New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-04
and tOrcible argumen. IN support q the
constitutional mower of Congress 70 regulate

larry thorough and convincing. lie Clteu recent
judicial decisions, including one by Justice Strong
of the Supreme Court, in support of his position,
that the power conferred upon Congress by the
Constitution to regulate commerce between the
States extends TO that most important portion
OF commerce which is carried on by railroads. Ii
such power did not reside in Congress- then he
argued that the railroads were independent OF all
control except far concerned their traffic with
in State lines, for State could make no laws bind
ing on q railroad outside Of its own boundaries
The vast interstate traffic, and still more important
traffic between the West and the seabOard, that
crosses several States, must remain free from all
regulation by law, unless Congress asserted its
power over it.
When he came TO the discussion of the necessity
for action by Congress to prohibit extOrtionate
charges by the railroad, Mr. McCrary did not give
as cOInous statement of facts as might have been
wished, but those he mentioned were strikingly TO
the point. Amonga few instances Of discriminating
freight charges, which he cited examples were
the following:
The tariff a certain class Of freights from Roch-
ester n. Y, TO Hannibal, Mo-, was 81 per 100
pounds, while on the class from Worcester,
Mass. to the same place it is only 60 cents. On
certain Western road the charge on q car from one
terminus to point 100 miles from the other ter
minus was $40 more than for the whole length Of
the road that is, the company charged that
amount extra for not hauling the car the last 100
miles.
Speaking of the tribute paid by the grain pro-
ducers of the West to the railroad monopoiists, he
presented statistics to show that the amount re-
ceived by the railways for transporting grain IN
1873, from the Mississippi Valley to the seaboard
was SIS 600 in excess of double the cost Of the
transportation. Mr.. McCrary did not believe that
the opening of new water lines would afford COM
plete relief As TO railroad to she West built in
whole in part by the Government, that was last
resort but, IL undertaken, Congress would have to
control the other roads, TO force them to connect
with it. Us argued in favor of his bill as the
simplest and surest measure of relief.
The bill creates Commission, with power to fix
freight and passenger tariffs. which are not how
ever to be binding on railroads, but whenever dis
regarded will serve as prmd facie evidence
judicial proceedings to determine what are inst and
reasonable charges. The debate promises to last
several days.
TX-GoV. HEBERT's VIEWS ON TIE CONSTRUCTION
OF THE FORT ST. PHILIP CANAL-UE Is OPPOSED
TO ARTIFICIAL JETIIEs Al THE MOUTH OF THR
MISSISSIPPI.
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THg TRIBuSE.l
WASHINGTON March Sex Gov. Hebert of Louisi-
ana, once an engineer officer of the United States
Army made an argument to-day before the House
Committee on Railways and Canals in favor Of the
construction of the Fort St. Philip Canal and in OPP
position to the proposed plan of improving the
month of the Mississippi River by means of
jetties. He said that an attempt had once
been made to deepen the channel at the passes by
the construction of jettles, bat that it had com
peteIy failed and the money expended for that pur
pose had been thrown away. The Mississippi River
had been for thousands OF yoalB coast. 4ctins Hau-
raj jetties, which now extended from Baton
Rouge to the Gulf, distance OF $50 miles.
The building Of artificial jetties would only re-
suit in removing the bar which now obstructed
navigation but would not effect any permanent i'm
provement. He thought that If money enough was
expended in building artificial banks for the Mssis
sppi River at its mouth, the passes would finally be
removed after several centuries to somewhere near
the coast of Yucatan. He did not think, therefore,
that il would be wise for Congress to make con-
tract with Capt Eads of ST. Louis to improve navi-
CATION at the mouth Of the Mississippi River in this
way. Gov. Hebert believed the construction Of the
canal perfectly feasible, and thought this the only
way to open permanently the great highway to
commerce but believed that the advantages to be
derived from it would fully warrant its expenditure
EXORBTTANr CHARGES FOR PRINTING.
ENORMOUS CHARGES BY THE CONGRESSIONAL
PEINTER FOR DEPARTMENT woRK-How con-
CREssIoNAL DOCUMENTS ARR PRINTED Al A Low
FIGURE.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO TBE TRIBUNRl
W1sHrsG1oS March 3.-The First and Third
Assistant Postmasters- General and other Post-Oce
officials were before the House Committee on APP
preparations to-day, urging further appropriation
in order to enable that Department to have the
necessary printing done during the current fiscal
Of fha laat of
press for that purpose S175OO0 being already nearly
exhausted. During their statements before the
Committee some interesting facts in regard to the
charges of the Government Printing Office were
elected. II appeared that previous to Jan. l no
statement of the cost of printing and material was
rendered the Post-Ofice Department with the
articles furnished Since then the records show
that from 80 to 1,G00 per cent more
than would be charged by any ordinary job Office
ia charged by the Public Printer. For printing
ON lOOOO envelopes the words, "Post-Offce Depart
ment First Assistant Postmaster Generals once;
Official business" he rendered bill at % % per
900; for furnishing so copies each OF two postal
treaties, not occupying more than 30 pages each
$3.50 for each lot was charged and the same amount
for 50 copies of regulations under the postal conven
ton with the North German Union, 20 pages. For
furnishing circulars letter size, the regular charge
has been about 90 per 1000; $l3S was charged for
slips for the railway mail service which respecta
bic printer offered to furnish for " 30. Ordinary
npe is charged for at from 81 10 to 8 20 per ream,
note letter. and cap paper Every article laid De-
fore the Committee seemed charged for in the same
extravagant manner.
From the statements thus made it would appear
that in order to arrive at the figures for printing
done for Congress as set forth in the detailed report
A. hadu nv he COnpre6gIOnal Printer