The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-11-14
commerotal conventlon.

lister having closed his remarks the letter
from the secretary of state of Mexico to
Zamacona was then read giving assurance
that Mexico and her president felt deeply
grateful for the kindly reception accorded
the minister in his effort to enlarge the
mutual commercial relations.
John Pope Hodnett, District of Colum.
bia, has introduced a minority report of
his own, favoripg action by congress to
compel corporations which had received
land grants to complete their improve
ments whether by water or rail- He de-
clared in this minority report of his that
he represented only justice to a million
families, fathers, mothers and children in
Iowa, where certain land grants had been
made for improvements on the Des
Molnes river, whereas not a stroke has
been made for the completion OF such
work. The orator was cut off IN the mid
die of his speech by cries Of Order"
order" and a motion that the majority
report OF the committee on resolutions be
adopted. Finally the majority report was
taken up and the resolutions considered
aerlatlm, the other reports being passed.
The first, second and third clauses were
adopted. When the clause asking aid for
the Texas Pacific was reached, Gen.
|Stringfelow, of Kansas, introduced sub
stitute in the interest OF the Atchisor,
Topeka & Santa Fe and advocated it as at
least equally important with the Texas
Pacific, it being 60O miles nearer the ter
minus of the Southern Pacific. After
speeches by Messrs. Bross. OF Chicago,
Wood of Kansas, Bowman. of Kentucky,
Roland, of Ohio, Hogan, of Missouri, and
Bigham OF Pittshurg, the substitute was
lost and the original resolution adopted
The resolution recommending subsidi,s
for the establishment of mail saryices was
amended by striking out the clause re-
strctiDg the tonnage of vessels, and thus
amended passed. after a full debate by
Senator Beck, of Missouri, Birch, of Ten
nessee, Busy, of Louisiana, Elder, of
Pennsy yIxania, Coffin, Of Massachusetts, and
others.
The secretary read a letter from the
president and members of the Cabinet
| members of congress and other prominent
gentlemen, all expressing sympathy with
| the objects of the convention.
After the customary resolutions of
compliment, the convention adjourned sine
die
| The platform adopted is as follows;
ReSoIued, That the com bined prosperity
of the agricultural, manufacturing, mining
and commercial interests of the country
cannot be secured without such develop
ment of commerce with other countries as
will offer ready and growing market for
our surplus product, and to insure this it
is the duty Of congress to promote and by
all wise and constitutional measures aid
the opening and improvement of such lines
of transportation by land and water as one
of general and national importance.
ReSolred, That the high rates upon
| freight aud passenger traffic charged by
the Union Pacific make this only highway
from the Atlantic to the Pacific a mono
poly as burdensome as it is exclusive, and
we call upon congress to take measures
at the coming session to compel these cor
porations, which owe their existence to the
liberality of the nation, to fulfil their corpo-
rate obligations
ResolUed That the interests of the gov
ernment and the people alike demand the
early completion of competing lines OF
railroad to the Pacific, and we therefore
aid to the Texas Pacific railroad and to ex-
tend the time ior the completion of the
Northern Pacific railroad.
|
countries lying south of US. which is de-
sired by them and will be most profitable
to US, cannot be entered upon or conducted
successfully without mail facilities, which
is the province Of the government to furn-
ish, and we therefore recommend an imne-
diate provision by congress in ocean mail
service between the chief ports Of tho
United States and all important CONNER
cial points on the coast of South America
in American built and owned ships.
The last two resolutions propose water
, line between Virginia and North Carolns
for protection to mariners against Cape
} Hatteras and provide for committee ol
, one from each state to present these reso
lutions to the president and congress.
The western wholesale druggists associ
alton met here with large attendance TO-
day; the president, Arthur Peter. of Lou
: isville, presiding. Thomas Lord, of Chi
: cago. was elected president; j. c. Rich
ards, of St. Louis, vice president; S. w
Story, of Cleveland, treasurer. The busi
hess done was of interest to the tradt
only,