Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-22

MASSACHUSETTS INTERESTS.
Mr.. Dawes has reported, in the sundry civil
appropriation bill, the amount due Massachu-
sets from the general government for coast de-
fences during the war of the rebellion. The
items amount to $3.50, 1O0.OG. OF course it will
be opposed in the house, but it will probably be
adopted.
SENATOR SUMNER.
Mr.. Sumner is better and was at breakfast this
morning, but the general opinion, among his
friends, is, that he will not take his seat in the
senate again this session. He needs rest more
than anything else and will probably have to
leave Washington for a time.
ANOTHER CHAPTER OF TEDIOUS STORY.
The McGarrahan joint resolution, passed by
the house, yesterday, has gone over to the SEN
ate, where it will soon be called up. The oppo-
stiOn to it will endeavor, however, to talk it to
death, if they cannot defeat it in any other way,
and the session is so short that they will prob
ably succeed.
TRIUMPH FOR MR.. DAWES.
Perceiving that the appropriation bills werein
danger, Mr.. Dawes moved to so suspend the
rules as to take them from the committee of the
whole, and have item considered in the house
till disposed of. The friends of private schemes
opposed this, but the yeas and nays were order
ed, when the house, by two-thirdS majority,
adopted the resolution. This ensures the pas
sage of all the appropriation bills, if the senate
does its duty.
FUN FOR THE MILLION.
The carnival proceedings were rather more
oaticfaotprt- fbo thnp hoe
gloomy, whereas yesterday it was very fine.
The crowd upon Pennsylvania avenue was quite
as large as yesterday. The programme winds
up tonight with two grand balls.-one for
masqueraders, at the National theatre. The
president, and two or three of his cabinet MEM
bers have attended upon the proceedings faith
fully.
CONTESTED ELECTIONS.
At is aScertained that there are fifteen cases of
contested elections in the next congress, with
probably two Or three more to come from states
which have not yet elected. This is decided
improvement over the present congress, which
had over thirty contests in the house. The
house settled another case of contested election
this aftemOon-that of Shields VS.. Van Horn, of
Missouri. The republican keeps the seat, aud
the democrat, Gen. Shields, gets $4,000 for eX-
penses. The house voted it promptly, which
looks as if it thought he had pretty good
claim TO the seat. SAM WELLER.
Go the Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 81.
BILLS SIGNED.
The president has signed the bill providing
for territorial government for the District OF
Columbia.
WRECKED.
United States Consul jackson, at Halifax,
telegraphs that tine British ship Zoe, which late
ly cleared from Boston with provisions for the
French, was wrecked last night on Bell Rock,
near Halifax Vessel and cargo are a total
loss.
CAUCUS.
The republican members of the forty-second
congress will hold a caucus, Thursday, March
I'd, for the nomination of officers of the house.
THE EZRA OF GOOD FEELING"
The carnival festivities closed this afternoon
with tournament and procession of maskers,
both houses Of congress adjourning in time TO
see the latter performance.
THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC ROAD.
The Southern Pacific railroad bill, passed by
the house this afternoon, requires the corpora
ton to meet in New York, within ninety days
from the enactment of the bill, open subscrip-
ton books, and organize company when the
$4,000 900 in stock subscribed and S200 900 will
be paid. The capital of the company is limited
TO fifty millions, unless congress authorizes an
increase The purchase and consolidation of
any existing railroad companies on the route,
with all their franchises and land grants, is au-
thOrized, though forbidden with any competing
line to the Pacific, and the right of purchase or
to accept state or individual grants of land for
legitimate purposes of the company, are con-
ceded The right of way is 400 feet wide through
the public lands forty acres of land wherever
it is necessary for station or other purpose to-
gether with twenty alternate sections per mile
of public lands through the territories, and ten
sections per mile IN California, granted to the
company, with the provision that land not
sold within three years from the completion of
the entire road shall be subject to settlement
and presumption at not over $50 per acre
Construction bonds are secured by mortgage
on the road, rolling stock and franchises, and
land bonds are secured by mortgage on land
grants. The construction of the road will be
begun at both ends. A land patent will be is
sued on the completion of every twenty miles,
and the entire road will be finished in ten years.
Only American iron, except that already pur-
chased, is to be used. The government is to
have the use of the road on the same terms as
private individuals, and to have precedence in
its service, and congress have a right to fix
passenger and freight tariffs though either shall
not exceed those of the Central and Union Pa
ci6c roads.
Full liberty is given other companies to con-
meet and intersect the Southern Pacific, and the
latter is forbidden to discriminate in favor of or
against any such companies. The directors of
the company are prohibited all shares or interest
in contracts for the construction, equipment or
running of the road, and any such existing con-
tracts are annulled.