Mr. SCHENCK. Mr. Speaker, the Gentfrom Missouri having yielded the our to me, I will avail myself of the opportunity to say that I trust no general resolution or act of this kind will be passed. There have been 3 or 4 applications for the privilege of constriiciin" railroads through military reservations at iliis session of Congress, each one of which in succession has been referred to the ComMilAffrs, each one of which has been carefully considered, and the report in each case has been made, allowing the privilege, but restricting ituccording to the particular circumstances of the case. Now, for instance, one application was made for the construction of a road along the border of the Columbia river, between a bluff and the river, to which this resolution would not at all up ly, where there was not one 100 feet to)0 given on either side, or scarcely 100 feet at all; and after the consideration of the whole matter it was found absolutely essential to guard the public interest by)ntting in a provision not more than was barely sufficient should be occupied for the truck, and there should be no houses or constructions of an kind in connection with the railroad which i should interfere with any other canal or railroad that may be constructed hereafter between the bluff and the river. The committee, after examination, came to the conclusion there was underneath the application, if not designed. at least the posibility of the raily road having the entire monopoly of the transit i along that route to the exclusion of any other public interest in all time to come. Again, in the case of a horse railway between the city of Leavenworth and Fort Leavenwoi ih, it was found necessary to require that, if operated by steam, the railroad should run beneath the bank to be out of the way, and not to obstruct the military reservation for the proper use of the Government; and they found more than 50 feet could not be granted, while this authorizes a grant not exceeding 100 feet. My inference from all this is, the U.S., as the proprietor of these niiiitary reservations, ought to grant, according to the special circumstances of each case, the privilege when applied for, and no general not whatever is necessary. There have been, as I have said, 3 or 4 applications, each one of which has differed from the other, and the recommendation of the coin mittec in each case has been made to conform to the circumstances of the case. I think that had better be the way hereafter. Under a general law an opening may be left under the broad discretion granted which may be abused. I hope, therefore, the resolution may be referred to the ComMilAffrs to consider the necessity and propriety of such a general law. That committee has had under consideration 3 or 4 special cases, each of which has been acted on, as I have said, accordin to the peculiar circumstances uttending it. fmove to refer the resolution to the ComMilAffrs.