Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-17
WESTERN CONGRESS.
THE BEST RATES FOR SHIPPERS As
WELL AS THE RAILROADS.
Improvement of the Mississippi River
Urged by New York's Chsmbsr-Fxee
Coinage OF sIiver-L Legal Tenders.
Ipy telerraph 70 tho Dispatch.I /

KANSAS CIrY, No., April 16.--It was 10
O'Clock before the Western States Con-
gress assembled to-day. Bishop Hendricks
opened the session with prayer. The days pro-
gramme was then Immediately entered upon.
James Peabody, Of Chicago, read paper on
railroad pools, He said It was not so much low
rates that the shippers wanted; II was stable
rates. As tending TO obtain stable rates, the
speaker endorsed the Interstate Railway Com
mission. What the railroads wanted was not 20
much a great business as steady business.
Tho shippers wanted equality OF treatment az
the hands OF all Of the roads and the railroad
wanted protection against the dishonesty of its
competitors. These were the objects formerly
attempted by the Old pool They were now be-
ing made possible by the operations OF tho COM
merce Commission.
HANDS OPP.
General Charles W. Blair, Of Kansas, thought
the Government ought TO keepits hands OF COM
merre and transportation and let them bo gov
erned by natural laws.
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
The following telegram 20 President Francis
was received and referred 10 the Committee on
Resolutions:
The undersigned, President and Executive
Committee Of the Chamber Of Commerce OF the
State Of New York, ask permission % call the
attention Of your honorable body 70 the late ac-
tion OF this Chamber regarding the improvement
OF the Mississippi river and particularly the
grave Importance Of protecting the adjacent
section from the terrible ravages occasloned by
periodical overtiows OF the river. They beg TO
most respectfully convey 10 you their convlc-
tiOns, "a expressed In their reports and memo
rails to Congress, that 10 is matter OF national
Importance, and TO express the hope that you
may consider this subject worthy OF the conside-
ration Of the very important Congress over which
you preside.
ISlgnedl CHARLES s. SMITH, President,
And the Members OF the Executive Committee.
THE RAILROADS, AGAIN.
Tho railroad question was also discussed by
William h. Schweppe, president Of the Whole
sale Grocers' Association Of 81. Louisi state
Senator Cochran, OF Missouri; John 4. Corn
forth, Of Denver; G. S. Dietrichs, OF Hastings,
Neb /; State Senator SwitZler, OF Nebraska
James Madison. OF Mississippi, and IL. Martin
Williams, OF Missouri.
OTHER PAPERS.
Jay L. Torrey OF Sc. Louis, read a papor on
"Uniform Commercial Laws and devoted par
ticular attention TO the subject Of bankrupt
law. Hon. A. J. Warner, Of Ohio, addressed the
Congress on the subject, " Relation Of Money TO
Bank Credits Judge b. NJ. Widner, Of Los
Angeles, Cal, read paper on "A National
Money system"
The convention then adjourned until p. NJ.
Upon reassembling addresses were made upon
the money question by Il. 3 Coast, OF Illinois,
and Professor Blackmar, Of Kansas. The con-
yontlOn then adjourned to the Commercial Club,
where a reception was rendered the delegates.
TWO REPORTS.
Tho interest In the Western States CONNER
cial Congress now centres In the report OF the
Committee on Resolutions. Tho committee
completed It's work this afternoon and the re-
port will be submitted tomorrow. The action
OF the committee was not unanimous, aud there
win be n minority report. The majority and the
minority reports agree In all respects, however,
excepting on three resolutions, as follows:
First, FavOring the free coinage Of silver.
Second, Fayoring tho issue Of legal-tender
notes. redeemable In gold and silver, In quantity
sufficient 20 do the business OF the country.
Third, FaYOring q tariu for revenue only.
COULD NOT AGREE.
Upon these three propositions the members Of
the committee could not agree. The majority
favored the propositions and the minority OPP
posed them. When It came 10 a vote as to
whether they should be included IN the report
the vote stood IL for and against. The mi
norty will present a report expressive OF their
views on the subject
UNANIMOUS.
The other resolutions which viii be included In
both reports praise Secretary Rusk for bis con-
duct Of tho affairs Of the Agricultural Depart
mont and favor the improvement by the Federal
Government OF tho Mississippi river; tho lrriga-
tiou By the National Government OF arid lands
the consummation Of treaties Of reciprocity with
the countries with which tho United States eX-
changes products; the construction by the Fede-
raj Government OF a deep-wster harbor on the
Gulf OF Mexico.