Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-11
ON TO MEXICO.
Revel I'm Ghe Halls Of montezuma
How Grant and Eads Carried
Their Schemes, and Bossonians
SeG up the Wine.

City Of Merico Cor of the Chicago Times
For the past month both houses have been
reasonably busy wrestling with the railroad
schemes of Eads and Grant. The former,
though arriving in the country later, sue
ceeded in getting the precedence. His ship
railway bill was reported upon favorably by
the House Committee, passed that august
body, and was sent up to the Senate in an
incredibly short space of time. 80 far.
everything went smoothly. To get the en-
dorsement Of the government seemed to be
an easy matter. A favorable and speedy
passage was expected In the SEN
ate, but 1t was not to be so. AS II to
atone for the apparent haste of the
lower branch, the Senate assumed the role
of critic, and deliberately analyzed the con-
cession and questioned the feasibility of the
scheme. Outside influences were at work.
The papers OF the city published the pro-
ceedings at Washington and the reports of
the Committee on Railroads when the same
project was up for consideration less than q
year ago. They eounseled deliberation, ard
the combined forces. together with the op-
position from the Tehuantepec Railroad re-
suited in keeping the question open until
the Senate perforce went into permanent
session to come to fipal decision before adj
journmen+. Captain Eads got his conces-
sion. 1t was discovered beforehand that be
would, but the slowness of the Senate to
grant the franchise was a surprise to all.
brought up for consideration, and
the next laid on the table.
This mode of tactics was carried on till
the day Of adjournment was close by.
Things began to look serious. The Senate
refused to consider anything else. General
Grant was In hurry to leave the country,
and wanted to catch the "Whitney.n A
motion was made to suspend the rules and
take up the Mexican Southern. The Senate
could not see the point. At last they meant
business. The permanent session declared
Itself unanimously in favor of the eonces
sion, and today, In celebration of the event,
dinner was given to Captain Eads bV Gen.
eral Mexia, prominent Lerdisti. 1t was
the occasion of general jubilation, aud,
under the warming Influence of champagne,
the ship railway across the Tehuantepec be-
came an accomplished fact.
La the concession, the government are
exempted from bearing any part of the
cost, and the road is to be built without
subventton. Captain Eads depends solely
upon the moral effect of the approval to
work wonders in the States. He will use
1t as lever to open the vaults of Uncle
Sam in the shape of government guar
anty. 1t successful, half the labor is ac-
complished; otherwise, he will have to
look for private capital; aud, until the
practicability of the scheme is demon
strated beyond question, he will look in
vain. American capitalists are too hard
headed to put their money Into visionary
project. AT present the papers are treat
log the schemes of Capt. Eads with marked
consideration, but the changes Ia tempera-
ment are so sudden, and, generally, un-
accountable, that II is hardly safe to
prophesy what the state OF feeling may be
six months hence.
The disposal of the ship railway bill gives
the Mexican Southern fair show in the
Senate. 1t is up for consideration to-day,
and will probably be approved to night,
and General Grant can take his departure In
a contented state of mind. This time the
House was not as considerate. The lesson
taught them by the Senate was not lost.
They were at first for slaughtering the con-
tract indiscriminately, but were finally per-
suaded to be satisfied with few amend
mente. They were immaterial, and General
Grant had no objections. There was some
opposition on the passage of the bill 10 the
House, but from what source It came | am
unable to say. Seven anti 90 ahead men,
bers voted steadily against every PROPOSE
ton. Gen. Grant is perfectly satisfied with
his Mexican labors. 10 spite of all con-
trary reports he says he has obtained every
thing asked for. He did rot get a sub
1OhUO~i 0N~9AoO hC A&A u0g Wnub OLCs I1C
submitted to the government a clause
asking for subvention, and one without
subvention, and expressed himself as pre-
ferring the latter. In its constitution the
company is to be strictly Mexican, and all
foreigners are to be subject to the jurisdic.
tion of the Mexican courts. They cannot
escape punishment by alleging rights under
any other government. The Mexican law
makers evidently do not mean to be plum
NUif A aha f1 - -
given the Mexican capitalists to show their
faith in the road by putting their money
in It.
There is delicate sarcasm about the
word capitalist when applied to Mexican.
Like those who have not seen "Plnafore,"
they are hard to find. There are q number
Of rich men, however, here, but they are
almost invariably foreigners; and, sup
pose, for the purpose of enticing these, the
company will open subscription book In
Mexico at the same time as in New York.
But before the books can be opened at sll
first capital of So, O00, 900, ten per cent.
paid up, must be subscribed The
right to issue stock and bonds is, of
course, decreed to the company, and regis
tration in Mexico shall be valid. The con-
tract calls for work to begin within six
months, and, unless interrupted by armed
forces or accidents, must be completed
WA1hAA oSA JUnAos IL 0hf "a b1ObC libllE
revolutions occur, SO characteristic of all
Central American States, and until recently
of Mexico, the government may demand
the use of the road TO the exclusion OF all
other business. By mortgaging or transfer
ring its concession the company forfeits II.
General Grant will begin work at once.
Preliminary surveys will be run from all
directions. Grading cannot be commenced
till after the rainy season. Mr.. Romero
will remain In Mexico and assume general
charge OF affairs. 1t really seems as IL the
feeling against Romero was dying out.
Grant has the utmost confidence In him,
and has interceded with President Con-
zales In his behalf, and iE would not be
strange II the government should take
him in. While Romero Is overcoming
this general antipathy, opposition Is
nent Mexican, who is President of
one or two railroad corporations, director
in several others, and is said to hold the
power of attorney of Jay Gould, has hitherto
controlled American interests In Mexico.
Romero comes into the field backed By a
strong financial syndicate, and is likely to
be a formidable competitor. Grant and
Eads have obtained their concessions and
are satisfied. The Topolovampo representa-
tives are still knocking, and it looks as II
they would have to knock for some time to
come. The last two weeks have depressed
their spirits wonderfully. They no longer
assume that boastful air. A more meek or
patient set of fellows 1t would be hard to
find. They have encountered a general in
difference, which alone would have been
sufficient to break down ordinary
rortals. They have been rebuffed and
fgurativelY knocked down, but have
come up smiling each time with
renewed Vigor. The Executive has
lately been invested with authority to
make contracts independent Of Congress
for eight months. This has infused new
blood into Topolovampo; It Is, in fact, the
only crumb of comfort that has been
dropped to them during the session of
Congress. They are going to make the
most of it, and will haunt the capitol and
the palacio constantly and press the ad-
vantages of their system OF road. The
government is ready to cry "eDouoh" on
railroading. Very naturally 1t would like |
to see the results following the concessions
already granted. 1t must draw the line
somewhere, and, from all appearances, has |
begun.
The Topolovampo Company represents q
Boston syndicate. Mayor Frinee, Wendell |
Phillips, Judge Abbott and General Butler |
are among the most prominent supporters |
Of the scheme. For the purpose of Impress
ing upon the government the due iuapoft-
ance Of their railroad, their representatives |
in Mexico were intFusted with $50, 900. |
Their first duty was to give 81, 900 banquet |
to General Grant. The affair has been uien- |
toned but incidentally. lthss Rot taken its |
iu st rank In the history OF haHQuets. The |
STOW of souln maY have been eaualled. out |
never excelled. The speeches varied |
from the sublime to the ridiculous, from /
the visionary 10 the prosaic. The speakers /
touched upon every conceivable euf iscs