Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-04-24
ALUCKY ACCIDENT
10 Legislation Which Gives to West
Virginia Coal Operators
FREE NAVIGATION ON MoNoNaAHELA
And the Advantage Over Pennsylvania
Competitors, Which the Latter
Sought for Themselves.
Special TO The ReoiJteT.

WASHINGTON, April 23.-The River ant
Harbor bill has been under discussion il
the House. The important feature devel
opsd was the proposed purchase of tn,
works OF the Monongshela Navigation
Company as recommended BY the Com
mittee.
By one of those curious accidents o
legislation, the Pennsylvania members who
we're pushing this measure, lost the advsn
tsges they desired to secure, bat were il
directly the cause Of giving their competi
tors in the cosltrade in West Virginia very
decided and substantial concession. The
Monongshela Slack Water Navigation Co.
is organized under the laws Of Pennsylva
MIA and ths7 have erScted seven dams in
the Monongahels river, giving slack water
up the West Virginia line. Within the
State OF West Virginia the Federal Gov.
ernment has continued the improvements
by the erection Of two dams, the locksge
through which costs the shipper nothing.
This has been Of no practical conse-
quence, however, as the Wes. Virginia
saipper had to pay tor the locksge through
the Monongshels Compauy'S dams in or,
der to get to market. When.the bill was
u2 yesterday the proposition was made to
purchase the private corporations improve
msut aud thus make navigation free
throughout the entire length Of the river,
FREE TO WEST vtRGISIAYs.
This was not agreed to, but an amend.
ment submitted by Mr.. Wilson, Of West
Virginia, was agreed to, providing that all
traffic originating IL that part OF the river
improved by the government in West Vir.
ginia shall pass through the private locks
free TO the Ohio river This makes the en-.
tire river free to West Virginia operators,
but the Pennsylvania coal shippers will
have to pay lockage as heretofore. In
other words, the West Virginia operators,
though ffCy six miles further up stream,
can put their product into the lower mar
ket cheaper than that mined in the seven
lower pools The Pittsburg coal operators
are very much cbsgrined that, after spend
ing months OF time and barrels of money
to get free navigation for themselves they
have only succeeded in giving their oom.
petitors a decisive advantage not previous.
ly enjoyed.
Special 10 The Register.
WGsuISGroN, April 23.-B. L. Butcher,
OF Wheeling, and State Senator Flournoy,
Of Hampshire cou1ty, ale in towa.
The postotIice at Chester. Hare ,ck
county, w. Va has been abolished. Mail
for this point will hereafter be sent to + sst
Liverpool, Ghio.
4 Blow at the Lobby.
WARRINGTON, April 23.-Mr. Voorhees,
of Washington Territory, offered the fol-
lowing resolution:
Resolved, That the Com nittee on Rules
he instructed to inquire whether Hon. ..
N. Sweet or suY other member OF the
House, who has avsil,d himself of the
privilege If admission TO the floor under
Rule 81, is interested US agent, or sttor'
ney, fol any railroad or other corporation,
or interested ;p any claim or bill pending
before Congress, and report to the House
the result of such inquiry with such rec.
concentrations as may be necessary
Ii had been an open secret, he said, that
ever since the beginning Of this Congress q
powerful lobby organized in the interest OF
various railroad corporations had invested
the capital and that the rules Of the House
had been enlY,rePeatedly and no,cria1siy
set at defiance by come members OF that
lobby. He protested against the eontin-
u.uce Of that crying abuse.
Death of Justice Whitley.
WILMINGTON, Del, April 23.-William
G Whitely, Associate Justice Of the Su-
nrene Court Of Delaware, died this morL.
ing.
Manning In His Easy Chair.
WASHINGTON, April %. Secretary Man,
uiny passed very comfortable night, and
to dsy vas sitting Up ir his easy chair,