The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-04-06
Our Washington Letter.

Mr.. Hill entertained the Senate for three
hours yesterday with one of the ablest ar
guments heard in that chamber for a long
time. He discussed the sinking fund ques-
ton, and devoted his argument mainly to
the constitutional powers Of Congress over
charters and franchises 10 corporations. He
characterized it as a fagrant violation of
contract agreements, and as containing prin-
ciples contrary to the constitution, contrary
to the first principles of the social compact
and to natural right. He said that those
favoring this bill may be divided into three
classes, viz: those who hold that the bill
does not change the terms of the contract
those who claim that the companies are
mortgagors in possession, holding under a
trust for the benefit of the mortgageesy and
those who claim that Congress has the right
to alter the contract TO secure the debt,
either under the reserved powers or under
its general powers of sovereignty. He held
that this bill does undeniably propose
changes in these contracts that it adds ma
terial conditions; and that it changes the
very terms that were inducements to the
corporators to 60 into the enterprise, and
more than this, that it imposes penalties for
acts that are now lawful. AS to the claim
Of trusteeship on the part Of the owners, he
showed that there had here been no default
such as would alone authorize the interfer-
ence of a mortgage for his protection, and
proceeded to consider the claim of power to
amend or alter the contract at will, He
eoil hot ha
gress could clearly amend or repeal the laws
that gave authority to make contracts with
these companies, but that it could not touch
contracts already made under them. He
called attention to the distinction between
legislation by the government as sovereign
power and contract agreements made by it
in the capacity of civil corporation. The
former acts are still subject to its pleasure as
to change; the latter are not. He conclud-
ed by asserting that, if Congress can change
this contract in one respect it can change it
in all; if it can repeal part of the act of
1861, it can repeal the whole act and make
the governments lien first mortgage.
Further, as to the declaration of the mean
ing of "net earnings" he held that it can
be declared what "net earnings" means,
net earnings can be declared to mean gross
eqrniiqs. In short, he ground the Judiciary
Committees Bill very fine, and made it ap-
pear so extravagant and so monstrous"--
to quote his lGnguage-that Thurman
thought it necessary to get up and substan-
TALLY announce that the bill must be a good
bill because it came from ouch good COM
mittee He said that it would be shown,
at the proper time, that the government OF
the United States is superior to any corpora
ton that can exist in this republic, and
gave notice that he would ask for q vote IN
this question on Wednesday next. !
The excitement over the Dean-F Field con-
test was renewed Immediately upon the as
sembling Of the House yesterday. The
democrats, as usual, were behind; while the
republicans were all on hand and ready for
the contest. Through the excellent man
agement of Springer vote was delayed un-
til the democrats were in their seats. Both
sides became very nervous when the roll
call commenced, and members gave relief
to their suspense by struggling over the
floor and specializing on the result Both
parties had rallied every vote, and nobody
could tell who had captured the larger NUM-
Der. The republicans were certain of their
own party, with the exception of Butler ;
but they feared a weakening on the part of
some Of their democratic allies. Jones, of
Alabama, who the day before voted with
the republicans, changed his vote on the
ground that the House had decided against
the election of Field. This made the vote
a tie, 1913 each, and Speaker Randall came
to the rescue of his party with the deciding
vote, which saved the day and seated Dean
The republicans were disappointed and i'll
natured. Conger aired his bad manners
and vented his ill-humor by questioning
the Speakers word. Conger, as usual, made
| failure. In fact, he is a chronic failure
The republicans visited their indignation
upon the bald head of Ben Butler. Harris
| of Massachusetts,, said that Butler is never q
| republican more than fifteen minutes at d
time. Gle is nothing but radical Ben
Butler man." said Harris. "Butler seated
Dean, and no man glores in it more than
he does. He will go through his district
and take great credit to himself for his in
| dependent action" Representative Hines
of Missouri, said: "We succeeded in get.
ting rid of Field by Ben Buffers vote
Butler is justiiying the prediction that
made four months ago, that he is working
back into the democratic party" When
| they got tired of abusing Butler, the repub
licans branched off TO Senators Gordon and
| Hill. They asserted that it was through
the influence of these Senators that Jones
cualbcu MS Nolt. Inc uelllOcfalS Qlu some
thing in the line of criticism themselves
| They condemned the course Of those demo.
Gratis who persisted in voting against Dean
and il is very plain that some of these "un.
| partisan" Congressman will find themselve,
| without influence in their party hereafter
Hon. Glenni W. Schofield, who has Just
accepted the position of Register of tn,
! Treasury, to succeed Mr.. Allison, deceased
is native of Chataugua County, New
York, where he was born in 1917. lie
| graduated in 1910 at Hamilton College, anC
removed to Warren, Penn, where, in lS43
he was admitted to the bar. Eight year,
later he was elected, as a democrat, 10 the
lower house Of the State Legislature, anC
soon became a prominent member of tha
body. In 1856 he was a member of Tho
| Democratic State Convention, and voted t,
instruct the Pennsylvania delegation to tn,
National Convention to support Buchanan
for President. He was, however, unable I,
endorse the offensive pro-slavery platform
adopted by the democracy at Cincinnati
and went over to the republican party
heartily espousing its cause and supportin.
its candidate for the presidency From
1851 to 1889 he served, as a republican, il
the state Senate, having been elected owe
one Of the strongest democratic leaders
During his two year in this body he ranked
among the foremost of its members. In