OHIO RIVER BRIDGE.
On motion by Mr. RAHM, the Evansville bridge bill [H. R. 370--see page 58 and 70, vol. 20] was read the second time by title only, under a dispensation of the constitutional restriction, with a favorable majority report and a minority report recommending amendment.
Mr. WILSON declared the bill, while general in its character, was intended to apply particularly to Evansville. The minority report seeks to place in the bill provisions similar to a bridge bill passed by this Legislature. The majority report proposes to give a foreign corporation building bridges an advantage over home Companies. He favored the minority report.
Mr. MENZIES also spoke against the majority report. He opposed granting an unrestricted charter to build a bridge, obstructing navigation, and laying an embargo upon the trade of Southwestern Indiana. He regretted the sense of duty which impelled him to oppose the majority report and declare that the minority report is but right and just.
Mr. RAHM said the majority report ought to be adopted. All this howling of the Senator from Posey (Mr. Menzies) doesn't amount to a cent, because misrepresenting the people of Vanderburg County. What they want is a bridge on which they can take freight across all the year round and at any season. The Louisville and Nashville Road own a transfer boat which is a monopoly, and it takes two hours to get across from the river bank to Evansville. For six weeks this winter not a single pound of anything could be shipped across. Three hundred and fourteen of the business men have signed a petition in favor of this bill. Give us a bridge and more railroads will be built. The Bridge Company will not build under the minority report, because they could not sell their bonds under it. So we must have the majority report or no bridge. We have waited ten long years; and the objection that it will obstruct navigation on the Ohio--there is nothing in that. A bridge there is to the advantage of every farmer in that section who raises a bushel of corn or wheat, as well as to every business man and manufacturer. Every man is in favor of the bill with the majority report.
The minority report was rejected by yeas, 19; nays, 26.
The bill was read the third time.
