gress was installed. Much of its attention was directed to railroad matters, and important work was done. It disapproved the contract of May 29, 1873, with the International Company of Texas, for the construction of a line from the capital to the Rio Grande, and rejected the proposition to incorporate together all or any one of the three companies, the Union Contract, the International of Texas, and the Mexican Limited. It moreover finally approved a modified form of an agreement made between the government and the Vera Cruz Railway Company, fixing the tariff of freight charges, known as the convenio de las tarifas Into this agreement amplified concessions had been introduced, distinct from the question of freight rates, and it had been the subject of much debate in the previous congress. The terms of the original agreement were so conspicuously favorable to the company, and detrimental to a large class of Mexican producers, that faith in Lerdo's railroad policy and his intentions was shaken. It was considered that the interests of the nation were being sacrificed to those of the English company. The labors of congress were so severe that it did not close its sessions until the 21st of January, 1874.
was named deputy with all legal requirements, while Sabás Lomeli was also appointed for the same district by virtue of credentials purporting to be issued by an electoral college assembled at Tototlan, which was not a cabecera de distrito. The excuse given for the meeting of the electors at that town was fear of interference by an armed force. The certificate was fabricated, and the college suppositious. Nevertheless, the federal government managed to get the false credentials approved, to the rejection of the legitimate certificate. Hist. Adm. Lerdo, 390-1.
