Los Angeles herald., 1891-04-18
ENDED IN TUMULT.
The Commercial Congress
Finishes Its LabOrs.
The Closing Session Was a
Stormy One.
Acrimonious Debate Developed on
the Tariff Question.
A Tarif-for-Reyenue-O Resolution
Adopted-Free Coinage OF
Silver Endorsed.
Associated Press Dispatches.

| SO-A~
mercial congress today the unfinished
programme OF yesterday was taken up,
the subject being: Transportation and
improvement of waterways, lakes, gulfs
and Pacific ports" S. A. Thompson,
secretary OF the commercial club OF
Duluth, Minnesota, advocated the inn
provement of the waterways as afford
ing the cheapest transportation. Colonel
Catchings, of Mississippi, argued that
increase in water traffic, however great,
would not decrease railroad business,
but would rather increase it. j. M.
Murphy, of Iowa, spoke on the Hen
| nepin canal.
AN ADDRESS ON IRRIGATION.
Colonel A. G.. Fisk, of Denver, deliv-
cred an address upon irrigation. He
said 1t was estimated that there are one
million square miles of arid lands in the
western country that could be made
produc ctive by irrigation. At the mini
mum price of public lands, $1.25 per
acre, this land had value of $500, ,OOO,-
OOO.. At $50 per acre, moderate esti
mate of the value when irrigated,
it would be worth $19,200, 100000 If
these lands were properly provided with
water, one could scarcely contemplate
what an empire of population end
wealth they would contain. 1t was
said the people of the region that de-
sired irrigation should provide it them
selves. Without agriculture the lands
would never be settled, and there would
be no people to provide irrigation. The
government should start the work.
AMERICA FOR AMERICANS.
Mr.. Wicklife, of New Orleans, spoke
upon immigration and the settlement
of vacant lands, from the text, America
for Americans. He had been told, he
said, that this land is broad enough for
all, but he submitted that the old world
has made it the dumping ground for the
pauper and criminal classes, and he be-
lieved he spoke for the whole American
people when he said the time has come
that it must stop. There is enough
room for all who want to come here to
be one of US, but not foot of ground
for one of those paupers and criminals
of the old world.
II may feel deeply upon the subject,o
added Wickliffa, "but have lately
come from most terrible object lesson,
which clearly indicates the need of a
change of our immigration laws"
He argued for vigorous action by the
national congress.
THE RESOLUTIONS REPORTED.
The majority report of the committee
on resolutions, made today, favors free
coinage of silver, and the issuance of
sufficient legal tender notes, redeem
able in both gold and silver, to restore
the equilibrium between money and all
other products; tariff for revenue only
that the interstate commerce OF the coun-
try should be controlled by the general
government; favors the improvement of
the Mississippi river; the construction
OF the Hennepin canal and other water
ways by the government; the equaliza-
tion of taxation; national bankrupt
law the suppression of trusts and COM
bines; the amendment of the immigra-
tion laws; the restoration of railroad
land grants to the public domain, and
the opening of surplus lands to settle
ment; the reclamation of arid lands
the enactment of laws to prevent deal
ing in futures, and commends the secre-
tary of agriculture for his efforts toward
removing the restrictions on our foreign
meat trade.
The minority report favors the free
and unlimited coinage of American gold
and silver on ratio established by an
international monetary convention,
which shall make silver and gold equal
in purchasing power, and favors tariff
for revenue, with incidental protec
tion.
The majority report also indorses
deep water harbor at Galveston, Tex.
the construction Of ship canal con-
Meeting the northern lakes with the At
lantic; declares it the judgment of the
congress that the Mississippi river can
and should be made navigable for ocean
steamers for a considerable distance
above New Orleans, and recommends
the construction of levees from St. Paul
to the Gulf; recommends system of
canals and slack water navigation
to connect the Tennessee river with
the Gulf of Mexico; also ship canal
from the headwaters of the Ohio to lake
Erie, and from lake Superior to the Mis-
slssippi river favors the construction OF
the Nicaragua canal as a distinctively
American work under American control
favors the prohibition Of nonresident
alien ownership of land; recommends
the admission of New Mexico and Ari-
zona to the union.
In conclusion the report halls with
delight the spirit of fraternity displayed
by the delegates in attendance. The
minority report was identical, except in
regard to silver and tariff.
POPULAR PROPOSITIONS.
The free coinage and tariff resolutions
of both reports were received with ap-
plause. as was alsO that relative To the
immigration law.
A resolution which was hailed with
delight, for the burial Of all animosities
between the north and south, received
tremendous applause, and upon motion
OF Major Warner, of Missouri, was given
three hearty cheers.
E. v. Smalley spoke for the minority
silver resolution, General Warner, of
Ohio, replying.
The silver clause of the minority re-
port was then voted down.
ACRIMONIOUS TARIFF DEBATE.
The minority tariff resolution was