, 1873-04-03

gowor In itaolf. 1lal tho croaturo moro power
gont1onlen TINT tho Legislature could not TX
ratios. They should boar In mind two important
inHtrumontB, 8tato Constitution and tho
Constitntton Of tho United statoa. II thoy
oonlu not 1rame law tn harmony with thoao In
gtr1lmonts, thcy Ind bottor make mono. II tho
Legislature lad tho power to llx maximum ratos
Why not do it, and not loAyo it to commission.
~ tho ratlroad companies had to do wns to get
Up = caae, be denied change Of vohro, aud
would r. DO knoolsod highor than tho other
ore; Tho Commissioners woro to fix roasonnblo
minimum ratoa, but o Jury had to dotormino
wotof s9y worc o right or wrong Tho Com
did. Then do away with tho Commission /; It
did nothing;. It fred no rates. Tint WAS the
business Of Jury. Tho ratoa fl1od wero to DO
RTnla n1 II iacio evidence in all courts Of record.
t, mero tey TO % primn 1aco evidence boforo tho
ness2 m Suppose tho Jury was corrupt, and allow
Cd railroads rates tliat thoy could not run
nnuor tes a9n. and nay expenses; what tlen7 Would
wrlts. Wore shoriifs to stop trains and delay
passongorH and property to servo d writ or ar-
fost inan3 WIS tho travelling public to 10 DO
!ayed at my tifno to enforce tho Law What owl
bill that "railroad corporations nro dornnndino.
charging, md collecting unreasonable rates +"
How did they know 1t }Ycro thoya i,,ry or
a.|nn ~ II toy wore guilty Of tat alo
guilty Of violating tho first and ali otl.er so:.
ttons OF tho bill, and should bo finod Tie full
ponaltioe imposed In the bill. II SO, tho Loeis-
ai.o,;o fa.uro alonla aond out It's constab1oa and
off ora ana an enforce oo tho punishment Why
OF oxtortion and unjuat discrimination OIL tho
the way to legislator,
llaving. many theories before Tic HOUSE, and
none OF them soomod to agroe. They woro ho-
yond amendment on thor third roading. Ho
moved to rooommit oil tho bills to spoclal COM
mitteo Of f1ftoen.
hIr. Connolly could not eco tho ugo Of INV
such reforonco, but 1t enough names vera re-
ceivod to carry tho roforonco ho did 500 any
uao in talking against 1t. Tho reference would
elnRiy ka 81 tG R bllls & Every mau hn oppor
mind mado up. Thoy had two bills, one ngatrnt
extortton and one against unjust discrimination.
Tlie only disturbing eloment was tho Beneto bill,
Which took tho extraordinary courso of boinE
ordered to second and third roading without
hfr. Durham inquired IT my discussion Ind
' tak9n place on 40 (connoly's) bill in tho Rail-
Mr. Connolly ropIiod that it lad, but. IL It Ind
not, what good could result from pooktng to to
dodgo discussion on TINT floor, and taking tic
bills to cornor and smother them I1o would
not voto for any bill tint would not boar full.
19lr, and # free diacuasion on tho floor Of that
HOUSE. Tho dofoctD Of n bill could not be hidden
in cornor. Mono of tho bills wore sufficiently
discussed get. If, aftor discussion, tho bills
Wero found to nooa amendment thoy could bo ro-
committed: Ho did not want Coroner's in
quest III advance. Lot thom hold tho inquest on
Mr. Hart, Of LaSallo, wns in favor Of refer-
enco. lIo desired to plnco tllom in tho hands Of
OF d Committee that would not got into the old
ruts. The Constitution commanded them to fix
reasonable maximum rates, and any bill falling
Bhort OF that requirement would be futile, rho
movement to refer had emanntcd from a fow Of
tho producing class on tint floor, and no legal
gontloman had any hnnd iu the movomont Ho
bolievod tho roforonco would bo good.
Mr. Dunhan wished tic gentleman from Colos
(Connolly) to understand tllat he did not bolioyo
bis tDunliatnB) conduct was open to the itnputn-
ton Of domasogism, nor did lo in pnndor-
Ing to tho farmor olemont in that House
longed ns "sap-suclsore," as did tho gontloman
from Coles. Ho desired to Hny tho Bills boforo
tho Houao wore not fully considered in the Rail
road Committee. He mover know that tho bill Of
that Committee, nor had tho Hildrup bill boon
considered. Tho Chairman OF the Ralrond
Committee bud told gentlemen on that floor, n
advance of tho decision of the Conlmittoo what
Legislation the Committee would recommend.
Mr. Bradwoll inRiBtod that tho gentleman was
mittoo. (oriea Of "sit down :. 60 on") Mr.
Mr.. Durham charged tho report Of tho Com.
mlttoo was tho result Of d combination. Whv
we're not otllor BILLS reported? Because certain
gontlomen desired to hayo the paternity Of Ill
railroad legislation and il tloY raiaol no bettnr
childron tlan they did before thoy lad bettor
got out Of tho buainoas.
Mr. Swami believed tho trouble 1yas caused by
gontlomon who fathorod tho bills Ho thought
tho House should be prepared to vote after throo
Monthg session.
A1r. Do1an doBircd roforonco because tho House
vas in too bad |. tenlpor to docldo upon nloaBuros
Of such Importance. There ,yore farmers in
town who had como from MI parts Of tho State
to consider tho subject, md tho House had bot
ter wnit day or two.
a1r. Gray said no had boon approached with n
proposition to rofor the bills to u committee to
consult with committee Of tho Farmors Con-
vention. II any farmcra desired to tako his
reliof. Ho would like all farmers to hear lilo
discussion, but ho was not pandoring to farmers,
Ho was not O candidate for ollico, aud 80 help
him God, mover would bo again. Still ho WAS in
favor Of having laws made in tho intorost OF tho
people. Why did tho farmers nmond tho bills
on the second reading Tho fact waa tile far
mors did not know what thoy wautoi, a1ld DO
srod to shift tho responsibility on thor brethron
in tho Convention.
Mr.. Gray favored the Connolly bill, which mot
tho decision Of tho Supreme Court, aud tic
Hi!drup bill.
Mr. Hart inquired if tho Legislature had tho
right to dologate it's Own power to fix mnxi-
mum rato8 to q commission.
Mr.. Gray replied that tho ratoa would not DO
fixed until they woro decided by Jury, and
thon they were reasonable minimum ratcs, Ho
appoaled to members not to abt1icato their fupc-
tionB and say to tho gentlemen farusors who
canao to meet in convention, tb"a dhey had boon
&c s''sss e ::ssS ss 80 q 'ee to
e iStsonsoa sa tue ot 'ni she
failed II like to hnar
tho Convention.
but to IT, ousibility OF
legislation.
Mr. Morrison thu toad Commit