The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-02-06
OUR MILITIA FORCE.

WASHINGTON, February 5.-From the
report submitted to Congress by the Sec.
retary Of War, it appears that the organ.
lied strength of the militia force Of the
different States consists OF l45 general
officers, 1905 field and staff officers, 6,19s
company officers, 1l7,037 non.commis.
stoned officers, musicians and privates.
The unorganized force or number OF men
available for military duty is 6,5l6,66S.
REDUCTION OF DUTY ON STEEL RAILS.
The Committee on Ways and Means to.
day finished the hearing on the proposed
reduction OF duty on steel rails.
Samuel W. FELTON,, President OF the
Bessemer Steel Association, was exam
ined as follows:
Question by Mr.. Conger-Do you know
anything about an association formed in
England for the purpose OF influencing
our tariff on steel rails and other objects,
and whether that association has members
in this country.
Mr., Felton, do not know Of any Of
my own knowledge. I have heard that
there is such an association, but cannot
say positively whether there Is or not.
Mr.. Conger-As far as you. have heard,
do you know whether any members Of
that association are members OF Congress?
Mr.. Felton-I know nothing about it.
Mr.. Conger-Do you know whether any
member Of Congress was at the time OF
this change in tariff member OF the
Golden League formed for the purpose OF
reducing the duties on our tariff
Mr.. Felton-I have heard that that was
the case, but have no knowledge OF it.
Mr.. Carlisle-I understand you to say
that the association OF which you are
President has not furnished any monies to
compensate the Vulcan Works at St..
Louis for ceasing the operation.
Mr.. Felton-No sir, the association as
such has not.
Mr.. Carlisle-Do you know whether the
other mill owners OF this country have
furnished any money TO compensate the
Vulcan Works?
Mr.. Felton, will tell you the whole
truth about that. The Vulcan works
stopped in consequence OF their inability
to pay their men and their honest debts
While they werein that condition some o.
the other steel manufacturers ofthe coun
try took up the question in o pure bust
ness point OF view, and they agreed t
pay a certain sum to the Vulcan works L
enable them TO tide over the then hare
times. The Vulcan works were under {
mortgage Of $l,00O,000, the interest o
which was about $4,000 q year, and thel
would have been sold at q sacrifice an[
the property scattered TO the four winds o
heavens II it had not been that othe
persons engaged in the same business
came TO their relief and paid them abou
SO, 900 year, by which the Vulcan work
were able to pay the interest on thei
mortgage, and to save this property ant
be ready when the demand for steel rail
was greater than the supply to start afresh
Mr.. Carlisle-Was 1t or not q part OF th'
agreement that the Vulcan works shoult
not operate those years, and that the!
were being paid by other mills2
Mr.. Felton-No they were to operat'
whenever the time came In which the de
!. mand for steel rails was greater than thl
supply. They were to be notified thel
that they would receive this money nj
. longer. :,
Mr. Carlisle-That is these other mil
owners have the right to notify the Vulca
works when they may resume operations
Mr.. Felton-Yes, -and they have beef
. Emory:A. Storrs closed the argumen
, on behalf of the steel manufacturers, ant
against the proposed reduction OF tn
r duty, He denied emphatically the as
. sumption made throughout the discussion
i, that.the reduction OF the duty was sough
. for in the interest OF railroad companies
Il was not that; 1t was simply bold, IN
warranted assumption. 1t was untrue 7
. point OF fact. It was true that some raj
Q roads were asking for reduction, bu
: speaking ofrailroad interests as q whole !
o was not true that they were asking for i
{ There was not single great trunk line {
1 railroad connecting the seAboard with th
8 Northwest that asked for q reduction
) There was not q memorial on the hless
s 1.-THE committee signed BY representalis
Of q single great trunk line that asked 4