The Portland daily press., 1874-02-05
The House resumed the consideration of the

The House resumed the consideration of the
army appropriation bill
MI BECK offered an amendment to the item
IGr transportatlon, providing only actual trav-
er H. ~ expenses oe allowed any person whatev-
ciarng Illegal all allowances for mileage and
transportation in excess OF the amount actually
paid. WV ",o"' "'J
=, Mr. wheeler assented to the amendment If
t1e pr0Viso added that it would not be constru-
ent allowance ~ - Inv 'Ao PioS-
ingy. N'' "nienuhen' accoro-
o,d ~ tne debate upon which followed. it was
S S mat great abuses were committed un-
oes Jus present system, Mr.. Beck instancng a
from Washington to Boston CHARGED m;Iesrp
vs., iIotn w ashington to Baltimore then from
;wasninSton to Philadelphia, then from Wash
t tuS' VI 20 New York, and then from Washing
~ ~ VI boston, and it was claimed on the other
iv ,h suas IL would operate very unfairly. Final
y vns amendment as modified was agreed to.
MI. Holman of Indiana, offered an amend
.isnt iofnl idIng the payment out of the appro-
pr,a.lohs 10 the bill of any money for the trans
Soi.at'oh OF property or troops of the United
n.a,es OF OF military officers duty over any
aal'ioau winch was constructed in whole or by
alu OF land grants on condition that such road
should De public highway for the use of the
government, free of tolls or other charges. He
.naHe statement in support of his proposition,
GsSsine among other things that the Illinois
ernn,,. nau received nearly $5000000 for gov
ernment transportation during the war.
MI Hurlburt of Illinois, explained that the
amount paid the Illinois Central during the
war was under contract with the government
ny Wnlch some two-thrds or three fourths of
11tu ,iy charges were allowed, the government
having first the right of way to the exclnson
OF all other business
MI. u; +. Hoar of Massachusetts. suggested
TO MI Holman that he should limit his amend
nleht TO a provision that no money be paid any
tan M: Iof performing any service for the
the United States required to be performed
without compensation by the terms Of its or
ganic act
MI. Holman asked Mr.. Hoar whether he con-
Tended that fair construction of the law was
mat the government should simply have the
use OF the tracks
Mr.. Hoar replied that what he was prepared
70 say was that it would be a gross injustice for
congress to declare that until the question was
ludlclally determined, it should enforce upon
the railroad the construction which Congress
gave to the question without the railroad COM
panles being heard in reply. That was what
he had also objected to in dealing with the Pa
chic railroads He moved to amend the amend
ment by making it read, con condition that
TRANSPORTATION should made free of CHARGE
Mr.. Potter of New York. agreed with Mr.
Hcar tnat Congress should not lay the strong
nand OF Its power on persons who had great
Judicial questions pending between them and
the government, and predetermine it against
such persons.
"A long debate followed, in which Mr. G. f.
Hoar drew picture of the Congressman who
quietly directed legislation so as to give equal
justice to all interests, and another who de-
nounced corporations and told his people thst
he stood betwes them and monopolies; and
Mr.. Holman accused Mr.. Hoar of being a rail-
road attorney, which the latter denied
After further discussion substitute offarad
by Mr.. Willard of Vermont was Adopted as toll
lows: And no part of the money appropriated
by this act shall be paid to any railroad compa-
ny for the transportation of property or troops
OF the United States over any railroad which in
whole or in part was constructed by aid of
grant of public lands on condition that such
railroad should be public highway for the use
OF the government of the United States, free OF
toll or other charge for such transportation, nor
shall any allowance be made out of any money
appropriated by this act for the transportation
OF officers of the army for any such road when
on duty and under orders as military officer
of the United States, but nothing herein con-
ia ned shall be construed as preventing any
such road from bringing suit in the Court Of
Claims for charge of said transportation and
recovering for the same if found entitled there
to by virtue of the laws IN force prior to the
passing of this act.''
Messrs. Cymer of Pa. and Hale of N Y,
having asked to be excused from service on the
joint select committee on affairs of the District
OF Columbia, the Speaker appointe Messrs.
Hamilton of N. j., and E. H. Roberts of N,
Y. i'll their stead