Evening star., 1870-01-29
FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings.
SATURDAY, January %, 1870.

SENATE.-The Senate is not in session TO-
day.
HOUSE.-The House assembled as in Com-
mittee OF the Whole, for debate only. MT
Churchill, of New York, presided, and there
were about twenty-five or thirty members pre-
sent.
MIR. Williams (Ind.) addressed the Committee
in opposition to monopolies in general and rail-
road monopolies in particular. He denied the
right of eminent domain claimed by the States
over railroad lines within their borders, and ar
gued in favor of the right of Congress and the
as great commercial highways between the
States. And in order to foster such enterprises
he would aid them by Congressional subsidies.
Referring to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
he said it was monopoly without soul, body, or
heart. 1t stands at the door of the West to pre-
vent an approach to the capital, and it says 10
every man who approaches, "Your thirty cents,
or you can't pass over my road" 1t was unlike
every other monopoly in the land, for il had
successfully defied the Congress of the United
States, and it refused to pay taxes upon the
money 1t had stolen from the whole people OF
the country. The road had not the least claim
upon the kindness or consideration of Congress
tor any particular, for it had always proven it
self inimical to the Government of the United
States. When the late war broke out this road
and those who managed it were not found upon
the side of loyalty in the country, but on the
contrary it was doing all to embarrass the Gov
ernment. He then quoted letter written by
which he agreed to cooperate with the author
ties of Baltimore to prevent the passage of
troops over the soil OF Maryland. In view of al
the road had done it deserved nothing at thr
hands of Congress. He would appeal to til
people of the United States to strengthen tn
hands OF Congress, and send only such repre-
sentatives here as would break down these
monopGes in the interest of trade and industry
Mr.. Wilkinson (Minn.) addressed the House
upon the same subject. Al the industries OF
the West, he said, demanded that Congress
IL tn hpaol
road mOnOpOlies. The business of the West was
suffering, and was almost prostrated. Especially
was this the case with the agricultural interests
This interest was not prostrated because of the
tariff, as some claimed, but because of the out
rageous and exorbitant demands of the railroad
monopolists of the country. 1t was the monop-
olized carrying trade of the country that was
running lthe Northwest, for the farmers were
robbed of millions and millions OF dollars by tn,
exorbitant charges, which they must either pa,
or allow their grain to rot in their granarieS
He cOntended that the remedy was with Con-
gress, and that it had full control over tht
charters of these companies, and could regulat.
them.
In answer to question by Mr.. Eldridpe. Mr..
Wilkinson said that in his Judgment, Congress,
had the power to take charge OF railroads in the
States that formed great commercial links
This power he said he believed was vested un-
der that clause Of the Constitution which de-
claIed that Congress should regulate commerce
between the States.
Mr.. Bird IN. J) inquired whether the gentle
man Delleved that Congress could take for in
stance the railroad running through New Jer-
sey and control its freight and other charges and
regulate them?
Mr.. Wilkinson had not the least doubt that
Congress had right to do this thing, but that
was its duty to do il as a rebuke to New Jersey
for fostering this monopoly. Mr.. Wilkinson
hoped Congress would take speedy action upon
this subject, and he gave notice that he wouI
himself introduce bill declaring the policy OF
Congress upon the subject.
Mr.. McNeely (Ill) obtained leave to print
speech upon the finances.
MIR. Smith (Iowa) made a short speech i'm de
fence of the Secretary of War and of the impu-
tation thrown out against him by the speech OF
Mr.. Dawes.