The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-08-13

I'll tue olst Ol august. Inc acLS
passed embrace one hundred and
forty-four pages of the statues. All
but the first thlrty-seven pages are
covered by acts approved on the last
taoO days Of the session. Earlier ad-
ministrations had planted the Nation
al Capital, had framed the leading
features of our land system, had de-
dicated liberal portions of our public
domain to the cause of popular edu.
cation, and had commenced the
Cumberland road and other works of
internal Improvement. When, after
nearly thirty years of misrule, you
drove the Democratic party from
power, the Cumberland road was
still unfinished, anu the party had
been educated to believe that the
National Government had no consti.
tutonal power to complete such
work.
That singular faith did not prevent
the party from entering upon such
works, but. seemingly, only from
completing them. They did not re-
frain from making appropriations,
even for improving rivers and har-
bors. Sometimes such appropria-
tions were made regularly and some
times irregularly. Apparently they
were scrupulous only that appropria-
tions should be made at such times,
in such sums, and for such purposes
as would promote commerce least
and party interests most. On the
approaches to Wilmington, N. c.,
appropriations were made at various
times, amounting to more that $780,
900. Wilmington has swelled from
population of seven thousand in
1850 to thirteen thousand in 1870.
On the Red river in Louisiana there
was expended at different times more
than five hundred thousand dollars.
That river washes eight counties in
the State Of Louisiana. Those eight
counties had population in 1910 of
fffty-fo thousand; in 1870 of one
hundred and six thousand. On the
harbor of Chicago, which is the
gateway to the Northwest, the home
of millions, they doled out appropri-
ations amounting to $4,000. On
the harbor at Milwaukee they appro-
priated in 1914, $4,000. Eight years
later they resumed the work, appar.
emily with the determination of COM
pleting it. Fifteen thousand dollars
were appropriated that year. The
year following they appropriated the
munificent sum of $l63. "a, and then
rested from that labor. Congress
voted other appropriations for simi-
lar works, which encountered the
Executive veto; and Democratic
Representative es, finding they must
disobey either President or people,
decided to disobey the latter and
obey the former.
THE LOUISVILLE CANAL.
A great natural highway, the Ohio
river, along which is poured q com.
merce of incalculable value, was OBJ
structed by rapids near Louisville.
The interests of that commerce re-
quired canal to be built around
those rapids. Congress did not as
sumo that duty, nor even let it alone.
The State of Kentucky chartered a
company to construct that canal and
to toll the commerce of the Ohio.
The United States aspired to the
dignity of stockholder in that COM
pany, and achieved it. The Gov
ernment took and paid for 1902
shares, at one hundred dollars each.
Private parties took 7,O9s shares.
The canal was built, the tolls were
fixed, commerce bled, and the com.
pany's treasury filled. The revenues
were so large it seemed a pity the
Government should share them. But
as a stockholder, the Government
was entitled to nearly one.third of
the net revenues. The Government
was not represented in the manage
ment of the company. That was
governed by five directors, each Of
whom was a stockholde er. Those
directors concluded they could make
better use of the revenues than to
divide them with the Government.
To that end they resolved that the
canal ought to be made free. In
order that it might become free it
was resolved that the net revenues
should be applied to the purchase of
the private stock. Having found a
market tor the stock, there was moth
ing left but to fix the price of it.
That modestly set by the directors
at only fifty per cent, premium.
Kentucky sanctioned the arrange
ment the United States was not
consulted. But it was evident that
if the earnings which belonged to the
United States were appropriated to
purchase private stock, the United
States would soon own a majority of
the stock. To avoid such catas.
trophy, Kentucky required the direc-
tors to pay for the stock with Gov
ernment funds, but to have the stock
transferred to the directors, who
should hold it in trust for the United
States, but vote on it as the legisla.
ture of Kentucky required.
In pursuance of these direc-
tions, the directors proceeded to
apply the surplus earnings to the
purchase Of the private stock.
Between 1912 and 1855 they paid
for such stock, of the par value
of $7O9,soO, the sum of Isl. .709,262.
Then the directors admitted that
they received enough, and notified
the secretary of the Treasury they
were ready to transfer the canal to
the custody of the General Govern.
ment SO soon as the Department
may be prepared to receive it."
But it happened that at that time the
Secretary was also a Kentackian.
He evidently felt that he could take
some liberties with his friends. He
accordingly replied that Congress
had not authorized the acceptance,
"but requested the president and
directors each to retain one share,
(for eligibility and to manage it un-
der the charter until authority might
by law be conferred on the De-
partment to receive it." The presi-
dent and directors very promptly ac-
ceded to that request. 1t should be
noticed that the conduct of the Sec
retary exhibits an instance of defer
ence to legislative authority on the
part of a high executive officer which
is believed to be quite unique. He
could not feel free to take charge
of the canal himself, because Con-