The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-05-02
BUTLER'S IDLE RHETORIC.
PASSAGE OF THE PACIFIC RAIL
ROAD SINKING-FUND BILL IN
SPITE OF IT.
In the Whole House lie Finds Only One Man to
Stand with Him Against the Measure.

-
Washington, April "a, The House to-
day adopted resolution providing that
after the 2Sth inst, its sessions shall be-
gin at II a, M. -,
Mr.. Knott Dem. KY reported bill
for the distribution of the unexpended
balance of the Geneva award.
Mr.. Clymer, dem. Pa.) reported back
the Naval Appropriation bill, with vari-
ousSenate amendments, recommending
concurrence in some and non.concur.
renee in others. He explained that as it
passed the House, the bill appropriated
$l4000000. The Senate added $20OOOO.
The comm ittee recommended concur
renee in the amendments amounting to
$4,000. The report was agreed to.
The Senate Funding bill regarding the
Pacific railroad companies having been
repealed, Mr.. Cox, Dem. N ~ moved
that it be put upon its passage.
The bill having been read, Mr.. Butler
rep. Mass made the point of order,
that as money bill it must 60 the Com
mittee of the Whole.
Mr.. Morrison Dem. ILL., contested the
point of order, and the Speaker oyerruled
it. ....
Several members of the Judiciary Com
mittee declared themselves favorable to
the bill without reference to that com
mittee, but Messrs Lapham and Conger,
although they should vote for it, thought
it should take the regular course.
Mr.. Cox addressed the House in advo.
cacy of the bill. After referring to the
efforts of lobbyists to defeat measures of
this sort, he argued that the House should
not hesitate to grasp it promptly, and Sc
cure the vast sums invested by the Uni
ted States. The Government loaned the
Union Pacific $27 236 512, and paid as in.
terest on it SIS 800 sol. Deducting the
interest repaid by half transportation,
and the remainder due the Government
last January was $38 OIL 9S5. The SEN
ate report said that after paying all the
interest and the other part of the trans
portation service, there would be left
dividend of 81 per cent on the present
market price of the stock, while the U.
S. would get the sum of $1.93S 2S3, sink.
ing the principal annually only S304092.
About the same sum would come from
the Central Pacific, hich would have
left GA per cent dividend on the nominal
stock. The bill Contemplates sinking
fund for all the creditors and not for the
United States alone No impartial man
or good lawyer could doubt the power of
Congress to amend or repeal the laws of
1862 and 1864. But whether those laws
allowed amendment or not, the right was
as asindestructible as society. No onedoubts
the principle, that one Congress can
not limit the constitutional power Of an
other Congress. The grants of Congress
were for grand, continental objects, and
it should be secured while it was yet pos
sible. 1t was a contest between the
Drawn of this country, aided by honest
brain, and those spectators who have
failed in a great trust.
Messrs. Hartridge (Dem. Ga andPhil-
lips rep. Kan.) also advocated the bill.
Mr. Price rep. Ia, would vote for it,
but with regret, because it ought to 60 to
the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Butler (Rep. Mass argued at great
length against the passage of the bill
without its reference to the Judiciary
Committee. He would be willing to be
stoned by every member who would rise
and aver upon his honor that he had
read the bill. He should advise those
companies, if they asked his opinion, to
litigate it. He wanted, if possible, to
have such bill passed, that coach and
four could not be trotted through it in
double harness. The bill stood here
without any examination by the COM
mittee. Where was the old Democratic
cry for the independence of the House,
and against the property body of the
Senator Why, the House lay down be-
fore the Senate land Republican Sen.
ate, ,ltoo) like a whipped spaniel, when.
ever the Senate passed a bill. This
country owed the Pacific Railroad debt
of gratitude, even if it should run away
to. morrow with all it had received. In
1862 Congress passed the Pacific Railroad
bill, and gave it endowment out of the
Treasury, as war measure-to bind the
North together-and it was a very sue.
cessful measure. He asked the South
ern members to look. into their hearts,
and see if part of their hostility against
this railroad company, and of their de-
termination to crush it, and to confscate
it was not because this was the most eff.
Cient of all efficient measures binding
the countries together at a time when
everything seemed to draw it asunder.
He wanted this bill to be fnality when
it was passed. Whenever the House
would pass bill with the main features
of this bill to indemnify everybody right
ly, and one that could not be interfered
with by courts, and then say it should be
final, he would vote for it.
Mr.. Chambers Dem. Miss. said bill
almost identical with this one had been
by him, referred to the Com
mittee on Pacific Railroads, examined
and reported bv that committee.
Mr.. McMahon dem. o. argued that
the bill did not violate any contract,
Mr.. Cox called the previous question
on the passage of the bill, which was Sec
onded.
Mr.. Frye (Rep. Me) moved to refer
the bill to the Judiciary Committee, but
the Speaker ruled the motion out Of or
der at that stage of the proceedings.
The main question being ordered, the
vote was taken on the passage of the bill
and resulted: Yeas 243, nays 2. The
negative votes were cast by Mr.. Butler
and Mr.. Lynde Dem. Wis.,
The Bankrupt bill was left to come up
as the unfinished business in the morn
ing.
An evening session was held, at which
Mr.. Mills dem. Tex spoke in favor of
free trade. Mr. Southard dem. o. op-
posed the theory of the Secretary of the
Treasury, and the policy of resumption.
Mr.. Willis dem. Ky.) in favor Of the
repeal of the Bankrupt law, and Mr.Rob-
bins Dem. N. C,) against its repeal.