National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-02
CURRENT CAPITAL TOPICS.
CcOnttausa from E,rt Pao,,
Alabama Outrage WitnesssI.

Cess until 10 O'Clock to-day, which will be q con-
tiDuation Of Mondays session, and after yea
and nay vote 1t was agreed to, and the members
departed.
Alabama Outrage WitnesseJ.
Messrs. William Battle, Thomas CObbs, wm
H. Hawkins and Sip Coleman, cOlored, Ku-KIux
witnesses from Livingston, Sumter county, Ala,
have arrived in town to go before the Alabama
Committee, and will be examined either to-day
the first day the committee will have to devote
to the business with which they are charged.
Cheap transportation.
The Senate Committee on Transportation met
at the house Of the chairman, Senator Window,
last evening. The committee resolved TO recon-
mend the improvement of the Southwest Pass Of
the Mississippi river by means Of the jetty sys-
tenn, as reported by the board Of commissioners
work.
The committee also resolved to recommend
speeine appropriations for system Of improve
ments, embracing the mouth of the Mississippi
river, the radical improvements Of the Ohio, the
Tennessee and the KsnaWha rivers. and the con-
ttnuation Of the Wisconsin and Fox river i'm
proVement, and the Hennepin canal.
CAUCUS ON THE SUBJECT.
At the caucus Of Republican Senators yester-
day afternoon, Senator Window, chairman Of the
Select Committee Of the Senate on Transports
tfon, submitted the following preamble and reso-
buttons, which were adopted, and will be pre-
sented to the Senate for action to-day:
Whereas the power to regulate eommerce
among the several States conferred upon CON
gress by the Constitution includes the power TO
aid and facilitate commerce by the employment
OF such means as may be appropriate and plainly
adapted to that end, and Congress NAV there
fore, in its discretion, provide for the improve
ment or creation Of such channels or highways Of
commerce as will, in its Judgment, afford the
cheapest and best facilities for the interchange
Of commodities between States of the Union;
and whereas: it is believed that the thorough
and systematic improvement Of the Missls-
sippi river, including the construction Of ade-
quate channel at tts mouth. the connection Of the
Mississippi river with the lakes by means Of the
Fox and Wisconsin Improvement and the Henne-
pin canal; the speedy completion of the improve
ments between Lakes Superior and Huron and
Huron and Erie; the thorough and systematic i'm
II 'Yemtnt Of the Ohio and KanaWha rivers, and
Of the Tennt river are works of great national
importance, and OF immediate and pressing neces-
slty, which. when complete l. will reduce the cost
OF transpt rtatiOD, and thereby diminish the bur-
dens now borne by the Industrial interests Of the
country; therefore
ResolUed, That in addition to the usual and
necessary appropriations made in the river and
harbOF bill for works already under the charge Of
the Government, including the Missouri river,
the Committee on Commerce be instructed to
insert in said bill such sums as in their Judgment
lbaViIg due regard to the recommendations Of
the chief Of engineers and Of the commissioners
appointed upon the improvement of the mouth
Of the Mississippi riveT) can be judiclously and
economically EXP ended during the next fiscal
year upon the improvements above indicated,
looking to their speedy completion and the wan 5
Of our rapidly-increasing Internal commerce.