funding OF Treasury notes and for rsfundine