The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-12
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WASHINGTON, Dec. II, 1873
Mr.. SMITH, (rep.) Of Pa, from the Committee on
Appropriations. reported the Pension Appropriation
bill. Referred to the Committee of the Whole and
made the special order for tomorrow.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
The SPEAKER announced the regular order to he
the consideration of the bill reported last year from
the Committee Commerce to regulate interstate
commerce.
The bill makes it unlawful for any person or per-
sons engaged in the transportation Of property by
railroad from State to another to from any
foreign country, to receive any greater or less
amount Of compensation from one person than
another for like and contemporaneous service. 1t
also makes it unlawful for any person engaged to
allow any rebate or drawback on shipments made
by them, enter into combination with another
carrier to the carriage of property from being
continuous. and prohibits the pooling of freights.
The penalty affixed to violation of this law is the
payment of sum equal to three times the damage
which may be sustained by of such violation.
Mr.. REAGAN. (dem.) of Texas. explained the provi-
sons of the bill and denied that it would defeat COM
petition had been stated by enemies of the BILL
The principal object to prevent discrimination in
freight charges. Such bill imperatiyely de-
manded by the country The Legislature of the State
of New York had asked for its passage.
Mr.. HEWITT. (dem.) Of N. Y, remarked that the
New York Legislature had not asked for the passage
Of the present BILL but Of some wise measure.
Mr.. REAGAN, of Texas, replied that he did not ex-
pect support of the bill from those who represented
capital alone but only BY those who represen, the
the passage Of the bill would benefit the railroads
by preventing what were called railroad wars. Gen
tlemen could have their choice of giving just
freights to ALL or by voting against this bill
of reserving the power to monopolies to
levy exactons almost unparalleled on the people of
the country. The section providing that greater
charge should be made for carrying freight less than
was made for carrying greater distance meant that
OF the other third Had it come to that point that
the of tho people dare not egslate in
the interests of the people?. That they must. like
towards, shrink from the discharge OF their high
duties through fear of arraying the power of
monopolies against them? In conclusion he yielded
three minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr.
Potter.
REMARKS MIR. POTTER.
Mr.. POTTER (dem) of N. Y, said that he would
his three minutes in protesting against this manner
OF legislation He never gave his consent to the in
for another. and admitted by unanimous consent
this mornng). Here was bill involving the greatest
constitutional question imaginable, and which was
to change the whole methods of business. The gem
tleman from Texas mr. Reagan) had spoken
for an hour +h and now granted
test in that time against the declaration of the gem
tleman, which assumed that gentlemen who opposed
this bill spoke in the interest OF monoposts That
he (Mr. Potter denied. He had spoken against them
for forty years. He never had given vote for COR
poration in his fe This bill did not affect corpora
tons but persons. not railroads, but individuals 1t
was regulation of trade-Dothing else. II it
to be said because gentlemen did not favor
this bill that they were in favor of corporations
that would be said which was not warranted. He
opposed the bill because he did not believe in Con-
gress regulating trade No matter how bad the regu-
1ations of trade were nothing could be danger
Gus than for Congress to interfere with them That
could regulate late one manner Of trade It could
regulate ALL The gentleman from Texas said that the
bill prevented discrimination. That was prevented
discrimination in favor OF wholesale dealers against
retail dealers. Assume that that was not right was
that any reason that wrong should under
take to regulate it There bad regu-
lations in the management of hotels. Was
that any reason Congress should undertake to man
age the hotels Here Mr.. Potter's time expired but
it was extended for half an hour.) Continuing he
said that he absolutely opposed to the creation
OF corporations or giving them any rights but when
created they should be allowed to do business like
other people. The whole gst of the bill was to pre-
vent companies charging more for freight between
should they not do so :? What earthly danger
there to anybody except the stockholders and bond
holders How could foreign trade be kept up unless
produce was moved from the place it was raised to
the seaport for less than cost Do you want he con-
cluded to destroy that business-the only one you
have left +? You have cut off free ships and free
ton kSGl.' - -" 80 49, : - : - ''''0' :
Mr. THOMPSON rep.) OF Pa. inquired If it was just
and proper to the people living East that the
panes should carry goods from extremiies for less
than cost
Mr.. PorrEn-It is not just to the stockholders.
Mr.. THoMpsoN-To the body OF the country!
Mr.. Demonstrations Heavens! Why not?
through trade and will make up that loss in the
Middle States, and (sarcasticay) that is equality and
that il Justice.
Mr.. PorrER-Thcy cannot carry anything except at
the tariff hxed by the State that created them.
Mr. TOWNSEND. trep9 OF n. THAT Is exactly
what IL proposed to be broken up by this BILL to take
away from the States the right to control this matter
and put in the power Of Congress to do So
Mr.. PoTTER-You may think that an advantage,
but do not
Mr.. TowNsESD-I do not thinklths bill is con-
ceiyed in Authenticated folly lLaughter
Mr II uv m GREAT N tn anrea
once with the gentleman.
Mr.. TowSsESD-K you did it oftener you would get
into fewer scrapes tLaughter)
Mr. PorTER-1 do not think should be so often
right. Gaughtcr.)
Mr.. TowNsEND-Youw would have kept out Of the last
one anyhow.
Mr.. PORTER then concluded his argument against
the bill. II this could be done about railroad bust
ness 1t could be done about the business OF boot
making. 1t might be that there would be some gain
to somebody by such legislation but there could not
regulate such things The bill was noveltyean
innovation 1t had pretence of justice to somebody
said to be hurt by the existing condition of trade.
but il II went into effect its result would
be that those great carriers would control Congress
and regulate the matter themselves. Whatever evils
there were in the present arrangement land he did
not believe there were any they had better be left
where they belonged than be brought into Congress
REMAiKs OF Mr.. rowSsHKsD.
Mr.. TowssHEsp, (dem.l of ILL.,. replied to Mr.. Pot
marks he referred to the pooling arrangements re-
Gently made by the Pennsylvania, the Baltimore and
Ohio, the Erie and the New York Central Railroad
companies by which. he said, the cost of
the transportation of wheat from st. Louis
70 New York was increased by eight. or
nine cents a bushel. The farmers of the West
who had anticipated high prices for their wheat had
been injured by this combination. The bill prohib
tied any such pooling arrangements and opened up
the way for competition between the lines He there
fore maintained that the bill much in the in
tcrcs Of those living at terminal points as of those
living at intermediate points. Every Western pro-
Queer interested in having the strong hand OF the
national government stretched out to prevent rail
road monopolies from levying taxes on producers.
Mr. POTTER rejoined that this business of coming
TO Congress every time that man found something
In the trade of the country that did not suit him and
asking Congress to interfere remedy which, of
all others, would In the end work universal disaster.
There was too much of Congress now, and the
there OF IL tho worse of in the long run the peo
pie would be.
Mr. PHrILrrs, trcp.) Of Kan said that he In
favor Of some parts of the bill but that there
some provisions in ii which he could not support IL
raroad colnuanics were forbidden to carry 100