New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-13
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
THE CENTRAL PACIFIC RAILROAD AND THE CONTRACT
AND FINANCE COMPANY.

THE CENTRAL PACIFIC RAILROAD AND THE CONTRACT
AND FINANCE COMPANY.
WASHINGTON, Monday, Jan. II, 1874.
Mr. Luttrel of California. just before the House ad-
journcd to-day, introduced preamble setting forth
specifically that the Central Pacific Railroad has re-
ccved from United States and from California and
the counties and corporations within that state,
and from Nevada and Utah, the enumerated
amounts aggregatlDg Sl56,s25,0OO IN gold; that
the directors made contracts with certain of their own
number to construct the road known as the Contract
and Finance Company" who received the profits OF The
contract and have acted 10 defraud the
United States Government dc. inc resolution az
pended provides for the appointment OF committee OF
seven 10 appointed by the Speaker with full power
70 send for persons and papers 10 investigate the acts
and business OF the directors OF the Central Pdcihc R
road Company, and to recommend to Congress such
measures as will secure the Government and
the people against the combinations to de-
fraud the former and Cypress the atter'
and that the Committee examine into all the tansac
tions OF said railroad also into all transactions had Win
the Western Pacific Railroad, California ana oregon
Railroad and all other roads connected there
with; into all transactions had by and between
said directors and Charles Cf0ckcr ~ 20, anu
all transactions had With the so-caled Contract ana
Finance COmpany. Wells, Fargo q CO., ana al olhci
corporaons and individuals for material FURNISHED ana
construction OF said Central Pacific Railroad or any
other road connected herewith. The preamble ana
resolution with the testimony taken IN the D,s'T r
CptraI Pacihc Rar0ad referred to the Committee
on Pacific Railroads, who viii examine INTO THIS suJee'
4 CRITICISM on THE BOOK OF ESTIMATES.
Dnring the debate the Naval Appropriation bl
in the House to-day there was amusing scene be
tween Messrs Beck ana Garfield Mr.. Beck had been
slashng away" at the extravaganza of the govern
ment of the Navy Department in particular, and had
stated that the appropriations made last session were
sl5OOOOoO than the estimates THIS Mt. Ganeii
positiyely denied. Then Nh. Beck produced what
appeared 10 be the Book OF Estimates, ana READ
the figures, whereup0n Mr. GARFIELD eXhiDlteu u
hook of similar appearance from which he read
an entirely different statement. Each asserted that ne
was rignt and that the other mistaken, and Tor
some minutes each brandshed bis big book at the other
IN the most vehement manner. Finally, Mr.. Garheiu
went across 10 Mr. Beck and examined his volume, ana
then II turned out that Mr. Beck had got the "fODg
| document-a report Of the warrants drawn on the
Treasury and not of the appropriations. Mr. Garfield
| severely criticised the Treasury Department
| for making up the book Of estimates In
| manner TO deceive Congress and tue country.
He showed that in the table contrasting the estimates
for the present fiscal with the amounts approprl.
ated only the estimates submitted at the beginning OF
the session included in the column all those suDsc-
House from heads Of departments being omitted WINE
in the column all the appropriations made III inc
exceeded s5OOOoOO and their omission made Congress
appear to have been more eXtraVseah iha the uepdr
| ments in giving them more than they asked.
| THE UTAH AND WOMAN SUFFRAGE QUESTIONS.
AT the meeting Of the House Committee on Territories
! this morning Mr. Cannon, delegate from Utah, con-
tnued his argument against the Anti-Poygany BILL AT
the beginning OF the session. Mr.. Mckee, the CHAIRMAN
stated that Mr. j. h HWilcOX, delegate from the New
York Woman Suffrage Society, was present and would
like hearing that part OF the bill which hbollshe'
Woman Suffrage memorial on this subject from that
Society was presented by Mr.. Mesh, and read
to the House Mr.. Carey, DistrctAttorney OF
Utah. stated that he would like to Ice heard
against woman suffrage in Utah. The Committee de
cded TO hear each gentleman for half an hour on We'd
nesday. During conversation that preceded THIS
agreement Mr. Mckee stated that this bill 10 unite Ger
tam parts OF Wyoming with Colorado had been assaed
by tne woman suhraglsts on the gronnc
, | that II IL designed To Qsfranchse tho women
Of wyoming but that In fact II had not occurred 70
him. The bill which was intended 10 reduce expenses
would have that effect Mr. wilcox replied that th