The New York herald., 1878-02-08
GENERAL WASHINGTON DESPAT TCHES.

GENERAL WASHIN6I ON DESFAl SHEo.
WARRINGTON Feb Z, 1871
THE SOUTHERN TRANscoNrINENTAL RAILROAD
ouEsTIoN-ARoUMENT OF COLONEL SCOTT.
The Senate Committee on Railroads heard this
morning. on behalf Of the Texas Pacific Railroad Col
one Scott who presented the br0aa grounds on which
the government was asked to aid the enterprise.
These bricy were:-That the Southern line must be
competing line free from all control by othcr corpora
tions and with the regulation of It's rates re-
served to Congress-; that to insure low rates
the line must be built at lowest cost; that
the natural advantages Of the thirty-second
parallel were supplemented by the lowest prices
ever known labor and material and that while the
government and the public would thus secure tho
benefits Of line costing $50 000, 900, instead OF tho
1926 900 OF the present ne the rolief to the de-
pressed industries and idle labor OF the country from
its construction would be very great He claimed
that the government would directly save
SO, 000, 600 year II 1t paid every dollar OF
interest which 1t guaranteed. while the rch
stream Of Oriental commerce would not traverse our
continent except cheap transcon.incntal road unob
structsd by snow was provided; that Chicago and
other Northern cities would have a shorter
route to the Pacific over this line, while all
the Southern ports and centres would be
contrary to human nature to suppose that tho
Central Pacific would build road TO compete with
themselves, and that they would evade any promise
they might givo by crippl!ng the facilities on
their end Of the Southern line or boundary under
their territorial charter which allowed them to charge
ten to fifteen cents per mile. ME Scott claimed that
neither he others Interested in tho TexasPachc
could reap dollar profit under the bill out OF the
building OF the road and that hts present investment
amply protected by the earnings OF the completed
line. r
Tho committee, having decided to hear three alter
nate speeches from each sde Texas and Pacific 10
close Mr.. Storrs opened for the Southern Pacific of
California, rccting its powers under the octs Of Con-
grcss and OF California. The committee adjourned.
to meet at half-past ton O'Clock Tomorrow.
THE PREEDMAN's HOSPITAL PROGRESS OF THE
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES FAVORABLE TO
THE MANAGEMENT OF THE INSTITUTION.
Tho Senate subcommittee on appropriations in
vestigaling the management Of the Freedmens hos.
pita held long this morning ana heard tes-
timony from Dra Palmer Purvis and Manning. The
subcommittee had previously personally inspected the
Hospital and found 1t in ceany condition, the food
good and an apparen. good use made OF the govern.
ment appropriations. rhe testimony taken by the
ommttee this morning tended to show that the In
stituuon Is useful and economically managed. With
reference the charges concerning the keeping Of
idiots and lunatics in the institution, II was
testified that they have been kept there
from its foundation; that they under
tho same system Of nurses as other
patients and have the food and care; that they
harmless and inoIensive except IN tearing their
own clothes; that violence Is used toward them
and that they have not committed any.
In regard tho accusation made against DR..
ooI,avu hat txnor "a
ers tho hospital students belonging to the Howard
University, the testimony given today to the
effect that threo students board at the hospital two
chapains and q carpenter; tnat thcy work for their
board costing about SO a month each. and that be.
fore Or. Palmer's administration the chaplain was
paid 500 per month and had quarters for himself and
vile and stabng for his horse. The cost TO the gov
ernment but S12 per month for better service.
The chaplains visit the sick patients daily, give re-
lgious consolation to the sick aud dying, hold re-
gous services write the letters OF patients, &c. Tho
carpenter Is medical student and tho wages of
ono working Tor his board II was also in testimony
that all articles used Tor the hospitals are bought OF
wholesale dealers on competition and at tho lowest
rates The cooks and nurses have not been changed
for several years and attentive and skifuL The
witnesses examined to-day also testified that the gen.
eralty OF patients content and speak well OF
the institution and that only few bring charges
about their food, &C The committee state that It IL
ther intention probe tho charges TO the very bot
tom and to hear all parties.
THE CHARGES AGAINST DooRKEEPER POLK.
The examination OF the Committee Civil Reform
the public service, to whom the charges against tho
oicM character of colonel Polk, the doorkeepcr OF
the House. referred, has not thus far elected
any facts seriously affecting him. The frionds
of the Doorkeeper say that all their state
men,s will be satisfactorily explained. Tho
testimony to-day showed that ono of tho
charges against Colonel Polk originals in the mr.
rangements OF some OF the members OF Congress
themselves In providing for their respective friends
three democratic appointments from New England to
subordinate positions in the House coming under the
pooling operation Untn to-day Colonel Polk had no
counsel but B. W. Hanna, Of Indiana, is now acting
Tor him In that capacity.
HONORARY COMMISSIONERS TO TIE PARIS Ex-
POSITION.
The following is a list Of the honorary commission
ers the Paris Exposition -
andrew ID. White, OF New York; Levi p. Norton, OF
New York; George W. Childs, OF PcnnsyIvania; w.
ii. II. DAVIS, OF Pennsylvania; A. l.. Coolidge, Of
Massachusetts; Frederick Smytne, OF New Hanp-
shire; Frank Miilward OF Kentucky; James IL.
SMART OF Indiana; Alfred Hibard, OF Iowa; William
H. Moore, OF North Carolina; Edwin Cawlcs, OF Ohio
Benjamin u. Gallup, OF Iinois n. H. Knight, OF the
District OF Columbia; William SeligmaD, OF California;
s 7. Merrill oi Wisconsin; J. NJ. Stafford. Of Tonnes
sec; !. A. Towner, OF Arizona; Austin Savage, Of
Idaho, and William Hayden, oil Utan
THE SILVER DEBATE.