New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-07
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.


Chamber of Commerce took place last
evening.
President glesby called the meeting to
order.
The minutes of the previous meeting were
read and adopted.
Mr. Highly, Of the commit e on obst uc
tions, reported seventeen feet on Southwest
bar; that the tide set back from two to two
and half feet, and that one of the dredge
boats had not been operating. The great
est obstruction to navigation. in the opinion
of the committee, was Senator West, who
had chosen to disregard the instructions Of
our Legislature, the expressed wishes o.
the city government and the request Of
this Chamber, and support the Eads scheme
in opposition to the Fort St. Pb ''p canal,
thereby preventing the passage Of the bill
A committee was recommended to insure
the early representation Of the matter to
Congress
A letter was received from Samuel ID.
Laws, of Cincinnati, relative to tare and
tariff on sugar, which was referred to a
committee.
A letter was received from ex-Auditor
James Graham, denying that the two first
coupons on the bonds of the New Orleans,
Mobile and Texas Railroad had been paid
by the State as asserted to the committee
on railroads of the Chamber.
Mr.. Bayley, of the committee, said the
statement had been made on the ground
that the State had sued for that interest
That an examinat ion of the books OF the
Auditor supported the statement of Mr.
Graham. 1t seemed strange however that
the Superior District Court had given
| Judgment for the whole amount. The com
| mittee had no intention OF reflect ng on MI
Graham's conduct as Auditor.
Colonel j. II. Sandidge, the delega+s o:
| the Chamber to Wash ngton, to advocate
the taking charge of the levees by the
national government, reported that on his
arrival it was too late in the session to in
duce Congress to adopt measures to thai
| end. The House had already passed thu
appropriation bills, and a suggestion oi
amendment in the Senate was not adopted
| The sole reliance WAS now in the levee
comm ssioners and presenting the matter
again to Congress at its next session. A
hopeful view was presented on the Fort St
| Philip canal as it was certain the commits
sion of engineers authorized by Congress
would report in favor Of it.
| On motion of W. w. Howe, Esq., the
| thanks OF the Chamber were rendered tC
Mr.. Sandidge.
The following letter was received from
| Senator West:
UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER, I
Washington, d. c., June "a 1874. }
Jose ii II. Oglesby, ESQ.,, President Chamber OF
Commerce, New Orleans:
| / believe that your Chamber should be
| authoritatively informed OF all proceedings
| in Congress with respect to the opening Ot
the mouth of the Mississippi river, and that
| correct information as to the features OF the
case would be Of advantage
Many misrepresentation and mlsstate.
ments have been indulged in. Some OF
| these have been directed against me, and
while it has been repugnant to my nature
| to ask to controvert irresponsible rumors.
| transmitted through press dispatches and
| the sayings of persons speaking without
authority and without proper Information,
| | recognize my responsl blilty to your
| Chamber as a representative body OF my
! constituents, and am at all times ready to
| respond to any demand made by you for
| an account OF my course. l shall be IN
| New Orleans bv the tenth or twelfth
proximo, and will take pleasure in reply.
! ing to any inquiries your Chamber may
| deem proper to make of me. Believing
| that frank understanding will contribute
| to the success yet to be attained, l am
very respectful, etc, j. h. WESI.
| Colonel Sandidge said he was aware the
Chamber did not approve the course Of
Senator West, but it was just he should bt
heard, and on his motion the following res
olution was adopted:
Resolred, That the president be author
lied to communicate with Senator j. Il
West the willingness of the Chamber t.
hear any observations he may make In re
| gard to the action of Congress ON the i'm
proved outlet of the Mississippi river.
&C. Forshey, Esq, with few remarks
submitted document stating the history o
| all action relative to the Fort st. Philip ca
nal since 1880, and the results of the mission
! of himself and Governor H5bert, just termi
mated.
| Professor Forshey said that he and Gov
| ernor Hebart, who would submit separat,
report, had sometimes acted together an(
sometimes separately, and this would &C
| count for the different modes Of expressio,
in the report
After detailing the varions resolution
and appointments of the Chamber, che Pro
| tessor said:
In obedience to instructions verbally
| given by President Oglesby, l reported a
once to Senator West, and though rather
| coldly received by him, l announced my
readiness to appear before the Senate Com
mittee to reply to the arguments OF Cap
tain Eads. West stated that he had made
a powerful impression, and promised as
early as possible to get an audience for us.
AS already reported, this hearing was
we'll DELAYED till the twenty fifth of March
nearly two weeks after my arrival, and full
twenty days after the arrival of Governor
Hebert, who had not been noticed by the
Senator. -,
This subject would not be deemed worth
this second report had not subsequent
events led to doubts of the sincerity OF the
Senator from Louisiana. 1t is with some
share of humiliation that confess to this
suspicion, but am impressed with the con-
viction that so grave suspicion SHOULD DC
established or dissipated.
Under similar instructions called upon
General Sheldon, member of the House
from New Orleans. This call was duly
honored by introductions and attentions
becoming representative. ! was intro
duced to the chairman of the Committee on
Railroads and Canals, who promised me an
early, opportunity to address the committee
on the subject of our mission, Governor
Hebert having been already before them.
| On the morning of the twentieth of March