The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-04-13
From Washington.
PACIFIC RAILROAD BILL.


years Mr.. Thurman bill to compel the Union
and Central Pacific Railroads to provide a
sinking fund to pay their Indebtedness 10 'le
government was brought to Il final vote on
Tuesday. The main provisions OF the Dill are
that itrequrcs, first the payment into the treas
! ury Of all earnings for government Transports
ton; and secondly, $l50Ooo year 10y the
| Union and 100000 year by the Central IA
cific road as a sinking fund for the ultimate
/ payment Of principal and interest OF the Dohos
| loaned the companies by the government The
/ bill was fought inch by inch 10y a determined
| lobby, headed by Jay Gould and Huntington
| in person and when they found it was rated
to pass, they got Blaine move an amendment
to raise the annual amount to S6OO,OOO, III con
| sdcration that congress should surrender all
ITS right of further legislation on the subject
as long as the 100000 were paid. Thurman
and Edwards secuted the amendment as a dis
reputable trap, and it was voted down. The
bill finally passed by the strong vote OF Az to
/ 10 1t was at once sent to the house and the
house railroad committee, to which it was re-
fcrrcd agreed on Wednesday to report in favor
of its passage without delay, 50 that it is cX-
pcccd to pass the house with little debate or
loss of time
HOUSE DOORKEEPER.
The house having, on Thursday Of last week,
given Doorkeeper Polk the bounce, on Friday
morning Ben Butler rather took the members
by surprise by Offering, as a matter of privil-
legc, Il resolution that Gen. James Shields be
appointed doorkeeper. Ofcourse the democrats
had proposed to fill the vacancy in their own
way-by holding caucus on Friday evening,
agreeing on their candidate and slecting him
and Cox informed Butler to that effect. The
latter, however, maintained that his motion was
privileged and insisted on vote, culogising
Shields as a soldier of two wars &c. Cox said
the republicans had for years had 10000 pub
lie offices at their disposal and asked why it,
was they had not thought of Shields be
fore and Morrison asked why Butler, as one
of the election committee some years ago, had
denied Shields a seat in the house. though heI
had been elected by 5000 majority? The de
bate was kept up several hours and finally
ended for the day by the house refusing to en-
terrain the resolution as privileged question.
On Friday evening the democrats met in
caucus, and after pretty warm contest Gen.
c. l.. Field, of Georgia, who had commanded
division in Lees army, was nominated to the
vacant doorkeepership, getting so votes to-
Shields 90, Mccoy Is, &c. Shields was clearly
beaten mainly because he had been champion
ed by Butler.
The election took place on Monday, and re-
suited in 1913 votes tor Field, all democrats
10l for Shields, all republicans except Spring
er of Ill.,, and SIN for Trent, of Tenn, a Union
soldier, all democrats.
The house having thus rejected Shields fort
doorkecper, however, to show that they did sol
out of no lack of esteem for him, at once pass
ed bill to place him on the retired list of the
army. This was done because the members
had been assured that Gen. Shields was old,
crippled, and SO poor as to be almost in want
while placing HIM on the army retired list
would give him Il comfortable income for the !
remainder of his life. The bill as passed by
the house was reported in the senate on We'd
nesday, and Gordon urged its immediate pass
age, but Edmunds said he was in no hurry to
repair democratic blunder in the house, and
on his objection the bill was referred
sUNDRIEs.
The post office appropriation bill as reported
to the house on Wednesday, changes the sys-
TEN of paying postmasters of the 4th class &c,
corling to the number of stamps sold, back to
the old system Of the actual amount of letters,
&c, sent.
The pension bill as reported abolishes all
the pension agencies and makes pensions pay
able by draft directly from the public treasury. |
As passed on Thursday, however, the clause
the agencies was stricken out hut
the bill requires that after July lst all pension
agents shall be wounded or disabled Union
soldiers.
Woods tariff bill was debated two hours and
a half in the house on Tuesday and referred
to the committee of the whole.
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.
\ caucus of the republican members both of
the senate and house was held on Wednesday, |
and resulted in the appointment of a congress
ional committee of one from each state to look
after the interests of the party. Etfigy Sargent
moved a resolution that the President be asked
To withdraw his order No. l., that forbids office
holders to make political speeches, serve on
election committees, &c, but Edmunds squelch-
ed him by moving its reference to the commit
tee just appointed. The committee of course
will pay no attention TO it, as the general UNI
derstanding come to was To consult the Presi-
dent about nothing, but to ignore him in all
matters relating to the republican party.
From Marselles.
MNRSEuLEs, April II, 1871.
The InivrrSalistS hold musical festival "