The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-02-09
HOUSE or CELEBRATES.
Mr.. Mofrett Replies TO speaker Wilson
Railroad Speech other business.

Railroad Speech Other business.
At the hour Of commencing the session
in the House yesterday the Hobbies and
galleries were crowded with spectators,
drawn by curiosity to hear the debate on
Speaker Wilson's railroad bill. Rev. Mr.,
Motfett, OF the Second Presbyterian
Church, opened with prayer, and the first
hour was spent In the ordinary routine
business.
At three o'clock, Mr.. Cressp in the
Chair, Mr.. Wilson rose and demanded the
special order. Assistant Clerk Homer
who makes frat class Chief Clork Ia the
absence Of Col. Peyton, read the bill and
the amendments proposed thereto by the
Railroad Committee.
During this reading considerable amuse'
ment was caused by the arrival Of about
q third OF the members oil the Senate, each
carryinga mess &c announcing the passage
OF some bill. Senator Wood first delivered
bis message and retired. Scarcely had the
Clerk resumed the reading till Door.keepel
Nealis announcedl
"Mr. Speaker, message from the SEN
ate." -.
Senator Newman advanced, communl
Gated the passage Of bill, and retired will
q flourish. The Clerk red few sentences
further, when again came the Interrupt
ton:
"Mr. Speaker, message from the Sen
ste."
A smile went around the House az
Senator Barbee advanced and delivered
his little speech.
The Clerk had Just gotten under way
again when the same thing was repeated
Senator Stollipg this time being the beare
OF the message.
This time the smile was audible, ant
when In about six seconds Senator Max
we'll followed With the announcement O.
the passage Of Senate Bill "for the diau
sion Of knowledge among men" the Hous
burst into hearty roar.
The bill was amended In several par
ticnlars az 10 form, but the. only materia
Alteration made was offered by Mr., vii
son himgelf, and consisted In reduction
Of the charges allowed 10 be made for III
transportation Of coal.
NR. MoFFKrT
objected 10 The bill. lie thought, first
that the bill was too patroniSng. II car
ried the doctrine oil paternal government
to q dangerous distance, aud was In spirl
opposed TO the true theory Of Democrat
institutions.
In the second place, he held that tn
bill invaded the chartered rights oil cor
porations, which should be, and are
sacred. He quoted Ii support Of this pOsl
ton the opinion Of Randolph Tucker, ex
pressed when that gentleman was Attor
ney General Of Virginia.
He rejected the proposition advanced
by Judge Black and Mr.. Wilson, that rail
road companies are public corporations
nopposiLion TO Judge Black's opinion, b
quoted from Justice Walte's decision Il
the case OF Mum vB. the State OF Illinois
ITO proceed Upon the assumption tha
railroad corporations are public Cafpora
tions ID 10 involve the Whole subject Il
difficulty and confusion" He also quote
from Kents Commentaries 10 sustain th
opinion that the basis, and not the put
pose OF a corporation, decided whether !
was public or private. Therein II is he'll
that, "The only public corporations ar
those established by the Government 10
politlcal purposes, OF business Cofpoti
lions s'i in which lie GOystnRSnt holds a
the stock"
The idea OF legislative control Of raj
roads on the theory Of emf ent domai
was also rejected. Land 10 sometime
condemned 10 secure perpetual tiowag
| iof factories, but that does not give th
Government the tight 10 prescribe ho.'
wide manufacturer shall make his clolt
MOI how much he shall charge ior 1t pc
yard, .,,... ,... ia,
the decision In the case Of the railToett
aRainst The State Of Iowa, wherein the
s, Supreme Court held that "fai!roa
companies are common carriers Tor hir'