The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-03-01
HOUSE.

duced q resolution authorizing the
Secretary of the Treasury to sell the
Custom House property at Plymouth,
North Carolina, at public auction.
Referred to the committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds.
The House then resumed considera'
ton Of the bill to extend the time tor
the completion of the St. Croix and
BAYFIELD, railroad, which had been or
dered to third reading before the adj
journment yesterday.
Mr.. Stevenson, OF Ohio, askei unan-
imous consent TO have read at the Clerks
desk a letter on the subject from the
Commissioners OF the Land Office,
which he (Stevenson) had brought flom
the files in the room Of the committee
on Public Lands.
Mr.. Scofeld, of Pennsylvania, and
others objected to anything further in
the nature of debate.
Mr.. Stevenson then asked permission
J to have letter Of the Commissioners
, published in the Congressional GEobe,
but objection was made.
Mr.. Holman, Of Indiana, said he held
in his hand memorial 81 gned by a
very large number OF the most influen-
, tial citizens of Wisconsin, showing the
value OF these lands and protesting
against voting them to this road He
asked, but failed TO- obtain consent to
read the memorial.
Mr.. Hanks, OF Arkansas, then moved
to reconsider the vote whereby the
House had Yesterday ordered the main
question on the bill.
Mr.. Sawyer OF Wisconsin, moved to
lay Mr.. Hanks motion on the table.
Not agreed to-ayes 50, noes 81.
Mr.. Hanks motion TO reconsider was
then agreed to-ayes l03, noes 81.
Mr. Holman then entered a motion
to commit a bill to the committee on
Public Lands with instructions to so
amend it, as that the State OF Wis
consin shall be entitled to all lands that
would accrue to the Northern Pacific
railroad in case this road was not to be
built.
Mr.. Hanks being entitled TO the floor
Welded to Mr.. Cox, who gave his reasons
io- opposing the railroad land grants in
general, including this one, which had
twice been defeated IN Congress.
Mr.. Stevenson quoted a letter OF
the Commissioner OF Public Lands to
show that this bill does increase the
grant Of land to the railroad companies,
Notwithstanding that its advoc ates deny
1t. The people had instructed their
representatives, without distinction Of
party, 10 vote against granting any
more OF the publicl ands, and demand
ed that we stop, and yet there are bills
now pending in Congress recommend.
ing that we grant 2OO,OOO,OOO acres,
equal to the entire area of Kentucky,
Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana.
Mr.. Holman made the concluding
argument against the bill, and moved
10 lay it on the table. Not agreed to
ayes, 81; nays, 90.
Mr.. Darrell being recognized as en-.
titled to the floor, yielded to Mr.. Beck,
who stated that he was opposed to rail.
road grants, but would vote for this bill,
as it was not new grant, but simply a
renewal Of a grant upon the faith Of
which lsege number OF actual settlers
had bought lands. He charged that
the oppositlan to the bill came from
! parties in the interest OF the Northern
Pacific railroad, which only awaited
the lapsing Of this grant to step in and
lake possession. The Pennsylvania
Central, which virtually owned the
great State OF Pennsylvania, was max
ing itself active in the matter, and the
King OF that ir,mense corporation had
been here yeste; Iay, and seemed to have
antagonized the bill to considerable
effect
Mr.. Kelly said that in justice to
Colonel Scott he must correct Mr.
Beck's statement as he Colonel Scott)
had remarked to him yesterday in the
presence OF several gentlemen that he
was Indifferent to the fate of this bill
and that for once there was a railroad
bill before Congress in which he felt no
interest.
Mr.. Banks said on the contrary that
he knew Colonel Scott had made per-
sonal appeals within two hours past for
the government to oppose the bill
Messrs. Negley and Killinger corob-
grated Mr.. Kelly's statement and re-
peated Colonel SCOTS language to them
! yesterday.
Mr.. Banks stated on his honor that
Colonel Scott had made direct appeals
to defeat this bill.
Mr.. Kelly asked Mr.. Banks if he
intended to call his (Kelly's) veracity
into question ?
:sMr. Banks disclaimed any such in.
tention, but said the facts only showed
that Colonel Scott talked one way
yesterday and another way to-day.
Mr. Eldridge, OF Wisconsin, advocated
the bill, on the ground that it did not
vote away any lands, but really pre-
served them to the people, aud kept
them from the grasp OF the Northern
Pacific Railroad, as that gigantic corpo-
ration was waiting to take possess on
OF them the moment that the time allow
ed the St. Croix road expired.
Mr.. Dunnell, OF Minnesota, closed
the debate with an appeal in behalf Of
the settlers who for twelve years past
had bought lands at double prics. along