The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-05-15

that the revenue laws should be so amend
ed as 10 permit shipmasters 10 purchase
ships wherever they can be most cheaply
procured.
18th. That we emphatically declare thai
the revenue law which forbids registry to
the ship of an American citizen simply
because she was built In q foreign land
and thus compGls him to float the flag OF
another nation above his property, Is q
burdensome imposition upon the people
Of this valley, and is policy only worthy
Of past age.
The fifteenth refers TO the fact that sv-
cry civilized nation except our own uses
iron hulls for vessels, and asks Congress
to ascertain the cause Of this and apply
the remedy.
The sixteenth asks that the laws be so
amended as 10 restore the prestige oil
American commercial marine, and en-
able 1t TO do It's share OF carrying the
trade Of the world, and II 1t Is necessary
the American master must be shielded
from foreign competition by the laws
which efectually interdlct iron steamers
on the rivers Of this valley and which
drives It's products into the English and
German ships on the ocean. There
should be some substantial government
encouragement given 10 the construction
Of iron vessels, and such federal patronage
as will sustain the American Steamship
Lines against this unequal competition,
and thus lit our once great merchant
marine from the dlsgraceful inieriority
and keep the lines and property Of our
people from being longer imperilled In
wooden ships and floating tinder boxes.
Atler Mr.. Rollins retired, EH Senator
John B. Henderson was introduced and
delivered lengthy speech, in which he
discussed the causes which have brought
the great and imperative demand for an
increase Of transit facilities, and what
led TO the controversy which now exists
between the stockholders and bondhold.
ers Of railroads on one side, and producers
and consumers on the other. He ex.
planned under what circumstances many
Of the railroads were built, the great
cost Of construction, extravagant manage.
ment &C., and said that tho railrosd
companies must necessarily pay their
running expenses and meet the interests
on their bonds or go into bankruptcy.
They also must struggle TO pay the diVi.
dends 10 their stockholders. To do
this, their managers insist they cannot
afford TO lessen tho prices Of transporta-
tiOn. He said Congress would soon have
TO meet these questions, and 10 treat them
impartially would be the part Ot wise
ststesmanship. lie deprecated the fix.
ing Of arbitrary schedules in disregard Of
business experience, and abolish all COM
petition in rates under the plan OF abol.
ishing distinction between competing and |
non. competing points, &c. There Is no
doubt, be said, but that the roads in many
instances have violated their charters and |
usurped privileges not granted by law.
Wherever this Is the case legislative and |
judicial authority must correct the evil. |
It is well that tho controversy has
begun. 1t will attract public at.
tention, and furnish subject for the
contemplation Of tho statesman far more
practicable and ennobling than the
threadbare issues of. the late war. It
looks TO the national interests Of the peo.
pie, and will inevitably bring in other i'm.
portsnt questions Of political economy.
The want Of the West, then, Is transpor-
tation. The railroads now constructed do
not, and cannot furnish sufficient iacili-
ties; but 1t Is by foolish war upon rail.
roads and the owners Of railroads that
we drive capital into other channels In
preference. We shall have aggravated,
instead Oimitigated the railroad. BE then
speaks Of the Mississippi as an avenue
of connection, and says the government
by eXpending onetwentieth Of the money
ithas invested In western railroads, could
furnish depth Of water sufficient TO carry
to the seaboSrd the increasing products at
one.iourth Of the present cost. When
speak oil the country mean the East and
West, North and South. He also advoca.
ted the enlargement Of the tributaries oi
the Mississippi river, and said the streams
East and West ot the Alleghanles should
be connected by canals; mentioned the
James River & Kanswha Canal, the pro.
jected canals in Alabama and Georgia,
the enlargement Of the canal between
Lake Michigan and the Illinois river, the
Niagara Canal and other enterprises Of
similar character. In all oi these pro.
ects the East and West are no
less interested than the North and South.
He then gives the history Of the rise and
fall OF our National Marine and urged
that some measure should be devised to
restore 1t 10 It's former eminence. he
thought however, that before our com.
merce can be restored, that the tariff and
currency systems would have 10 be re.
Vised; but he declined to discuss these
questions. He advocated the construc.
ton oil three iron ship building yards, one
on tho Atlantic, one on the Mississippi
river, and the third on the Pacific coast,
for the construction OF government yes
sells and ships for private individuals. BE
then gave tho history OF the Uulon Pa.
ciflc and Central Pacific Railroads, and
showed how they had violated their
pledges, and the law In discriminating
against the Kansas Pacific which
Ia q branch road and under the law should
be operated as part oi the main line.
Judge Kennard, Of New Orleans, then
spoke Of the distractions at the mouth Of
the Mississippi River, showing In a con-
elusive manner what great injury they are
TO the commerce Of the valley and coun-
try, and how the evil can DO remedled by
the construction OF the St. Philip canal,
the feasibility Of which Is unquestioned
Tomorrow the session will be given up
to general discussion, and various gentle
men are expected to express their views
on the questions which have been pre-
sented 10 them.
The excursion to Texas will leave Fri.
day morning early, Cid the Atlantic &
Pacific Railroad. It will stop at Spring.
field over night and receive the hospltAli.
ties Of the citizens there, and proceed
next morning 10 Venita, and thence to
DennisoD, Houston and Galveston. The
excuEslOnista will number about one hun.