The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-03-07
42d CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, March 0.
HOUSE,

AlIeF INC feCepIlOn ceremonies several
memorials were read, and the bill grant.
Ing hall OF the Government island at Sar
Francisco TO the Central Pacific Railroad
was taken up
Mr.. SARGENT, Of California, explained
about the Pacific Railroad and steamship
companies, and admitted that an arrange.
ment existed by which the latter could
not take teas or lreights from China unless
sent East by the railroad. lie claimed
this as duo the grasping prOpensities OF
the Panama Railroad, which by It's exac.
tons sites 1OaiSe Of the Isthnus was
thr0ttling commerce.
MIR. STRONG referred 10 the enormous
subsidies granted to the Pacific Railroad
Company, while the men who built the
road had put forty millions clear into the
capital stock after building the road. Con.
gress had dealt liberally with the railroads
and loaded them down with lands and
subsidies. He said that the report of tho
army engineers showed that no partzan
can be safely parted with.
Mr.. KELLOGG, Of Connecticut, favored
the bill. The island was valueless except
Tor defensive purposes, and the portion OF
1t which the Government wanted for a
lortitication was the portion which the
railroad company did not want. The bill
was for the interest Of commerce rather
than for the interest oil q railroad COM
pany.
Mr.. BUTLER, of Massachusetts, " ished
to offer an amendment giving claimants
to any portion Of the island occupied the
right TO bring suit against the company.
Mr.. BINGHAM objected.
MIR. MERCUR advocated the bill. He
looked on it as being in the interest Of the
Government and commerce.
Various amendments were proposed
and directed to be printed, and the bill
went over until tomorrow.
The House then went into q Committee
of the Whole.
Alter a long discussion the bill went
over, and the House took up the deficiency
appropriation bill.
Mr.. WOOD, referring TO the Ku.Klux
discussion yesterday, expressed his disap-
probation OF the speech Of MIR. DA YVES,
who instead of combining himself to tho
figures oil arithmetic, indulged in the
figures of speech on political and partisan
subjects intended to have their effect on
the Presidential election. The attention
Of the people was not to be attracted to
the absolute issue OF the colored race. The
Democratic party intended to put forward
the issue Of reforming the corruptions of
every department Of the government
They intended TO denounce and bring
home and prove that from the Prcsiden.
tial mansion down to the humblest federal
official, tho whole concern was reeking
with corruption. That was the issue
which would be before the people at the
next election. The Republican party, he
said, had no uncaslness in respect TO what
was said to be the issue. lie said but one
theory and one principal in regard to that
was 10 hold every public official RESPONSE
bic.
Mr.. BROOKS, of New York, suggested
an explanation of the fact, which so much
surprised Mr.. DAWES that the New York
Custom House was on Manhattan Island.
Whenever the Democratic party discov-
cred corruption it rose up and ovcrthrew
them, whereas the Republican party only
voted to confirm and strengthen corrup.
tions in its own midst. The Democratic
party struck at robbers, while the Repub-
lican party erected statues to them. As
TO the question Of the colored race, he in
stanCed as proof that Democrats enter
tanned no prejudice on account Of color
from the fact that his colleague, Mr..
WOOD, had walked into the hall to-day
arm'in arm with colorcd man, one of
the japanese ambassadors. Laughter. I
4, The discussion was further continued
by Messrs. EIDRIDGE, BUTLER, Of Mass,
GARRETT, TOWNSEND, BECK and GAR
FIELD,
Mr.. DAWES offered IN amendment for
the payment Of laborers, workmen and
mechanics in tho government employ at
the rate of full days wages ior full days
work.
After long discussion on the labor
question, Mr.. FARNswoRTH offered pro.
Viso to MIR. DAWES amendment that the
labOring men in the United States, who
work ten hours, shall not be taxed to
make up the deficiency for those who
only work eight hours. Laughter.
Agreed TO-
MIR. DAWES amendment as thus amend.
ed was rejected.
Mr.. BUTLER, Of Mass, renewed Mr..
DAWES proposition in different form,
appropriating $450.000 for the purchase.
This was also rejected.
The committee reported the bill back
to the House, and without voting on it
the House adjourned.
SENATE.
Mr.. MORRILL,, Of Vt, had q document
read, signed by Giles A. Smith, which is
being sent to all the leading railroad men
in the country, urging them TO unite in
demanding 50 per cent advance for carry
ing the mails on their roads without rclCr-
cnCe TO existing contracts. It shows that
Vanderbilt, Tom Scotland Jay Gould had
agreed TO the plan. Mr.. MORRILL, said
he hoped an explanation OF this matter
would be made.
Mr.. MORRILL,, Of Vermont, said that a
document had come into his hands to
which he felt bound to bring the attention
of the Senate. He sent up and had read
circular signed by Giles A. Smith, and
addressed to the leading railroad men
throughout tho country, stating that q
movement was on foot To secure the pas.
sage Of an act to increase the rates paid
to railroads Tor the carriage OF mails,
fl(ly per cent, without reference 10 exist
ing contracts, and proposes that they
should favor the movement and make
contributions TO aid 1t. The circular
gives a list Of railaoad presidents who, it
says, have already entered into the ar
rangement, among them Vanderbilt,
Thomas A. Scott and Jay Gould.
Mr.. MORRILL, said that the signer Of the
circular was formerly distinguished OIL.
Ger in the army and afterwards an officer
Of the Postoffice Department, and that
he appeared to have resigned to go into
this business. He (MoRRILL) hoped that
the gentleman charged with having Hn