The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-01-30
CONGRESSMAN KENNA.
He Also Declines to be Instruct
ed by the Legislature.
The Reasons Why He Cannot Vote
for Tom scOtt's Road.
1IorsE or REPRESENTATIVES, |

/ you voted mo" on the Texas Pacific reso
luton recently passed by our Legislature
that you had no information on the sub
iect TO warrant any other course, and that
! you did SO in in the line of safety to the
people Of the country. You further ask
that, with the information at my command
here, shall give you my views of the
propriety Of your course. l very cheer.
fully do this, desiring, however, that no
suggestion from me shall be construed as
q reelection upon the action OF those who
may ditEer from me on tho subject or as
evidence OF any want OF respect Tor their
opinions.
First-The bill presented proposes that
the United States shall endorse and guar.
antee payment OF interest at five per
centum per annum for fifty years on the
bonds Of this corporation to the amount Of
SIS, $50 000-the aggregate liability in in.
terest thereby assumed being $OS, 200, 600.
In other words, the bill proposes that the
United States shall become an "accommo.
dation cndorser" to tho amount Of n
definite and Fixed sum OF $0S,0OO, 900 for
this private corporation. am aware of no
warrant in the Constitution for this ex-
crcise OF extraordinary power.
Second-ltit be true, as claimed by dis
interested parties, that the grant Of land
TO that corporation by the act OF 1871 be
forfeited, then this bill rcrires that grant 10
the extent not only Of tho way, but also Of
every alternate section heretofore granted.
This involves direct subsidy to that ex.
tent, and Is in conflict with every Demo.
cratic platform which Ihave ever seen, II
is further in conflict with that declared
policy OF the Democratic party OF the
country, which has demanded the reserya.
ton Of the public domain for actual set.
tiers, and denounced its use in Substituting
corporations ut the expense of the masses.
Third-It fixes no terminus on the
Mississippi river further than that It slall
not be nortn Of Memphis, and provides for
the selection of point by commission
oil five. There is no provision in the bill
TO control the connections cast OF the Mis-.
sissippi river, and thus, while 1t pretends
TO avoid monopoly lred Of that stream, Mr..
Scott's connection with the enterprise
gives assurance that it will be made to
operate as a feeder to his existing com.
bination east OF that stream.
Fourth-ltpretends TO give the United
States the power to regulate its tariffs,
while in fact this reserved right is made
to effect only its through freight, and all
control over any other than that character
OF freight is absolutely surrendered by
this bill. 1t Is in this respect in conflict
with the provisions OF what is known as
the Reagan Bill" TO regulate interstate
commerce, Which is demanded by every
commercial, agricultural and producing
interest OF the country, and which your
body has instructed and requested our
delegation tosupport with, l believe, unan-
unity.
Fifth-It is claimed by its promoters to
be Southern measure, when in fact it is
not so recognized by many representatives
from the South, and when It is notorious
here that with point fixed for its termin.
rs on the Mississippi river, it could not
command the united vote even OF the rep.
reSentatiyes from the Mississippi Valley,
south Of Memphis.
Sixth-It is artfullY urged that it will
give employment TO idle laborcrs and
relieve existing distress. This policy OF
its advocates would be amusing ifit did
not trife with the solemn fact that thous.
ands OF honest, industrious men are with.
out work, and If 1t did not offer the strange
anomaly OF giving employment TO few
hundred workmen, who for oil we know
and for all this bill provides may be i'm.
ported from China and employed at the
expenses OF the millions OF toiling men
and women throughout the land, who
must bear the burden and pay the taxes
necessary to meet this enormous outlay OF
sos, 900, 900 from their treasury.
Seventh-!t has been suggested by the
friends OF this measure that the local in.
terests OF West Virginia will be promoted
by its passage! Looking at it from local
standpoint, | may be pardoned il iail TO
see the good which my State can derive
from benefit, II there be any in it, which
our citizens must leave their families and
their homes and go to Texas to enjoy. II
local considerations are to control tho sub.
ject we had better at once amend tho title
so as 10 make it read: An act to encourage
emigration from West Virginia to Texas.
EightlI-The bill is revival Of that sys-
TEN Of railroad legislation which few
years ago robbed and plundered tho people
OF this country, and brought disgrace Mt
home and abroad upon the American
name, Tho lobby in its support which
throngs the corridors here, and failing at
the National Capitol, reaches throughout
the land besieging State Legislatures, State
Oranges, and every other avenue OF public
opinion, awakens reCollections OF those
days when the same process was giving
birth to the credit mobilier and when the
interests OF fifty millions Of frcemen were
made to trembte before the combined pow.
er OF money and monopoly which thun-
dered at the vaults of their treasury.
And last but not least to support this
measure on my part, would be to Violate
the solemn pledges which have made a
hundred times over to the people Of my
district. i have not denounced subsidies
to come here and support them. have
not raised my voice in opposition to class
legislation againt the interests and the
rights Of the masses to mehere and lend
my voice to the consummation ofthat very
work. Ihave not joined in the inligna.
ton OF my people at the stupendous
lobby to come here and surrender myself
helplessly intoits hands, Ifreliefo OF distress
be the purpose let the friends oithis meas.
ure join ein liberal and iudicious exercise
for the improvement OF the rivers and
harbors OF the country. They are the great
natural arteries Of American commerce.
They areopen and treeas the air for the use
OF all. They belong to the people. They
are not the creatures or creators OF sub,
sidy, and best Of all while their improve.
mcnt gives employment to thousands oI
workingmen all over the country, in every
quarter. they promote commerce equally
they offer carrying facilities e9aRy-thoy
unite enterprise equally, and they arc the
, natural enemies OF monopoly, made so bS
i. the act Of God, which human fraud o.
Texas Pacific scheme is diGsTont affair r.
, diIereptin prinClple-.diflerent In polio,
different IN eIeOt-ditEerent in every as
peot In which It oan be viewed.
!, l believe thatyop did right, and I can
not but believe that, with full information