Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-04-11
Washington.
THE PACIFIC RAILWAY BILL.

\ Washington dispatch says that
there will be a vote on the Pacific rail
road sinking fund bill on Monday even
ing, the Sth. The general impression
Is that it will be passed by the Senate
with some amendments. The first
question will be an amendment offered
by Senator Blaine to the concluding sec
tion of the Judiciary Committees bill,
in these words:
So long as said Central Pacific and
Union Pacific Companies shall faithfully
comply with the provisions of said act
of 1862 and 1864, and of this act relat-
ing to payments to the United States on
accnnnt of bonds advanced, and of a
sinking fund to be established as afore-
said. such compliance shall be deemed
and taken as sufficient to meet the OBJ
legations of said Companies on account
of such bonds prior to the maturity
thereof
1t is believed this amendment will be
adopted. In offering it, Blaine indicat-
ed that, in the event of its adoption, he
would support the Judiciary Commit
tees bill. Senator Sargent has the floor
at o'clock tomorrow to finish his
speech, and it is expected he Will be
followed by Senators Blaine, Edmunds,
and Conkling.
THE TARIFF ON WOOL.
A press dispatch from Washington
under date of April Sth says the wool
manufacturers have prepared their pro-
test to the revised tariff bill. 1t will be
presented to members tomorrow. The
following are some Of the principal OBJ
jectiOns: During the ten years of the ex-
lsting tariff, the united wool industry of
the country has made progress unequal
ed in any former decade An essential
feature of this progress has been the
material cheapenlng of fabrics, effected
by improvements and domestic compe-
tition. Neither the industries affected
nor the general public demand any
change, much less the radical change
proposed by the bill. This bill com
pletely destroys an important feature
of the existing tariff, namely: the clas-
sificatlon of woods according to char
acter, classification which is now
adopted by the leading commercial
countries. 1t makes the rate depend
wholly on value, causing tie rate to be
too high on some classes and too low Oh
others. 1t makes, with Slight excep-
tiOns, the duties wholly ad vaIorem,
thus increasing the evils Of fraud and
undervaluations. The reduction pro-
posed on many fabrics of from 20 to %
per cent. would compel an abandon
ment of the manufacture of many of
the important fabrics. There would
be extended litigation be-
fore a construction of the law could be
by the department and the
courts The shrinkage resulting from
the proposed bill in the wooden interest
could not be less than $25,000,O00 This
evil would be aggravatrd by competi-
ton from European manufacturers,
who are anticipating an outlet for
their surplus produce in consequence
of the greatly reduced rates proposed
by the bill. The association recon-
mends the prompt defeat of the bill,
and there can be little doubt that, after
Woods speech, an attempt will be
made to strike out the enacting clause.
THE ELECTORAL AMENDMENT.
Associated press advices from Wash
ington of the 9th inst, state that the re-
port of the sub committee Of the house
committee charged with the consider
alton of the method of electing president
and vice-president was submitted to the
full committee, last night, and agreed
to by one majority. The most impor-
tant feature in their proposed amend
ment to the constitution Of the United
States is that the electoral vote and
fraction thereof Of each person voted
for as president in any state shall be
ascertained by multiplying his entire
popular vote by the whole number of
electoral votes Of the state and dividing
the product by the aggregate popular
vote of the states for all persons voted
for as president and the quotient shall
and fractions thereof to which each shall
be entitled using for such fractions
three decimals and no more. The
is designed to preserve the
relative power of the smaller states. 1t
is the opinion Of members of the COM
mittee that the proposed amendment
to the constitution will not receive the
of congress, two-thirds of
both branches being required to pro-
pose it to the states for adoption.
NOMINATION..
The president nominated Vincent w.
Bayless receiver of public moneys at
Eau Claire, Wis.
POLK's SUCCESSOR.
The democratic members met in eau
Gus and nominated Gen. Chas. w. Field
as doorkeeper Of the house to succeed
Polk discharged.
THE RAILWAY FUNDING BILL.
The senate had five hours debate
on the 9TH upon the judiciary bill for
the payment Of the debt due the
government from the Pacific railways.
Stanley Matthews first occupied the
floor, and after he had replied to the
of Senator Christiancy he
withdrew the bill reported by him from
the committee on railroads, so that the
question would come squarely upon
the Thurman bill. This action is in
explicable. Mr.. Chafee then intro
duced new bill, which embraces sew
eral features of the Thurman bill, ana
also compels all railroads which have
received government aid to pro rate
with each other on equitable terms.
Mr.. Chaffee spoke at some length in
favor of his bill, and was sharply
questioned by Thurman. who was
handling him rather roughly, when
Conkling came to the rescue. When
Chaffee had concluded Thurman took
the floor to explain his position, and
was at once interrogated by Blain, Hill,
Eaton, and others, making the discus
sion very animated for an hour or
more. Dinner-time approached, and
the contest narrowed down to Thur
ar,d lii 10TH c- &C rI-l,or,n cnnr,, I'd