, 1865-12-26
A. L. EATON
Commksafy General OF Subslstea
FIRST BLOW AGAINST MONOPOLIHS
The Camden Il Amboy and Maryland
Hatlrond Monopolien Before Congrosa
Important RESOLUTION Adopted,

In the House Of Representatives on Thos-
day, Mr. Washburns of Illinois said ho was
instructed by the Committee on Comucrcs
to report the following:
WHEREAS. The Constitution of The United States
confers On Congress. IN express terms, II. pow4
to regulate commerce among the seyeraI STATE. 10
establish post roads, and 10 raise and support n.
Resosrei, By the senste and House OF Haprcsent-
asiEes Of the United States IN Coug1esa assembled
that every railroad company N the United statos
whote road is operated BY seam. It's suceqsoss aud
Assigns be md hereby ls, authorised to carry upon
and over i's connexions. boats bridges AMI ferries,
al p1 Eengerr. troops, government supplies, malls.
tEnehr and property On their way fsom any StAts
to smother State, and to sece1re compensation hare
Mr. o'Neill appealed to Mr. waahbnrno not
70 press this hill to vote, but to refer i to
volyed many questions OF magnitude to tho
country, and also of constitutional law. Let
It 60 over the holidays In order to giyc Elu
time for examination.
Mr.. Washburne replied he was little sur
prtsed the gentleman should distrust the lceul
ability Of the Committee On Commerce. Tha
Judiciary Committee during tho last Con-
g5ess reported the bill introduced this morn
Ing, word for wcrd, and on the 18th OF May.
1861, passed 1t. He knew OF no railroad ln-
terest which would control the action Of thtz
House. It was question rs to whether Con-
among the several States. No passage in the
Presidents message was more approved than
this. If the House desired discussion on tho
bill they must vote down the previous quss-
tIon.
alr. Garfield said be introduced similar
DECLARATION that Congress has right to rcsu-
late the commerce between the States. Thus
Was clearly within the scope Of Congress. He
supposed the House had already sufficient ID
formation to enable them to act upon 1t initial
ligently, and therefore hoped there would sa
no postponement.
Joha L. Thomas Of Nd. did not rise for the
purpose Of defending any railroad In Mary
land or elsewhere In committee he votAd
against reporting the bill for the reason 1t
was not question proper for the COMMITTEES
on Commerce, but should be examined by
tho Committee On the Judiciary. as Constitu-
tional questions were involved in IL. He had
~ much right to be heard a. any other rnera-
ber. This Was question touching the inter-
ests Of his own Stats, and he proposed that
the bull be made special order for the 10th
OF January.
MI. Rogers said the main object Of The bill
was to strike at Maryland and Now Jersey.
New Jersey Of . privilege granted fifty or
sixty years ago for the benefit Of nuothsr
company, by way Of the coast. Loyal New
Jersey demanded that her rights Be respected
Dir. Kelly aaked whether New Jersey came
back into the Union with his consent.
Mr. Rogers replied that the result of the
late election was without his consent.
Mr. Washburne said New jersey and Mary
land taxed passengers fifteen or twenty pr
cent, By which the people Ind suffered long
enough; but what Was now proposed uas !
general law, and applicable to all tho States.
There Was nothing IN tho bill about Mary
land an1 New Jersey.
Mr. Rogers remarked that the charges
nadeby the gentleman, though not 80 intend
ed, weze untrue; and these be wished to dis
cuss, and place Maryland and New Jersey In
their true attitude.
The bill was ordered TO be augrossed, by
vote Of 92 ayes againat s. nnys, and tksa
passed,