The Portland daily press., 1877-02-17
POrty Fourth Congressional Session.
SENATE.

Logan ) SllfGL Uili w 40 hieiNO tLC opcCl0l
for Monday.
Senate CONQUERED in the amendments of the
House on the consular aud diplomatic appro-
priation BILL and it was passed.
Consideration of the Pacific Railroad bill was
resumed. Senate by vote OF a to 2S, rejected
the amendment of Mr. Booth to the second sec
ton of the bill reported by the Committee on
Railroads. in regard to the creation of sink.
ing fund. etc. This amendment provided that
the com panies should pay S!5O,0O0 each per an
mum to the credit of the slnkiDg fund till said
amount should be sufficient Wnen added to 9TH
er sums to the credit Of the sinking fund to pay
off and extingush the government bonds adj
vanced at maturity with interest thereon at 6
per cent.
Before the rejection of Mr. Booths amend
ment Mr. Blaine of Maine, said ne was oppOs-
ed TO various provisions of the bill reported
by the Committee on Railroads. The 9TH sec
ton Of that bill allowing the companies to an
ticipate their semi-annual payments discounted
at the rate of 6 per cent, had the power of in
finite mischief in it, He was opposed to the
provisO in the Sd section, making 1T a condition
that government should patronize the roads in
the transportation of freight &c The officers
of the government should be left free to select
the best and cheapest means of transportation
On the other hand, he did not mean to say he
could support the bill of the Judiciary Commit
tee That bill meant law suit and Congress
could not do Greater injury to the United
States Treasury than to pass bill of that char
acter. The bi ii meant that the laws delay, the
laws uncertainty, and thus far the laws uncer-
taInty had been certainty against the United
States In all conflicts between the government
and the companies. The government had not
had luck in the courts ga burnt child breads
the fire. and he wanted to keep out of the
courts. He was in favor OF some bill to have a
settlement with these companies If nothing
should be done towards settlement at the nd
OF the century the companies would owe the
government over $500, 100000 If the govern
ment should then take possession of the road it
would be at cost of about $4,000 mile, and
that would not be profitable bargain. There
had been good deal said about these railroad
companies being grasping monopolies. They
were only men. They had a valuable piece Of
property, and they pronoSed to keep if, to ap-
peal to tue courts and fight to the bitter end.
He was in favor of some adjustment which
would be just to the government and fair to the
railroad companies The amendment submit
ted yesterday by the Senator from Iowa (Alli-
sony in the nature of substitute, he thought
appeared just as it named no specific sum to
be paid, but left that with the Secretary of the
Treasury. He hoped to remain in Congress
long enough to see session go by without
railroad bill 10 it, but he was afraid he would
not be gratified if such bill as that reported
by the judiciary Committee should be passed.
The railroad companies were in position more
advantageous than the government itself, and
they could continue the litigation at the ex-
pense of the government.
Mr.. Booth then withdrew another amend
ment submitted by him on "Wednesday, giving
to Congress power to alter, amend or repeal the
act.
Mr.. Christiancy moved to strike out the 9th
and 7th sections of the bill reported by the Com
mittee on Railroad, which provides that the act
shall be construed as final settlement between
| the companies and the government within four
months of the date of its passage, and so repeal
all the acts and carts of acts inconsistent with
l the act. n lien 0f thp9p gnntinns Mr. ChriS.
tancy proposed to insert section providing
| that Congress shall at all times have power to
alter and amend as well as repeal the act.
Mr.. Chaffee submitted an amendment to that
| OF Mr.. Christiancy, so as to provide that the
| act should be construed as final settlement
| between the government and the companies if,
| within four months after its passage, it be ac-
| cepted by the companies, and provided said
companies shall faithfully comply with all the
provisions of the act and shall not be IN default
| OF any OF the instruments when due.
| Mr. Dawes spoke of the rights of the gov
eminent and railroad companies, and sail he
| was in favor of an amcable settlement with
the government, and therefore he would sup
port any bill to avoid litigation. He was 10 IA
vor OF Congress receiving power to alter amend
or repeal the act, but not in the shape proposed
| by the Senator from Michigan, which was sort
| OF double-barrelled arrangement.
l. MIR. Christancy spoke in favor Of his amend
| ment, and said all he wanted was to have these
d
Indebtedness to the government.
MT. W adleigh was opposed to the bill of the
Railroad Committee because it would compel
the government to send freight over the roads
named, and at such prices as the compan les
might fix and determine.
Mr.. Cragin favored the bill reported by the
Committee on Railroads, and argued that un-
less this or some similar bill should be passed
the country would get nothing from these COM
panies.
Mr.. Hitchcock referred to the act of last year
author'zIn2 remeasurement of the Union Pa
clflc Railroad, and said some economists oppos-
ed to the road brought about this legislation.
Ihe road was again measured, and it was found
the company had been cheated out of lands and
bonds for TWO or three miles of road, and the
result OF this economy was that the government
had to pay $100 to the Union Pacific Railroad
Company
The discussion was continued at length by
Senators Morrill,, Wright, West and others.
The amendment of MIR. Chaffee above men,
toned was agreed to- yeas 80, nays %.
The question then being on the amendment
OF Mr.. Christiancy as amended by Mr.. Chaffee,
IL was agreed to, yeas 80, nays 10
Tnel question then required on the amend
ment OF Mr. Booth, submitted Wednesday last,
to strike out the 9th section of the bill reported
| by the Railroad Committee, which allows the
company to anticipate their semi-annual pay
ments discounted at the rate of per cent, &c.
and it was agreed to without division.
- MI. Sargent gave notice that tomorrow the
Committee on Appropriations would urge the
consideration OF one of the appropriation bills
Mr.. Wright SAID he desired the Senate to re-
main in session and vote upon this railroad bill
tonight.
Several Senators-"Ob, NO; we won't do
that"
Mr.. Allison modified the amendment SUBJ
mltted by him yesterday in the nature of a SUBJ
stltute, 80 as to provide that the act shall take
effect upon its acceptance by the railroad COM
panies within four months from its passage.
Inc Senate at 5 clock went into executive
session and when the doors reopened took a re-
cess till 10 o'clock tomorrow.
HOUSE.
On reassembllng at IL o'clock the House
Went into committee of the whole on the bill
liking rates for freight and passengers across
the bridge at Omaha on the Union Pacific
Railroad
The committee went into secret session with
out coming to any conclusion on the bill The
committee rose, prayer was offered and the
journal Of Thursday read.
Mr. Eden, from the War Claims Committee,
reported bill making an appropriation for the
payment of claims allowed by the commissioner
of claims 1t was made a special order for
next Tuesday.
The committee at 40 o'clock rose and a
number OF bills were passed, including bill
supplementary to the act entitled, an act to
carry into effect the convention between the
United States and China concluded on the Sth
OF November, 1858, at Shanghai and giving
Court of Claims jurisdiction in certain cases.
Ii allows certain American insurance ompanies
to 60 before the Court of Claims to make a
case against the Chinese indemnity fund in the