New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-01
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.

CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
THE LOUISVILLE AND PORTLAND CANAL BILL.
WASHINGTON Tuesday. March 81, 1874.
In these days when speeches are mostly made for
the sake OF getting them printed 1t Is refreshing to-
hear an effort that commands the close attention Of
the House. and by the force of It's arguments deter
mines the action of the body upon an important
measure. Such speech was delivered by Dir.
Wheeler of New-York to-day upon the Louisville
and Portland Canal bill. The advocates OF the bill
hid the field 10 themselves yesterday ana When NE
Wheeler took the floor this morning the House was
ready 70 nut the measure through without even the
formaty of n roll call After he had spoken an
hour he had won over a majority to his side, and he
ftervard defeated the Western men, under the lead
of Mr.. Holman. in one of the most exciting of the
minor contests of the session. The question at issue
was in reference TO the suticcncy OF the title to
In, given the United States on the payment of the
purc,ase money and Liabilities of the canal. In
their haste TO get the work into the hands or the
Governments 80 as to relieve the river commerce by
reducing the canal tolls the majority OF the Com
merce Committee had not given much consideration
10 the fact that Kentucky had not formally rein-
pushed the right TO TAX the property or coded her
jurisdiction over IL. The Kentucky Legislature does
not meet for two years the title 20 the canal can
moi be properly vested IN tine Government until then
MIR Wheeler objected TO paying ol&1OOO untn the
Ttl
feet and he carried his point. and succeeded IN
amending the bill in accordance ~lth hls lIeas III
IpIte of the determined opposition OF the western
nembers who were unwilling 90 wait 50 long Tor
the expected benefits TO accrue from the OH, ana
who believed the questions ABOUT Jne tllle' tdA-
alton, and jurisdiction TO be comparatively iihlId
teriaI.
THE sovrH CAROLINA TAXPAYERS MEMORIAL.
The presentation IN the House OF the memorial OF
the south Carolina taxpayers to-day raised slight
no tie
Dawes. in introducing the memorial, accompanied 1t
with a motion to refer ii TO the Judiciary Commit
tee and 10 give tie Committee authority to make
an Investigation and send for persons and papers.
He said that he did not see IN what way Congress
coud afford the relief asked but that the character
OF the citizens who made the appeal was such as to
iustify at least a full investigation OF the
Grievances Mr.. Randall thought he saw
in the action proposed by Mr.. Dawes
new effort in the direction of Capitalization,
which might be dangerous precedent. and he
warned the petitioners that there was no more dan
gerous power than the Federal authority, which
they sonpht to invoke. Mr.. RandalPs earnestness
attracted the attention of the House and crowd OF
members thronged to the center OF the hall, where
he and Mr. Dawes continued for some minutes an
animated discussion of the proprlety OF lnvesuga-
ting the local affairs of State. Finally Mr. Dawes
withdrew the motion authorIZihe 1he Nohilii''e" W
make formal inquiry, and referred the memorial
without instructions In the Senate, the
memorial was presented By Senator Fen
ton. who said it was an appeal for RELIEF
from misrne and corruption and for the protection
of the rights of property. 1t was referred to the
Judiciary Committee without debate. IDe TAX
payers delegation, in the course OF their round OF
calls upon prominent public men, waited upon zen.
Butler last night who said thathe sympathlzed win
the aims of the delegation, but that anything ne
mi pnt do TO aid them would be apt TO be miscon,,
strned la the course of the conversation, ne sald
IN Their efforts 10 win portion of the blacks over
to their side In their efforts at REFORM was pat sney
continued to spell negro with two "gs"
Ter Regular Report Of cos0rs'SioHsi Prooeod'H" '"s rI