The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-04
Mr.. wheeler on the southern Pacific
and Other Jobs.

iional as MORroN, or boutwell,, or
BLAINE. or any other OF the noble band
of professional agitators, who make
business Of keeping up strife between
the North and the South, rs a cover for the
corruption and thievery of the Republic
can party, he may he said to be national
In everything that relates TO jobbery.
He carried through the venal legislation
FOR the Northern Pacific, by means Of
which JAY COOKE & Co. were enabled to
porpetrate an enormous fraud on the
public.
Through his instrumentalty the Bucna
Yerba, or Goat Island job, with five or
ten millions for Addition, Division, and
Silence, was driven through the House,
md only failed IN the Senate because Of
the Credit Mobiier exposures. And now
we propose TO exhibit his record on the
Southern Pacific Railroad.
For several years there had been a sharp
struggle between three rival interests. each
represented by agents in both branches OF
Congress, TO obtain charter and conces-
sions for Southern Pacific Railroad Com
pany. They fought each other like Kill
kenny cats, until it became obvious that
unless some arrangement was made, by
which each could receive share of the
spoils, no bill would pass.
Finally. a compromise was agreed upon,
by which the parties representing FIRE.
MONT. GRAY. aud Col. Tom SCorT. were sat-
ished, and the corporators were supposed
TO be equally DIVIDED between them,
though SCoTT had secured n sufficient num-
Der Of the carpet-baggers TO give him the
control ut the proper time. Mr.. WHEELER
reported a bill on the 2lst of February,
1871. which gave the Texas Pacific Railroad
Company the right to purchase stock land
grants, franchises and appurtenances, and
consolidate, on such terms ms might be
agreed upon between the parties, with any
railroad company or companies heretofore
chartered or that might hereafter he char
tered by Congressional, State or Terri
torial authority. This provision brought
In the Memphis and FL Paso, which had
passed under the control of GRAY, as re-
ceiver. by proceedings that excluded the
defraudcd and innocent French bondhold-
ers from any protection.
As usual in all these Ring projects, the
gag was put on and only one hour allowed
for debate. No amendment, however
proper and necessary. received the least
attention. The Republican majority stood
up solid behind WHEELER when he called
the previous question, and by a vote of 1876
yeas to 10 nays rushed the job through.
The Senate Ring wanted more land than
the House grant Of l2,00O,O00 acres, and
therefore opposed the bill in the hope OF
driving better bargain.
This disagreement resulted in confer
ence which Mr.. RANDALL, Mr.. HOLMAN
and others opposed with spirit and de-
cision, but without much practical effect.
On the ID of March. 1871, Mr.. WHEELER
presented report from the conference,
which propitlated the Louisiana Ring by
Eving the New Orleans. Baton Rouge and
Vicksburg Railroad Company the right to
connect with the Texas Pacific, and grant
lug to It the same number of alternate
sections OF public lands per mile in the
State of Louisiana rs were granted to the
Texas Pacific III the state of California.
The report was adopted by party majorities
in both Houses the same day, and the great
job thus received its first start.
At the next session, Feb. H. 1872, Mr..
WHEELER was again promptly on hand in
the interest of Tom ScoTT's Ring He in
troduced a bill to amend an act to incor-
pornte the Texas Pacific Railroad Com
pnny, which was referred to his commit
tee aud ordered to be printed. In the
mean time the Senate had passed n bill for
the same object, and on the 2Jth Of April
Mr.. WHEELER called it up and offered rs a
substitute one from his own committee,
changing the title from Texas and Pacific
Railroad Company to the Texas Pacific
Railroad Company.
BY the second section the company
was authorized TO issue construction
and laud bonds not exceeding $4,000
per mile, and 1t was provided that
the mortgages made to secure these boads
should be filed and recorded in the Depart
ment of the Interior; that American iron
and steel should be used on the road that
u should commence its construction Rt or
near Marshall, Texas, and proceed wost-
wardly toward Santiago IN the state OF
California on the line authorized by the
original act; but requiring IT to construct,
maintain, control, and operate the road
between Marshall Texas, and Shreveport.
La Mr.. WHEELER moved TO suspend the
rules ard pass the bill without further
consideration. To this Mr.. HOLMAN OBJ
jected
"Mr. HOLMAH-If this bill h to he open for
9mendmtnt aud reason lDie confederation,
have ~ JrcitOn 10 tho gentleUan's motion.
Tue fPlAkEh" Tue gentleman from Indiana
w. HoLMAN ~ng-osts that tbe UlI be open lUI
Su'' namoit and consider ton"
with tins understanding the rules were
suspended, and after the amendments OF
the committee were acted upon, Mr.
WHEELER suddenly demanded the pre-
vious question. Mr.. HOLMAN offered an
amendment, but Mr. WHEELER refused to
yield, wheIcupOn the following conyorsa-
u0n occurred:
"Mr. HoLMAE-I understood tho ban Vas
brought before the House subject W amenu-
mpnt
"Ihe sPEAKER-That lie for the House to de-
leImiue.
mir. HoIMAN-I submit to the gentleman
from New YORK int uu .nlmOus consent WAS
0btnned 10 bring the biii before the House, on
the under adHdtnD that when II was brought II
would be open TO any amendments on which
the members might desire the decision OF the
House
Mr.. WHEELER Every amendment which has
been proposed nv the gentleman from Indiana
N..la..