The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-21
CONGRESSIONAL NOTES.
Republican Programme for the Rest OF
the sessiOn-CheaP Transport alton
The House Night Debates-Preparing
for a Great Revolution OF Parties.

RepubIican Programme fOr the Nest OF
the session-cheap Ira nsporta tion-
The House Night Debates-Preparing
for a Great Revolution OF Parties.
WAsHiNGToN, March II, 1874.
The House OF Represen tatives having. by resolu.
ton, formally declared that IN the power to regu-
late commerce "among the States" Congress has
the power TO regulate the rail- Dads Of the country
In their lreights and fares from State to
another; and the committee on the subject having
reported "a BIN to regulate commerce by railroads
IN the several States" ana the members OF the
great West, with an eye to the sufcrings, the de-
mands and the expectations Of their constituents,
desiring to place themselves right upon the record,
and the daylight deliberations Of the House
being devoted to other matters, the bright
idea OF night session OF an hour or
two has been adopted ior the discussion OF cheap
transportation. Thus the members charged with
statistics Of Western wheat and corn, and the ex-
tortOns OF railways In the transportation Of corn
and wheat to the seaboard, are furnished the op-
pOrtunity Tor the delivery OF their speeches. and
for their publication in the Congressional Record,
and thence IN the local papers which circulate
directly among their constituents
THE GRANGER INFLUENCE
These night sessions, therefore. apart from any
design or expectation Of passing the bill ito regu-
late commerce by railroad in the several States,n
serve their immediate purpose of placing these
Western members right upon the record before
the grangers. These grangers will require in the
coming fall. when the elections for the next Con-
gress will be the crucial test, strict account on
cheap transportation from every member OF the
House dependent upon their surr ages And, IL the
gentleman from Des Moines, Tor instance, when
called to the book, can produce or refer to
speech which he delivered in March, April or May
in The House, setting forth the hardships, the
tOrtons and losses imposed on the western farm
ers through the desp0tlSm OF the Runway comDlna-
tons upon winch tney are dependent Tor the car
rylng o, their crops to market, ana demanding the
intervention OF ongress, the gentleman from Des
MONIES Will pass the grangers' Inspection anu his
reelection VIII be ASSURED. He Knows there Is 10
prospect Tor the passage OF the pending bill this
session, unless the grangers bring powerful
lobby TO bear directly upon the two houses; he
knows that the grangers have not, yet, 'gOt tne
hang OF the LOBBY" but ne knows Ihat they expect
him to aglate and ventiiate TINS matter OF cheap
transpO Iation, and he knows, too that in the line
Oh this duty lies the road to preierment Hence
these night sessions.
AN EXHAUSTIVE DISCUSSION TO BE HAD.
But there Is much more in them than speeches for
Duncom.e. lhey are the breaking OF the ground
upon new and dinicut question Of the grandest
Proportions question which the HERALD several
years ago loresaw would before long become a
leading political question. Every great revolution
or reform IN numan analrs is preceded by a
OF agitation, sometimes ''shOrt, sharp and deci-
slve," and sometimes protracted and prosecuted
Till pushed to conflict o. armsS Every advance
made in our political history, from the constitu-
ton oil 1853 to the fifteenth amendment, is marked
by ITS period OF agitation, though most oOnsplcu-
GUS upon our calendar stands the slavery agira-
tlon ended at last only In deluge OF blood and
hre. This new. gigantic and embarrassing ques-
ton of cheap transportation. in It's turn, can be
settled only through thorough ana general agi-
tation-an exhaustive discussion IN Congress, by
the press ana among the people This is under
stood III the House, and these night sessions
the subject mark al least, the regular opening OF
tins exhaustive discussion.
REVOLUTION OF PARTIES.
The power OF Congress over the railroads OF the
country Is affirmed; but how and how lar shall or
can 1t he al pleay The obstacle Oh state rights ia
already inIerpOsed against the bill before the
House, limited as 1t Is in It's regulations rail-
ways and their commerce among the States. There
ton OF powerful railway coalition against this
bill The old United States Bank. winch it's
conflict with General Jackson required all his
force OF Character, tenacity OF purpose and great
popu aiity 10 put down, was q mere fiea bite COM
pared with the stupendOuS mOneyed power OF
combination OF even two or three OF our present
appliances OF this stupendOus power, awaiting
the development of this conflict between
the railway kings and the people, before
sink into general contempt. The conflict on State
rights threatens disruption OF the democratic
party; and, nrst, the generalization and next the
present Indications the oil Tor the regulation OF
the railways Will not materially disturb either
party IN thus Congress until after the coming fall
elections Tor the next Congress.
THE REPUBLICAN PROGRAMME.
The republican programme Tor the present ses.
sion embraces compromise on banking and cur
cutting down OF the appropriation bills to the
saving OF $780, 900 and $40000000 or $50 600
OF additional taxation, to exc out the neediu sup
pines Tor the treasury; some incidental Custom
House reforms and the postpOnement to Deem
Der next OF the bill for the regulation OF railways
But the speeches az these night sessions may be
compared TO The skrmisn line OF an army advanc-
Ing 10 ieei the enemys position, and the main bat
tie Will be opened IN the fall elections.