The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-11-20
washington LETTER.
THE NEXT sEss7oN-RHdF TIKI
SOVTH NEED9-STGN9.

SOUTH NEEDS-SIGNS.
WASHINGTON, d. C., Nov. IS, 1873.
To the Editor of the MorristoEn Gazette:
The nextyear or twoyof Con res sion
al legislation will be of vast, I may say
-of@Fifal impeFtance@to. the South
therefore to the whole country, and it
behooves the representative men and
commercial bodies of that section to be
up and doing. 1t is a factanoted by all
that the South has not received its due
share of public favors or attention, In
the matter of aid to railroads, for in
stance, the North has received five times
as much as the South, and the proper
ton for other internal improvements
and for public works is in still greater
proportion agaif St the South. Repre-
sentative men from all sections are now
discussing this subject in connection
with proposed legislation to promote
business interests, and it is the universal
opinion that now is the time for action
for the promotion of general prosperity.
And the question is, what shall be done {?
The South sadly needs and richly de-
serves assistance in building up her var
ious Industrial interests, but two or
threeno great importance oveFshadow
the many smaller ones. The great wants
are the reconstruction of the Mississippi
levees, the improvement of several of
the rivers besides the Mississippi for
navigation, and the construction of a
truly Southern trans-continentalr railway.
Allthese subjects aught to be discussed
and pressed to early action by Congress
One of them is in shape now to COM
mand the early attention of the Senate,
a committee of that body near the close
of the last session reported a bill to aid
the Texas Pacific Railroad Company by
guaranteeing its construction bonds, in
consideration of returning its land grant
to the Government, giving first mort
gage on all its property to secure the in
terest, and submitting to Government
control. This bill was delayed because
of the promises of the so-called South
ern Pacific Company of California to
build through to Texas at once but
now, it appears, this promise was a de-
| liberate cheat, and the Southern Pacific
| Company has combined with another
ring to make connection with road
| terminating in Kansas and controlled
by the Central and Union Pacific monOp-
Olists. The promises were made only to
prevent action until this combination
could get more strength to defeat an in
| dependent line, and great deal of mon
ey will be spent this winter to prevent
| action again. The South can defeat the
schemes of these eonspirators if its rep
resentatives stand together and demand
their rights. If the proposed plan OF
the Texas Pacific bill does not satisfy
them, let them propose another, but il
will not do to divide upon lriies, else
the main object may be defeated for
ever. Quick and heavy blows must be
struck in behalf of Southern railroad
the Pacific and other internal improve
ments in which the South is interested
or it will be too late for their full bene
fits to be enjoyed by the present genera
ton. fEH e tt -
Signs of preparation are visible fol-
the coming session, and scattering mem
bers are putting in an appearance. In q
few days Washington will be as attrac
tive and lively as is its wont in the win
ter season. The House committee or
Appropriations will meet here a few
days before the session begins to pre-
pare the business connected with the
1 Department estimates. They propose
1t is said, to make this report earlier
than usual so that the bills may not have
/ to be rushed through hastily during the
| last hours of the session. If they do il
will turn out to be great improvement
The question as to the status of the
| next Congress VIII soon be settled. The
| Democrats will have 7 or in the Sen
ate, and probably about the same mum
Der in the House, above the Republi
| cans and Greenbackers. It viii be a
difficult Congress for the success OF
merely partisan legislation, and will
furnish occasions for sharp acrimonious
contest between the leaders. Many pre-
diet that the new Congress will meet in
extra session in March, but why the
President should call them together il
the business of the present session is &C
| complished in the time allowed, it is
difficult to understand.