Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-22
whop.ins Railroad scheme.


whopPing Railroad Scheme.
Mr.. Hurlbut from the Committee on
Rsilways and Canals submitted a long
written report on the bill to charter a
double track freight railway company from
tide water on the Atlantic TO Council
Bluffs on the Missouri river, and to limit
the rates Of freight thereon. Ordered
printed and recommitted.
The report recites various features of the
existing railroad system and says the COM
pany proposing to build this great freight
railroad will accept the low rates of freight
agreed upon by the committee: 10 cents a
bushel from Chicago and Is cents from st.
Louis, etc The company asks the Govern
ment to guarantee its per cent bonds at
the rate of $4,000 per mile, and while the
committee is not in favor of railroad sub
sides, it thinks proper that the matter
should be fairly submitted TO the American
people. 1t therefore reports the bill with
out any recommendation.
The Pacific Mail.
Mr.. Cobb, from the Committee on Post
offices and Post-roads, offered resolution
for the printing of testimony taken before
that committee and the Committee on Ap-
propriations, on the question of additional
mail service to China and Japan. Adopted.
The Mississippi Levees.
Mr.. Morrey, from the Committee on
Mississippi Leyees, reported bill to pro-
vide for the appointment of a Commis sioI
of Engineers to report a permanent plan for
the reclamation of the alluyial basin OF
the Mississippi river subject to inundation,
and he proceeded to address the House in
explanation and advocacy of it.
After discussion in which Mr.. Willard of
Vermont, opposed the bill for proposing to
tax the whole people for the advantage OF
the owners of these alluvial lands, the bill
went over until tomorrow.
Louisiana Relief.
Senate amendment to the bill for the re-
lief of sufferers by inundation by the lower
Mississippi, was cOncuTed in.
The House at 2 o'clock went into Com
mittee of the Whole, Mr.. Woodford in the
chair, on the legislative, executive and ju-
dicial appropriation bill.
The Salaries of whisky Gaugers In
creased.
About an hour and half was spent iI
discussing the question Of the pay of gaugers
under the internal revenue laws. The bill
contained proviso that their minimum
pay shall be five dollars per day.
Mr.. Banning moved to strike out this
proviso and on this the discussion pro-
ceeded, the most notable things said being
an assertion by Mr.. Foster that while mem.
bers were very ready to practice economy
against clerks in the departments they were
not so ready to do it against Office holders
In Iicfrafc- cfa
of Mr.. Sypher that the influence of Cincin-
natl distillers was exercised periodically
for the purpose of closing up New Orleans
distilleries so as to getcontrol of the whisky
market.
Finally the resolution to strike out was
lost, but a motion to substitute seven dol
lars for five dollars day, was carried.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Dunnell
to substitute for an item of 100000 for
postage stamps for the Treasury Depart
ment, an item of $, 900 for the cost of fur
nishing official postage stamps, was ruled
out of order by the Chairman on the ground
that the amendment conficied with the
law abolishing the franking privilege. An
appeal having been taken the decision was
sustained by vote of ITO to SO.
At this point and after having got
through only one page of the bill, the COM
mittee rose. The slow rate Of progress
made on the bill thus far has been chiefly
owing to the
Difficulty Of Getting a Quorum
TO vote on any proposition. Much time has
been wasted in this way and in the re-
sulting necessity of having the roll called.
The bill contains seventy printed pages
and although it was reported over two
months ago and has been under considera-
tion four or five weeks and only the
twenty-second page has been reached. The
House at quarter past five adjourned, the
last roll-call having shown that there was
no quorum present.