The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-01-25
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, January "a.
aHNATE.


SENATE.
On motion of Mr.. Wilson, Of Masss'
chusetts, Mr.. Anthony was choser
President pro TEN. in the Absence Of the
Vice President.
Mr.. Wilson introduced q bill to au'
thorize the construction Of a pneumatic
tube road from New York to Chicago
Mr.. Merrill. Of Maine, reported from
the Committee on Naval Officers bill
to authorize the President to appoint
Captain C. Il. Preble Q Commodore in
the Navy
Mr.. Wilson introduced a bill for the
relief of Nathaniel Mckay. Referred
TO the Committee on Naval Affairs.
At the expiration of the morning
hour, the Senate resumed the consider.
alton of the legislative, executive and
judiclsrl appropriation bill.
Mr.. Sherman, OF Ohio. said there
were questions connected with the cur
re ncy which it was indispensably neces'
sary for Congress to consider at an early
day. There was already law requir-
ing a transfer of $25, 100000 bankinc
capital from the east to the west, VIII Ich
the Com ptroller claimed to be impracti.
cable, and there was also a question oil
the right of the Secretary OF the Treas
ury to reissue any portion Of the re-
tired and cancelled United States notes.
Mr.. Ednunds, Of Vermont, offered an u
amendment to the appropriation bill,
directing the Secretary of the Treasury
TO withhold all payments to railway
companies, on account Of freight or
transportation of any kind, to the
amount of any payments made by the
United States for interest on bonds OF
the Uuited States, issued to any such
pany, and not reimbursed.
Mr.. Stewart, Of Nevada, made the
point OF order that the amendment, be-
ing new legislation, was not in order
upon an appropriation bill.
The President pro tenn overruled the
point OF order. .,
Mr.. Edmunds, of Vermont, said Mr..
Sargeant had been firm and consist
ent advocate OF these railroads through
good and bad report, but the Senate
had shown him no good reason why
these railroads should continue to keep
in their pockets the money which be-
Ionged to the United States.
Mr.. Stewart said the United States
could sue for the money il any money
was due.
Mr.. Edmunds did not believe in pro-
crastination that in the next few years
the railroad companies would make
millions of dollars for the stockholders
and if the United States did gain a suit
it would probably never recover dam
ages. He proposed by his amendment
to offer the method for the adjudication
of the dispute.
Mr.. Sherman, of Ohio, doubted the
Jurisdiction of the Court Of Claims.
Mr.. Edmunds then offered the fol-
lowing, additional to his amendment :;
" And any such company may bring
snit in the Court Of Claims to recover
the price of such freight and transpor-
tation, and in such suit the right OF
such company to recover the same upon
the law and the facts Of the case shall
be determined, and either party to such
suit msy appeal to the Supreme Court.
Mr.. Sherman feared that this amends
r,ent would narrow the position OF the
United States in the matter.
Mr.. Stevenson, OF Kentucky, offered
substitute for the amendment direct
ing the President to institute suits in
the Court OF Claims against the Pacific
railroad 10 recover the interest paid by
the United States on it's bonds issued
for the benefit OF said railroad. He
said the gigantic railroad corpor ations
OF the country were warning on the
rights OF the Government and Of the
people, and they should be compelled to
Weld obedience to the law.
Mr.. TrumbuIl, of Illinois, held that
the railroads should be dealt with fair
'Iy and did not regard it as just that the
entire amount due them by the Govern
nent should be withheld, because no one
would ever have undertaken 10 build
the road with such an understanding.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen, Of New Jersey,
said the presumption was that the
companies were entitled to have one
halt of the amount due from the Gov.
ernment, and be questioned the justice
OF this amendment.
The Vice President announced as the
committee OF conference on the disa-
sreeing votes OF the two houses, in the
Vienna Exposition, Messrs. Schurz,
Harlan and Casserly.
Mr.. Stewart gSve notice OF an amend
ment in the nature OF q substitute. 1t
directs the Attorney General to cause
proceedings to be instituted in proper
Court OF the United States for the pur-
pose OF ascertaining if any obligation
of the Union Pacific railroad, the Cen.
trsl Pacific, or any other railroad com
pany created by the act OF July lst,
1862, or Of the act Of July ID, 1854, 10
relation to the interest on the bonds,
remains un fulfilled, and to enforce the
same if any there be against said COM
panies
After further discussion, the Senate
adjourned till Monday.