Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-02-12
THE CHANGERS AND THE HOUSE

Inc 1ectlnp Vi TIC Ihouoo III i0i"'ioA "
grangers and one of the prominent meas
ures which they advocate, was tested on
Monday in a manner that shows an I'M
portant party division. The question IN
yolyed was the right Of Congress to
regulate interstate commerce in the sense
of regulating the rates of passenger and
freight fares on railroads and OF chartering
interstate railroads. 1t was the first time
the proposition has been presented in the
House for action. 1t will be recollected
that this is the main plank in what is said to
be the new party movement, which the
grangers are reported to have originated.
Mr.. Smith of Ohio presented resolution,
whereby, after reciting in preamble the
points relating to the question which have
already been determined by the courts, II
ia declared that it is within the constitu-
tional power of Congress to so regulate
commerce as to protect internal commerce
from unjust tolls by railroads, and further,
that the condition and magnitude OF com
merce are now such as to demand prompt
and wise exercise of this power. Upon the
announcement of this resolution the Dem
ocrats Immediately commenced to fill
buster to prevent the calling of the yeas
and nays. Mr. Beck, acting for the Dem
ocratic Party, passed the word to Mr..
Speer, Democrat from Pennsylvania, who
was upon his feet, that he should move to
adjourn. Mr.. Speer was an unwilling
servant. Mr. Beck again passed his order
to Mr.. Buckner, of Missouri, whom he
found more pliable, and who made the
motion, but without any effect. A number
of dilatOry motions were attempted, and
one call of the roll was had upon motion
to adjourn Finally the House was brought
to direct vote upon the question, and
the resolution was adopted by a vote OF
ia yeas to GA nays. The vote was almost
a strict party vote. The only notable ex-
ceptions were Mr.. Phelps, Of New Jersey,
who voted against the resolution, and Mr..
Holman, Democrat. who, yielding to the
Granger influence in his district, voted for
the resolution.
All of the correspondents at Washington
put but one construction upon this result
interpreting it to mean harmony between
the grangers and republicans, the end OF
the Irritation which the democrats have
been keeping up with the farmers, and
the passage by the House of measures to
promote the objects aimed ut by the gran
gers. The Tribune says the vote was a
decided victory" for the grangers, and
appears to make the way clear for the
passage of Mr.. McCrary's transportation
bill which comes up on the 25th." The
Boston Advertiser says: ''Unless the
democracy are enabled to DO something
to neutralize the effect of to-dsy's work. it
is agreed on all hands that there cannot in
the future be much In common between
themselves and the grangers. The Bos-
ton Journal says "the democrats united
as a party have placed themselves on
record against the granger principle"
The New York ines concludes that this
action of the House has determined first,
that there is no doubt that the House, when
the measure comes up for final action.
will determine that the power ofCongress
to regulate commerce comprises the power
to charter Interstate railroads; and sec
ond, that the Democrats, as party or
ganization, are unable to make good their
words to the grangers, since the FIRST oc
casion when they have been called to make
a record in behalf of the radical ideas OF
the o-caled new movement, the entire
Democratic Party, as an organization in
the House, have voted solid against the
granger theory and in support Of their
old-time technical doctrine of State rights"
Thu feat OF riding two horses in different
directions Is similar to the attempt of the
democrats to favor The grangers while
holding to the bourbon idea of State rights.
The movement of the grangers rests upon
the opposing principle, making it impos-
sible that cooperation can exist between
them and the democracy. This fact seems
to have escaped the attention of the latter
until the present time, but is made 50 ev-
ident by the vote of Monday that there is
no possibility Of deception in future. Hay
seed has met with a heavy fall in the dem
ocratic market since the vote, candidates
no longer finding it necessary to use it in
their hair.
DAVID FRIEDRICH STRAUSS.
The death Of David Friedrich Strauss, the
German theolegian, is announced. lie was
born in Ludwigsburg, Wurtemburg. on the
eth Of January, 1908, and after receiving his
education at Blaubeuren and Tubingen he
WAS engaged as eurate at Naulbronn in 1881
aud in the next year was made professor at
the came place. In 1885 he became fepen-
tsst at tbs theological seminary at Tubingen,
where he at the same time gave lectures on
the Hegslisn philosophy. He published The
..Lifs Of Jesus" in 1885, at which time hi'