The New York herald., 1877-01-12
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

WASHINGTON, JAN IL, 1877.
THE POWERS, PRIVILEGES AND DUTIES OF THE
HOUSE ON COUNTING THE ELECTORAL VOTE
CONCLUSIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
The House Committee the Privileges, Powers and
Duties OF tho House OF Representatives in counting
the electoral vote. held long session to- nght and
nn,ehed their report on that subject Their concu.
SONS arc:-
F.rst-Tbat this power to the electoral vote is
conferred by the constitution on the President OF
the Senate.
Second-That the power Is conferred by the consti.
tut,on upon the Senate and House OF Representatives.
Third-ihat in the execution OF the power TO count
the electoral vote the House Of Representatives, 49, at
least. coordinate and equal with the Senalc
Fonrth-rha' IN counting the electoral votes no
vote be counted against the judgment and without
the assent OF tue House
These propositions agreed to bv q strict party
votc-Represcntativcs Knott, Tucker, Marsh and
Sparks (dcmocrats) in tho aflrmative Represent
ativcs Seclyc. Burchard Of Illinois, and McD (repub
icans) In the negative
THE SOUTHERN TRANscoNTINENrAL ROAD
BILL AGREED ON By THE HOUSE COMMIT
TEE--DErAILs OF THE MEASURE.
The House Committee Pacific Railroads to-day
unanimously Instructed their CHAIRMAN Mr. Lamar, of
Mississippi, 10 report to the House for passage bill
granting governments aid for the completion Of q
sou, ncrn transcontncntal railroad The subject has
been under consideration by the committee
ever since the beginning Of the present
Congress, but great dincul.y has been ex-
perienced in rcconciling tho large number
Of conflicting intercss One Of the principal obstacles
tho way Of the commutcc's arrival at conclusion
arose from the rival claims OF the Texas Pacific Rail-
road Company represented by Colonel Scott and the
Southern Pacific OF California, represented by Mr.
Huntington. These interests having been satslac
I'd nm nd euu ifahls bas
Mr.. Huntington, on behalf Of his company bav
ing fully accepted the provisions and limitations
OF tho Texas Pacific bill, introduced last scs-
sion by Mr. Atkins, OF Tennessee
"that this now Pacific Railway should always remain
an open highway subject to tho control Of Congress-
the committee have finally reached favorable vote
upon the measure
The bill to bc reported by Mr.. Lamar provides for
tho construction OF union line from Fort Worth. the
present western terminus Of the Texas and
Pacific road, via III Paso 10 San Diego, Cal, a
distance OF l. 800 miles The government Is to guaran-
tee the interest," the principal the vc per cent
nifty year gold bonds Of the nam lines from Fort
Worth and Fort Yuma, n distance Of about $50 miles
That portion OF the line ing between Fort orth and
point 100 miles west OF III Paso Is to bc constructed
by the Texas and Pacific Company, from that point
to San Diego BY tho Southern Pacific Company. The
branches provided for in tho bill are
First-one from Shreveport or Marshall to New Or.
leans.
second--Onc from Jefferson. Texas to Mcmphia
Third-From Shreveport TO Vcksburg
Fourfh-One from Venita, L. r., to intcrscct the
Texas Pacific at point oast OF the l03d meridian
The government is TO guarantee tho interest upon
the bonds of The companies constructing the main line
ai rate exceed $35 900 per mlle and upon tho
branches nj the rate Of $4,000 pcr mile. bu,
bonds only to the amount Of the actual cost o
construction are TO be issued so II the road can be
built for $780, 600 $4,000 per mile bonds only to that
amount are to issued.
To the government for this guarantee the sew
cral companies required TO execute nrst mortgage
upon the whole property OF the companies and upor
their land grants the United states and the Sat
OF Texas In addition the Cover is TO retain nj
dues for military and postal transportation and teo
graph SERVICE and u have lien such part OF h,
earnings OF the companies and the entire proceeds
the sale OF their lands may be necessary TO provide
for the prompt payment Of tho interest Thu
| bonded debt
| Tho bill contains stringent provisions prohibtn,
| combinations with the existing Pacific Railway com