New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-21
BY TELEG RAPH.
CONGRESS.
Senate.

and cheapening the rates of Transportation
between the interior and seaboard: asking
for the Improvement OF the natural water
routes. etc. He said, in presenting these
conclusions of tke National Board of
Trade. he did SO. as an expression of the in.
creasilg feeling in this country upon the
important question o: cheap 'ransporta-
tor. He must Insist that this question 20.
day ;s demanding more attention thar the
squestion OF finance. He knew of no cues.
zion OF so much concern 20 the Western
people as that of cheap transportation, and
ne hoped the committee having the matter
in charge would be prepared at an early
day to submit to the Senate some prac.
cal solution Of this problem. If the
foreign markets were to fix the price Of the
grain of this nation, then il became im
pOrtant 20 the people of the West, and of
the whole country. as TO what the charges
snould be between the point of production
and the point Of sale. The charges row
imposed by railroads. steamboats,, middle.
men and commission merchants exceed
three-fold the price paid the producer.
This question must be met IN some form
by the people of the United States, but
more particularly by the Congress Of the
United States. He did not know where the
solution would come from, as he had lost
all hope of bringing the railroads 20 a fair
and just compensation for the tyanspOrta-
ton of products. They met the producer
at every point with the old common Jaw
doctrine--the statement that he should
have his freight transported q. a rea.
sOnable compensation, and If the
charges were more than reasonable, he
could 90 10 court and hav it settled by the
court and jury, but how hopeless it would
be now for the shipper to go 20 court. The
expense meets him at once and drives him
away, therefore he has no redress. The
people are no more than moderate in their
demands for the national government TO
consider this question. He belonged 20 that
class which believed there could be found
in the constitution OF the United States
power TO meet any question OF national i'm
portance. The powers of the constitution
are ample and full 60 meet all exigencies at
all times FOR the wants of the people. He
believed power could he 1vdnd in il
to meet this question Of transportation;
there was power conferred by it
for Congress TO cross the line-lOok into
States-to construct railroads and canals.
until the people OF all sections be satisfied.
He had no local feeling in the matter, but
if tho great West was TO be cramped and
confined for want OF Transports soE. less
than a quarter OF a century would pass
before Europe and the great East would be
clamoring for the products o. .he West.
The people Of the Wes. are active. indus
triou. and enterprislng. and they would
transfer the manufactures OF the East and
Great Britain TO their own section and thus
use their own products. The vast rurp.us
of pork, wheat. corn. barley and rye. OF
the West could hardly be estimated. 4
market must be folnG. He differed FROM
the National Board Of Trade as to :hc
lower Of Congress i'll TIE matter. The board
seemed 20 have doubt as TO that power.
h-s ip 1nI Ia nal
had power 70 eonstrpc: a RAILROAD If it was
deemed expedient to do so. He did not
Say Congress had the right 10 regulate
charges on private railroads. but !t conlI
confer powers on a corporation TO construct
railroad and prescribe the rates and fares
20 be charged. He had not vet made up
his mind to vote a single dollar from the
national treasury for that purpose. but
would be willing ~ vote for one such road
{" be constructed from New I0ri. 20 che
Missouri. river. with branches 80 Chicago,
st. Louis and other places: should
he vote for that. however. he would be OK
pected TO vote for fifteen or twenty more
such roads. and that he was not prepared 60
do. He asked that the petition be referred
TO the Committee on Transportation Routes
TO the SeabOard. with the request that the
committee, within reasonable time, should
present its conclusions On this intricate
their industry and thought they would be
able TO present satisfactory solution Of ,t,
but their report would be step in the right
direction. The petition was referred 20 the
committee.
Mr. Bogy. Of Missouri, havin. obtained
unanimous consent, said the question of
cheap transportation had assumed that of
great importance, as no doubt all telt. A.
though he did not wish 10 give in hie adhe-
sion 70 the party called Gran2ers. he hailed
the birth of thar organization with q great
deal of pleasure. The farmers OF the West
felt che wrong they labored under. IN his
impression the object desired was the open
ing OF natural water routes of the interior
leading to the ocean, the Improvement OF
the Mississippi, Ohio. Missouri and other
large streams Of the West. He thought che
mouth Of the Mississippi shonld l,e improved
SO chat the vessels OF Che larger class could
come 20 New Orleans. Remove these OBJ
structions. he remarked. and We will have
afforded 20 tho great West the means to
cheap transportation and given she people
the means 70 reach {, reign markets with
their products. He did not favor the con
struction OF . railroad now; proposed !e.-
ting that rest for the time being and con
fnins legislation TO :hu opening Of the
great water routes.
Mr.. Morton. of Indiana. asked unanimoss
consent TO take up the resolution for the ad-
mission of p. B. S. Pinchback to the Senate
as Senator from Louisiana. He said he de-
erred 10 have the resolution taken up, that
he might make motion TO have it recon-
United TO the Committee on Privileges and
Elections. with instructions TO serd for
persons and papers. and to investigate as
to the matter. Since last Friday he had
received information justifying him in the
belief that an investigation, under Che
circumstances, should be made.
Mr.. McCreery. of Kentucky. said he had
obtained the floor some days ago for the
purpose of addressing the Senate on The sub
.ject of Louisiana affairs, and il it met the
view of the Senate. he would appoint Mon
day. after the expiration OF the morning
hour. to submit remarks. He. therefore.
objected 20 the resolution being taken up
now.
Mr. Morton gave notice that after che
gentlemen iMcCreeryj should conclude on
Monday he would move that the resolution
be recommitted for the purpose Of inve.tigs.
ZION. Mr.. MoyteG said. for the purpose Of
avoiding apprehension he would state Oh.
matter which he proposed to have inves
tigated when he asked 70 take np tie yeso.
luton of admission Of Pinchback was 10
haze the Committee on Privileges ana
Elections inquire not as 70 whether Pinch,
back was elected By the Legislature o:
Louisiana. nor as - TIE validity of the
Kellogg government, but as 80 the per.
soma! conduct of pinchback himself in CON.
aection with that election.
On motion Of Mr.. EImunds the Senate
went into executive session. and after tive
minutes the doors were opened.
The consideration of the resolution re-.
ported by the Finance Committee IN regard
to relieving the money stringency was re.
sumed. Mr. Browniow. of Tennessee. submit.
ted remarks, which were read by the clerk.
the Senator being too feeble TO speak. Hs
thought an immediate return TO specie pay.
ment would be destructive 70 the business
of the country. Our present dnaneiai sys.
TEN. he thought. was very good. but ca