The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-04-02
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.
WAsHIaGroH, April l


wAsHiaGros, April 1.
Mr.. Mitchell, from the Committee on
Railroads, reported o bill 10 extend for
eight years TIE time for completing the
Northern Petite Railroad. Placed on
the calendar.
Mr. Window dissented from the report
and introduced another bill. Referred
TO Committee on Railroads.
Mr.. Coukling submitted a resolution
directing the Judiciary Committee TO in
auire whether any portion OF the New
York Postoftice ia unlawfully occupied,
and directing the Secretary Of the Treas
ury 10 take no action pending said in
quiry.
Nj. Christiancy, from the Committee on
Revision OF the Laws, reported resolu-
tion to provide for new edition Of the
Revised Statutes and for perfected index
OF the tirst volume. Agreed TO.
Mr. Edmunds offered a joint resolution
providing for the safe keeping 10 the
State Department OF the records Of the
commission on the electoral count. Laid
over till tomorrow.
Mr.. Ingalls, introduced a bill TO levy n
tax on spirituous and malt liquors in the
District Of Columbia BY the introduction
OF the Mofiitt bell.buuch. Referred.
The bill appropriating $4,000 for Gil
ing up the low ground south Of the Capi-
tai was passed.
The bill TO regulate the advertising Of
mail lettings and for other purposes was
taken up, and after the adoption of sun
dry amendments, passed.
At the expiration OF the morning hour
Mr.. Beck took the floor in advocacy Of
the Judiciary Committees Pacific Rail-
road bill. He said that the frat mort
gage bonds would be held for maturity
In the hands OF the directors and stock
holders Of these roads. The road wonld
be sold to satisfy the lst mortgage bonds,
and these directors would by foreclosure
and sale possess themselves OF the road
with the claims OF the government wiped
out. Congress was here to make laws,
not TO entertain proposals. for bargains.
Unless steps were taken now 10 secure the
interest Of the government ip the property
IL would be divided among the st0ckhold.
ers. and there would be nothing for the
government The bill Of the Judiciary
will be maintained as 1t contained
nothing which violated the right ol
the contract. A change in the tariff
or revenue laws was Just as much viola
tion OF the rights OF the contract as the
provisions Of the bill. The right reserved
10 alter, amend or repeal was part Of the
original contract, and was as valid as any
other part OF the contract 10 the face Of
an ayowal that the companies intended
TO save nothing to pay their obligations.
II amazed him TO find those who declared
this effort to protect the rights oil the
government and secure a return of the
money wrung from the sweat Of the peo.
die wrong and outrage on the rights Of
the companies. Rather than permit
this to 20 on he would exercise the right
OF repeal, which had been enforced too
often 10 be questioned now. By this
something could be saved, which would
be better than to lose all. Would any
body have doubted, he asked, the right
OF the government 10 repeal the acts
when the Credit Mobilier report was pre-
sented. The roads proposed To violate
the contract and absorb the money OF the
people. As the trustees Of the vested
rights OF the people, twas the duty
OF Congress TO protect them and to amend
the law that they will be secure.
Mr.. Christiancy said that he proposed
10 briefly reply 10 Mr.. Hills argument
in relation 10 the bill being q violation ol
the right OF contract holding. Mr.. Hill
was wrong in his premises, and that be-
ing thus wrong in his premises his argu'
meut fell TO the ground. He took The
issue with Mr.. Hill "a TO the vested rights
Of the company, and maintained the
terms OF the judiciary bill, but looked to
the enforcement OF the contract under the
acts Of 1862 and 1854. The power tc
amend was reserved IN the acts, and thai
reservation was accepted by this com
pany. This gave the right to alter
or amend anything other than the vested
rishu. Congress held the power origin
ally, and having made the reservation 1t
express terms the power had not beer
parted with, and remaining with tht
government, such powers could no
therefore become vested in any othel
body.
The funding bill was then temporarily
| laid aside and on motion OF Mr.. Coke th'
bill amending Section 1851, title IS, o
the Revised Statutes, relative TO the issu'
| OF arms 10 the militia ofseyeral states wa
taken up.
Pending further consideration Of tht
bill Mr.. whyte moved to go into Exeen
tive session.
Mr. Davis, Of west Virginia, demand
ed the yeas and nays, and the motion wa
agreed to yeas 81, nays 10, and the Senat,
went into executive session, and Whei
the doors reopened adjourned.
HOUSE.
The following bills were introduces
and referred:
BY Mr.. Stephens: For the fnancia
relief Of the country, and to facilitate
return to specie payments without inin
rionsIy affecting the commercial businea
Of The people. II directs the Secretar!
Of the Treasury, when the amount Q
coin and bullion in the Treasury ahal
exceed slOoOOO,0O to redeem the pres
ent outstanding United States legal ten
der notes, when presented in sums 9
81 900 and upward, with coin Of ful
standard value.
By Mr.. Money: To regulate the con
tracts for carrying the mails. Itproyide
that, when any contractor shall subtle
hia contract. the Postmaster Genera
shall cancel such contract and make |
new contract at rates not 70 exceed th,
ola one. and defines snb.letting as th,