The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-12
Fun AT WASHINGTON.
An Interesting Debate Before the Sen.
ate Committee on Military Affairs.

neys. Here is what the Democrat says
about it:
There comes an interesting report from
Washington concerning the proceedings
over the Davenport & Rock Island street
railway bill. before the senate committee
on military affairs one dav last week.
They had an interesting time you may beN
heve The company was represented by
Hon. George Ii. French aud Hon J. w.
Green, OF Davenport, Lawyer Curtis, of
Rock Island. AID Morris Rosenfield, of
Moline. The ferry company was repre-
scented by Capt Robinson himself, while
his attorney, Lawyer jackson, assumed to
represent the citizens of Rock Island.
Another attorney was to speak for Bailey
Davenport and the Rock Island & Milan
horse railway, while Mr.. L. II. Guyer,
director OF the same company, was there
to protest against the proposition of Mr..
Davenport,
There was full attendance of the com
mttee, chairman Senator Cameron pre-
siding. He said that but ten minutes
could be given each side, as the commits
tee had great deal of work on hand, but
the discussion became so interesting that
each side consumed half an hour, at least,
of the committees time.
MI French and Mr. Green addressed
the committee-and then who do you
think requested permission to also speak
a few words in behalf OF the enterprise?
Mr. George II. Parker, of Davenport
Z hi tn 10, min
least
Capt Robinson made most earnest
appeal to the committee to report against
the bill From his speech one would have
thought that the passage Of the bill would
plunge him into the woes of Grest power
ty and distress. He spoke Of how he
purchased the ferry franchise from old
Antoine LeGlaire, upon whom it had
been conferred exclusively for him and
his assigns for all time, by the govern
mcnt ii The request of Keokuk at the In
dian treaty by Davenport in 1892; he
spoke of the manner in which he had
toiled to build up the ferry trade, the
great obstacles he had cOntended with,
and now, as he was approaching old age,
there was proposition to rob him Of the
fruits of his years OF toll
Mr. Jackson spoke in behalf of the cit
liens Of Rock Island who were in unison
with Mr.. Robinson; but he was attended
to beautifully by Mr.. Curtis who let the
committee know that Mr.. Jackson mis-
represented the great majority of thepeo,
pie of his city in tins matter.
While gentlemen representing the cons
psny were talking, Mr.. Robinson inter-
rupted them as rapidly as he could, and
at last Chairman Cameron, evidently very
much annoyed by him. said sharply, ''Mr.
Robinson, you must keep still-cease
your inteTuptions-the committee is
managing tsis meeting" There was no
more interruptions after that. An
IMPORTANT INCIDENT.
arose, which surprised the committee and
opened their eyes to the nature Of the OPP
position, and astonishcd the emmissaries
uf the ferry monopoly. The directors of
the Rock Island Il Milan horse railway
company are Bailey Davenport, f. II.
Gdyer, J. T.. Johnston, j. Riley, and j.
F. Robinson, the latter Il son of ferry
! iAbbluSVH. L ttC HllpAuNN W no lt EICSCulGN
Bailey Davenport, urged proposition of
the Rock Island q Milan company, signed
! by Davenport and young Robinson, offer
( ing TO pay the government $4,000 per
year for the use of the bridges and the
island highway This was a ruse of
course-only another form of effort to
defeat the original bill. Now, then, when
- I'D has ,sr,rn
I up rises Mr. Z. II, Guyer and presents a
protest against any consideration by the
committee of Davenport and Robinsons
offer in behalf Of the Rock Island 4 Milan
street railway; he did this he said in be
| half Of tie majority Of the board Of di>
rectors, Mr.. Johnston, Mr.. Riley and
himself He told the committee that the
company was in no condition to pay 81,
900 or any other sum TO the government
for the privilege mentioned in the Bailey
/ Davenport scheme; and furthermore
the majority Of the company was in favor
% the passage Of the bill and the cons
struction of the railway between Daven~
port and Rock Island, as they believed it
would enhance their business very much
( MS WAS an iS.1lui>liIt ~! MI lttpiitSFiE
| The committee arose just then and the
meeting ended.
! In his speech Captain Robinson told
the committee that if Gen, Logan, who
understood his position thoroughly, were
present. he would not have bothered the
committee with his remarks, but rested
confident that his interests would be well
protected. After the committee had ad-
i0urncd, one of its members told gentle
man that before be left Washington for
Springfield, Gen, Logan had expressed
himself as warmly in favor Of the bill,
and a report in favor of it would have his
concurrence. Senator Cameron has cX
pressed his hearty appreciation of the
| bill. The committee understand very
well that all Moline great majority Of
the people of Rock Island, and all Day.
export want the railway-and that only
the ferry monopoly and persons who are
under obligation to the ferry company 5
bank, in Rock Island are opposed to it..
Every time the ferry company and its
hired attorneys have appeared before the
committee, they have been worsted in the
discussion.