Mr. MORRILL. Mr. President, the Senate sent to the ComDistCol the other day a resolution instructing us to inquire into an arrangement supposed to be in the process of execution between this company and the corporation of Washington by which the corporation of Washington were to secure certain interests or rights, and were also to give to this company certain rights not contemplated by the act which authorized the extension of their road into this city. Upon an examination in part, the committee came to the conclusion that there is an attempt to couple other transactions with the powers they were authorized to exercise in regard to the extension of this road, which are not perhaps quite justified by the former act on this sub. ject. We find that a committee of the councils of this city have an act, before them authorizing this company to extend its road into this city and to a point on 1st street, in connection with the depot of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, as now established; but this is to be done upon the condition that that road shall maintain its present location until 1910, a matter certainly over which it is difficult to conceive that the city of Washington would have any right or ought to have any desire to and which I oan hardly conceive that the Congress of the U.S. would be willing they should exercise. By the act of 1866 it was enacted that the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company might extend their road into the city in such manner and to such place as should be agreed on with the corporate authorities of Washington and Georgetown. We are not aware that anything has been done on the subject, and so believe the whole matter is within the power of congress at the present moment. I say for myself it is a matter entirely inadvertent, so far as I am concerned, that this company was authorized to exercise any such power as this, because we have not given it to any other company. The bill that was reported the other day authorizing the proposed Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Company to extend their road into this District was upon the precise terms and conditions contemplated by this bill; and the simple question is, whether it is a proper thing for the Congress of the U.S., in whom is exclusive legislative jurisdiction of this District, to part with that jurisdiction to a corporation; whether we shall.allow a railroad coming from the West to enter this District at such place and in such manner and to make its depot in such place or places as shall be indicated by the city corporation, or whether we shall keep this power within ourselves? To the mind of the committee it is most obvious that the propriety of the thing is that the congress of the U.S. should allow railroads to come into this city, and so near as within 3 squares of this Capitol; only in such manner and to such. as should be authorized by Congress itself, having before it the maps and surveys upon which the company contemplate action. Now, in reply to the suggestion of my honorable friendfrom Maryland, that Congress is a clumsy body, I can hardly see the force of that, because Congress acts by its committees, and it is an every day occurrence that upon the smallest matters, even the location of a street, we are consulted. No street in this can be changed even without the consent o Congress. We do not propose to waive that right. Upon a matter of so grave consideration as the location of a railway into this District, crossing streets and avenues, and necessarily affecting the use of those streets and avenues, I suggest whether it is not vastly important that Congress should retain its power and should not delegate it to any parties whatever? It will be seen that it is quite necessary that this action should be taken early, because the bill must go to the HoRep, and in the mean time I hardly know what may be done. I should hope, therefore, if the bill is not to receive the present action of the Senate, which I very much hope it will, it will receive its attention at an early day.