The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-03-22
HOUSE.

lhe Ulll rom the committee on
Commerce to authorize the appointment
of Shipping Commissioners was post
poned till this day two weeks.
Mr.. Lynch, from the Committee on
Commerce, reported bill to facilitate
commerce between the United States
and China and Japan and other Asiatic
countries. The bill incorporates the
Asatic Commercial Company, TO deal In
the products and construct public works
in these countries necessary for the
transaction of its business, the capital
stock to be $5,0O0000. with the privi.
lege OF increasing, DC.
Mr.. Randall characterized the bill as
"a monster designed to crush out lndi-
vidusl enterprise.
Mr.. Lynch replied that it was merely
authorizing this company to do what
an individual would have right to do.
A similar bill had been passed for the
Bolivia company.
Mr.. Wood explained that the Chinese
government required some recognition
Of the company by the government OF
the United States.
Mr.. Kerr coutended that Congress
had no constitutional power to enact
such a law. 1t belonged to no func'
tons OF the General Government. If
the citizens of the United States wanted
to carry On commerce with any other
nation they had perfect liberty to do 30.
All that they needed in order to make
that liberty the more effective was
greater freedom under the navigation
laws and the right to purchase, con-
struct and arm ships. There were too
many corporations in this country. All
the wealth Of the country was being
aggregated in corporations. 1t was
also this entire system OF Congressional
legislation that he protested.
Mr.. Cox advocated the bill. While
agreeing with Mr.. Kerr as to the crush.
ing influence of powerful corpora
tions, be was ready to vote for the
repeal OF the whole national banking
system. Congress had certainly as great
right to pass this bill as it had to create
a corporation for carrying on a mer
camille or manufacturing business 10
New York, Boston or Philadelphia.
These gentlemen night incorporate
themselves under the laws Of the State.
But this was the pioneer Of other
measures. He had seen a newspaper
statement that the Committee on Com
merce had agreed to report a bill in
cooperating grand monopoly in the
country. At the same time he would
givethe companies the facilities by
which the commerce Of the country
might be increased.
Mr.. Willard opposed the bill, and
said it was very clear to him that Con-
eress had 90 power to create corpora
lions except for some object contem'
plated by the Constitution. Congress
had lust as much right to do business in
the City of Mexico, and he had no doubt
that the House would soon have bill
incorporating railroad companies in
MEXICO, South America, Japan and
other countries, and what would follow
Just as soon as these corporations got
into auy difficulties abroad they would
call upon the Government Of the United
States for protection, and involve the
United States in trouble.
Mr.. Lynch said tha: this company
would have no more claim on the Gov
ernment than any private citizen would.
w. R. Roberts understood this com.
nenv IN he a sort of an East India
Company. ,
Mr.. Peters said that the House had
already refused q subsidy for commerce
with China and Japan, aud was it DOW
going to refuse to company OF citizens
the right TO trade with these countries
Mr.. Potter opposed the bill. he said
it granted to this company rig ht to do
in New York city that which the
statutes OF New York prohibited as q
misdemeanor, the right to issue rates.
Mr.. Cox thought that his colleague
| (Potter) was not the gentleman TO ob
ject 10 this bill. after voting TO give q
million of dollars to the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company.
Mr. Potter said he voted to give the
corporation Of his State help to do that
for which it had been incorporated.
Mr.. Cox intimsted that Mr.. Potter:
opposition to this company might b'