New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-03
VOLUME IX.--NO.. PSI.

for petitions, memorable, notices and intro
duction of bills and reports of committees
caused no discussion, though including
measures relative to the incorporation OF
the Louisville Wharf Company, towns
and cities of Benham, Ouachita, Donald
sonvllle, Bayou Sara and Delta; the pay
ment of the levee laborers in St. James,
abolishing the Third and Fourth Municipal
Courts Of New Orleans and transferring
their cases to the First and Second.
The special order of the day was the re.
port of Mr.. Voorhies on the resolution sup
porting Senator Vests bill submitted to
the Railroad Committee, with his substi-
tute aaking the insertion Of the New Or-
leans Pacific railroad. instead Of the New
Orleans, Baton Rouge and Vicksburg rail-
roal, with Mr.. Keetins's minority report
opposing the substitute.
4 Mr.. Meredith in the Chair
Mr.. VOORHEES, moved the adoption Of the
majority report.
Mr.. Keeting said that on nearly every oc-
caslon when member advocated measure
COcrc were SOuc WAO OppO6CA ~ 0AAOoS AAAo
constituents. In this case he could state
| with pleasure that all in Caddo approved
| of the original resolution. without regard
to race, color or political opinion. The fu-
ture growth and prosperity Of Shreveport
| depend on communication with Now Or-
| leans. He had never been negligent IN
| giving his voice and vote in favor OF any
| bill or resolution that would aid the people
| of Louisiana, and had supported the South
| ern Pacific railroad. Although the head OF
the company was gentleman whose wealth
| and success had given him the name OF the
railroad king Of America. yet it had been
found necessary to appeal to Congress for
aid to carry out his Intentions. This rail-
road would build up the commercial and
| agricultural interests, was protected BY
genial climate, and went through country
| that was the garden Of America At the
last session q resolution had passed with
out opposition, asking the members of Con-
gress to support this measure. Early this
session another of the same character had
been introduced, and the majority of the
| committee now report adversely. He would
explain the two. The bill in the last
session of Congress known as Scott's bill,
| was the same as Vests bill. The joint res
| olution was intr oduced into Congress last
session, and this session was presented by
Mr.. West. The whole trouble was on the
Louisiana branch contained in the resolu-
ton, granting aid to the Pacific railroad.
He had no interest except to aid the Texas
Pacific railroad and open communication
between New Orleans and Shreveport.
| This branch was incorporated in the reso-
| luton by suggestion of the ablest conven-
ton, that at St. Louis, that has ever as
sembled. Louisiana was ably represented
there. Whatever personal views any one
| may have, whether just or right, he was
convinced that the only chance for aid was
on the branch advocated by the st. Louis
convention and by Senator West.
| The question advocated by the majority
is, that this bill of West aiding the Texas
Pacific road. takes away from the chartered
road controlled by gentlemen of Louisiana,
| and gives aid to road owned in New York
by those who have no interest in the State
and would do the people no good, although
| gentlemen, residents of this State since lslO,
testified before the committee to the con-
trary. He thought this had nothing to do
with the question. Every one knows that
| if the bill passes Congress the road will be
| bu,lt lust as we'll as it is known the main
| line will be built, or no assistance will be
| given to it. He did not care whether Tom
Scott, the managers of the Vicksburg and
Baton Rouge, or the New Orleans and Pa
| cific routes build the road. Although he
had some claim to object to the manner OF
designating the terminus of the latter had
been selected, the legality of it and the
manner the people of Shreveport had been
treated, yet he wsuld advocate it If it's ter
minus was at Shreveport and was included
| in Senator Vests bill.
| Mr.. Booth calling attention to the fact
that Mr.. Keeting's time had expired it was
extended.
| Mr.. Keeting thanked the House, as the
hill was of more interest to his people than
all the other bills before the House. The
| reasons WHY he advocated Senator Vests
1
| hill were that it was liable to come up every
| day: that the St. Louis railroad convention
had advocated the Louisiana branch; that
the chairman of the committee had pledged
himself to. Shreveport to pass the bill, and
that if at this late day this substitute was
asked to be inserted, if the members we're
asked to 90 back in what they had done,
there was little chance for either branch.
For eight or ten years We have been work.
ing for this read. Many who favor the
main line do not advocate the branches,
but they do favor the Shreveport aud New
| Orleans branch more than any other, and
Mr.. Scott considers it strengthens the
bill. The effect Of adopting the ma
jority report is to oppose the road ad-
vocated by Senator West, by the St. Louis
convention, by the gentlemen now in
Washington representing Shreveport, and
by petitions signed in every parish. He
did not think the substitute could now be
inserted in the Pacific railroad bill. In the
mind de- Of the gentlemen OF the New Or
leans Pacific road there seems spite
against Shreveport. When this road was
before the committee at the special session
he advocated il. "a did Messrs. Bayley,