The New York herald., 1877-12-08
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
WAsuIyGroy- Ilac.

PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON Dec 7. 1877.
The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate the an
nua report OF the Comptroller OF tho Currency and
stated in justice TO the Comptroller, that the report
was forwarded 10 the Senate Monday last but failed
10 roach the Chamber until to-day. 1t referred
TO the Committee Finance.
THE SURVIVORS OF THE HURON
Mr. SARGENT, lrop) OF CAL, from tho Committee on
Naval Affairs reported, with amendment, tho House
bin for the relief OF the sufferers by tho wreck OF the
United States steamer Huron. The amendment pro-
vdes that there shall DO pad to the heirs o. those lost
on the steamer sum equal 10 one years sea pay 10
the person lost, to tho heirs OF Captain j. j. Guthrie,
OF the lie saving service, sum equal 10 his compen-
saon tor one year. and to the heirs OF those OF the
steamer b. II J. Baker, who were lost In an attempt
TO save those OF the huron, tho Of 500. The
provision OF the bill to the surviving officers oil tho
Huron 81 900 each and other Survivors slO0 was lett
as II came from the House Of Representatives. Tho
amendment was agreed to and the bill passed.
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Mr. MITCHELL, (rep) OF oregon, called up from tho
table the bill troduced by him November . to extend
the time for the completion OF the Northern Pacific
out increasing The Appropriation, secure the con-
structon of the Portland, Salt Lake and SoIth Pass
Railroads and explaining its features suld IL was
not bill either making new grant OF lands or Great
ing government guarantee vi interest; 1t was not
what Is known as government subsidy bill, but
simply an extension ana readjustment OF former
grant upon u new basis, more for the benefit OF the
settler more in the interest OF national Development
uLd creating surer, saier AMI moro perfect credt Tor
the company. SO far from increasing the original land
grant II actually diminished some 0O0 600
Congress had heretofore granted total OF 1877 900
OF land IN AID OF diiiefc CIT railroads This aarn-
lug inroad on tho pupic domain, but more especially
msmanagement by some OF the companies, 10 tho
injury OF the settler and the obstruction OF SET
tiement had created deep-seated pubic sentiment
against legislation the old policy, that
March, 1871. no new grants OF land had been made by
Congress and OF the construction oil any railroad
There had been, however, numerous extensions, modi-
hcations ana readjustments oil grants formerly
IN order to render them available in conferring tho
greatest possible good In the way OF national develop
ment but The experience OF settlers and mismanage-
the part OF powerful corporal ions had
tha In the interest OF ne people, sound policy JUS
tice and true craftsmanship these grants should no
lopger be under the unlimited direction and control OF
these vast corporations. but rather should remain
der the control OF tho government and bo At all times,
at least Tor number oi yoars, open to settlers at
moderate and stated price. This pocy could be in
auguratod with perfect justice TO the corporations,
when, by failure TO compete their roads, had for
fcted all their rights aud were compelled
TO seek extensions from C0ngresa Such,
in tho main, the purposes aud policy sought to
be established and enforced by this bill II was a
measure, therefore, in the true interest not only OF
settlers and national development, but OF tho corpo
ration nselt, In securing TO II hrm ana enduring
credit among the bankers Of the world, whose money
must finally construct tins great national work.
Nr. Mitchell cited specifically the legislation OF Con-
gress dler0nt times concerning the Northern Pacific
velopmet OF the country the capitalization OF settle
ments and the building up OF industries, had more
clearly pointed out the true paths Of commerce
lines OF trade In the great Northwest Congress
had compelled the company 10 locate It's lines
,ngy, and now, no said, further legislation to be
had, should not iai 10 profit by the further light
thai history and the additional Development OF the
country had thrown upon tho whole subject
PROVISIONS BILL.
The bill provides under certain conditions an extcn
sion the main line via the valley OF tho Columbia
River and Portland, Oregon, OF eight years time with
which 10 complete the entire road. Instead, how
ever o continuing the lands 10 the corporations to DO
controlled by them. 1t provides that the odd sections
emption laws Ut 81 90 per acre; that tho proceeds
arising irom pre- emption and sale shall be paid
the Treasury OF the United States from time time
received and shall constitute sinking 70 the
credit Of tue company Tor payment Of accrun2 inter-
est on It's hrst mortgage construction bonds hereafter
Issued that this iund shall be by Secretary
OF the Treasury In United States crest bearing bonds
which may bo disposed Of II necessary Tor payment
OF accrung iutorcst that this sinking fund shall only
be paid scinannually as the road IL completed
scot and accepted BY the government, and shall
limited the amount Of each payment the valuo
Of the aud within sucn completed sections OF the road
Mt 81 50 per acre. These payments are to be made
to the company but 10 the holders OF the bonds pro
RITA and only liquidation OF interest The govern
mcnt gives guarantee for The payment OF interest
any OF tho company's bonds In excess OF the
moneys arising from tho reemption and sales OF the
lands granted 10 the company and actually paid into
tho Treasury.
PURPOSES OF THE GRANT
Herein, then, ho said, wis a new departure, and in
proposing he had kept steadily in view tho purpose
Tor which the grant was originally made and III tact
the great ultimate end had IN view by Congress In all
grants Of = similar nature-namey, the reclamation
OF empire Of undevelopod agrlcu tura mineral and
pastoral wealth secluded In the OF the wter
and peopled by sayagcs, TO the domain OF cvza
ton, OF commerce, OF Intelligent, cultivated human
thought and action in short, the conversion OF al
boundess frontier INTO seliprotectng energetic
advancing settlements, and connecting theso in
bond Of union wtn the mighty heart OF our civilza
whose throb is felt In ail It's iulncss
throughout the older States from tho Mis-
souri River to tho Atlantic Ocean, and from
the lakes 70 the Gulf and nnaly, the construction OF
great transcontnental highway that shall link lake
TO river and river TO ocean; that shall scono-
mizc timo and reduce space tnat shall create compe
tttlon IN transportation and travel with rival
panies. The purpose OF this bill was 10 secure the
end that Congress had in Wow when tho original
grant made, but u certainly, more
directly and at earlier DATE with greater ueueht
the governments aud greater protection 10 the SET
tiers. The eject OF this new policy would be to
cure every acre OF the lands TO actual settlement aud
10 remove IN this particular instance mortgage from
$l20, 900, 900, which now was aud tor years
had been u constant monaco TO the settlement aud
prosperity OF the country within It's paralyzng limits
A. tue Same time the corporatons wo1ia 90 greatly
benefited; the country along tho limo OF the road
would rapidly I'LL up with an ndusrlous Intelligent,
enterprsing class OF people, extensive improvements
would be made; towns and cities would grow up; tho
resources OF the country would be dsvcioped indus
trial enterprises would be inauguracd, and way
traffic created III advance of the construction of tho
than sufficient 10 pay It's running expenses
This, IN connection with the constantly increasing
king fund arising from the proceeds OF sales nci
denial to settlement, could but result In inspiring
capital with confidence IN the safety OF tho invest
cutIon OF the enterprise.
CHANGES IN THE LINE.
MI. MITCHELL called attention 10 the various changes
which Congress had inado IN the iine oil location.
More than thirteen years mad elapsed since the llme
OF the original grant, and within thai period the
percnce o Settlers the action OF Congress read
Justlng tue main limo and branches anu that vi the
company itself IN conscnting to these changes had
vndicated the statement that all the grants had
D1eu located with the greatest wisdom. When tao
road first projected the almost boundcss nelds OF
Eastern Oregon. Washington Territory ana Western
Idaho were comparatively unlnhabiied by
hostlle IDdians ana were supposed
stilute u sterile waste; but now numerous
wealthy, vigorous settlements OF energetic honest
pioneers from every state In the Union were scat
tered all over that region which had proved TO be the
most prolihc wbeat-producng country IN the world.
Tho branch which tho people OF the Northwest coast
desired as means OF advancing their general ntor
csts the one leaving the main line OF the North.
crn Pacific Railroad tho Columbia River az
Umata, oregon, and running through Eastern
Oregon Idaho aud Ulan to salt Lake. ana which, when
completed, wodi at no distant day, inevtiby cxted
It's across the continent, thus forming great
rival road TO tho Union and Central Pa.
cinc. The people OF the whole Northwestern
rouon beyond tho Rocky Mountains with almost
unanimous voice requested that ths southeastern
branch should be established, anc tnat tho g. 800 600
L....