The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-03-05
CONGRESS.
SENATE.
lWAaHTNaToN, March

SENATE.
-..as WASHINGTON, March 4.
The Chair laid before the Senate q Join
resolution Of the Wisconsln Legislature
asking Congress to provide for the con
struction Of q ship canal around Niagart
Falls Referred.
A number Of bills for the reliet OF yari-
Gus persons, reported from the Committee
on Claims, were placed on the Calendar
Mr.. Harvey presented Q resolution ol
the Kansas Legislature, asking Congress
10 take immediate stepa for the relief ol
certain homestead settlers In that State
whose rights are jeopardized by railroad
companies. Referred. NJ
Mr.. Ramsey submitted resolution in
structlng the Committee on Transporta.
ton Routes to the 9eaboard 10 consider
and report upon the expediency Of i'm
proving the water routes and railway
communication from the Mississippi Val.
ley to the seaboard, and to regulate the
commerce among the States by cheaper.
ing transportation between the East and
West by improving the navigation Of the
Mississippi river from It's source to the
Gull Of Mexico, and the navigation from
Lake Superior to Lake Ontario, and by a
double.track freight railroad from the
MiSsissippi river to the ocean at the low
maximum rate Of six mills per ton per
mile. The resolution was laid over.
The Senate discussed the liquor traffic
bill till the expiration Of the morning
hour, an amendment having been offered
BY Mr.. Bayard providing that all Of the
Commissioners 10 make inquiry should
not be in favor Of prohibitory legislation
or total abstinence,
At the expiration oil the morning hour
the bill was laid over, and Mr.. Carpenter
proceeded to speak on his bill providing
for q new election In Louisiana.
Atthe expiration Of the morning hour
Mr.. Carpenter moved that all pending or.
ders be laid aside, that he might address
the Senate on the Louisiana bill intro
duced by him.
Mr. Cameron wished TO have the Sen
ate take up and finish the Centennial bill.
The motion Of Mr.. Carpenter was
agreed TO, and he proceeded to address
the Senate.
At the close Of Mr.. Carpenters speech
MIR. FreliDghuysen said he desired 10
speak on the subject, but yielded to Mr..
Cameron who moved that the Senate
proceed with the consideration Of the cen.
tennial bill. ---l
Mr. Thurman said he also desired to
speak on the Louisiana affairs and hoped
that the centennial bill would go over un.
III tomorrow. az
Mr.. Cameron's motion was taken up on
the centennial bill and agreed to pending
the motion, being to refer it to the Com
mittee on Appropriations. -
Mr.. Thurman spoke against referring
the bill, and said II 1t went 10 that Com
mittee the understanding would be that
there should be an appropriation for the
celebration, and that he opposed on the
ground that Congress had no power under
the constitution to vote money for such
purposes. go
Mr.. Frelinghuysen moved to amend the
motion TO refer 30 as to instruct the Com
mittee TO report bill, making an appro-
priation OF sufficient amount ot money
not to exceed $4,000, 900 to deiray the ex.
penses Of the American Centennial Exhi-
bltion at Philadelphia.
Mr.. Sargent moved that the Senate ad-
journ.
Mr.. Cameron said that tomorrow he
would ask the Senate to remainiin session
and finish the centennial bill.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Longbridge from the Appropriation
Committee, reported the Indian Appro-
priation bill, which was referred to the
Committee of the Whole, and made the
special order after the Special Legislature
Appropriation bill is disposed Of,
The House then resumed the consider
alton OF the bill to regulate the commerce
BY railroad among the several States, and
Mr.. Arther concluded the argument be-
gun BY him yesterdy against the constitu-
Lionality OF the bill.
In conclusion he announced his opposi-
tion 10 the bill because It would form an
unconstitutional and adulterous inter
course OF political monopolies, with a
chartered monopoly, and because 1t would
form an unconstitutional and pernicious
interference with commercial freedom and
vested rights, /"
Mr.. Hurlbut, another member Of the
Committee on Railroads and Canals, ad-
dressed the House in support Of the bill
aud chAracterized the argument by Mr..
Arthur against It as an exhibition Of the
wretched fold heresy Of extravagant
State sovereignty. Unless Congress as.
Bumed the power to control Inter. State
commerce there existed no power under
heaven that could control It. It has
been admitted by Mr.. Arthur that these
States could not impose restrictions on
commerce by exorbitant charges, Ger
tainly then the railroads, the creatures,
could not do 30, and absolute Jurisdiction
over the question was vested by the
Constitution In Congress.
Without action on the bill the House
took recess till hall past 2 o'clock. The
evening session 10 be for the considera-
tion Of the bill revising the statutes.