The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-12
CONGRESSIONAL.
TIVE HOUSE ENGAGED UPON THE BILL
TO REGULATE INTERSTATE
COMMERCE..

COMMERCE..
No Session Of the senate.
WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE Senate was not
In session to-day.
The House.
Mr.. Hamilton. Of Indiana, from the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs, reported amend
ments to the bill in relation to the Venezuela
award, and they were ordered printed and re-
committed
House concurred in the Senate's amendments
to the bill authorizing the issue oil arms to
the Territories.
Mr.. Wigginton, of California. from the Com
mittee on Public Lands, reported a bill to
amend the act in relation to the sale Of tim
Der lands in the States Of California, Oregon,
Colorado, and Washington Territory. Passed
Mr.. Wright, of Pennsylvania, from the same
the homestead laws and asked it's reference
to the committee of the whole. The bill pro-
vides for donation OF lands to actual settlers
and giving government aid to destitute set
tiers.
Mr.. Wright. OF Pennsylvania, from the
Public Lands Committee, reported bill sup
Elemental and amendat0ry of the homestead
laws, and asked its reference to the committee
of the whole. 1t provides for donations OF
lands to actual settlers and gives govern
ment aid to destitute settlers. 1t was referred
to the committee of the whole.
Mr.. WEIGH, Of Nebraska, from the same
committee, reported q bill for the relief of set
tiers on public lands, under the presumption
law. Passed.
Mr.. Manning, of Mississippi, asked leave to
offer resolution calling upon the Secretary
OF the Treasury to report what fraudulent
claims have been paid by the Treasury De-
partment under the appropriation made by
section 1858 of the Revised Statutes, as stated
fraudulent claims, If any, have been paid since
in the Secretary's last annual report, and what
June, 1874 down to the date Of said report,
tnnn hpr wit of m
what action has been taken on them, and also
to fHrnish the evidence upon which the ale
cation Of fraud WAS predicated.
Mr.. Foster, of Ohio, objected The informa-
ton was already in possession Of the House.
Mr.. Reagan, OF Texas demanded the regu-
lar order and the Speaker announced the
consideration OF the bill TO regulate inter
State commerce
Mr. Hewitt Of Alabama, arose to a priv
legged motion and moved that the House go
into COMMITTEES of the whole and take up the
Mexican pension bill.
Mr. Reagan said the order for to-day was
made by unanimous consent, and Mr.. Hew
tits motion was not in order.
The Speaker ruled that the question of con-
sideration could certainly be raised
Mr. Reagan said unanimous consent had
been secured for this bill to-day, and if the
House could now, by n majority, set 1t aside,
then the unanimous consent Of the House was
cheat and o fraud.
Mr.. Hewitt said he gave his consent the
privilege of making this motion. The gentle
man from Texas should have understood the
rule and then he would not have been
cheated.
Mr.. Reagan said 1t was probable that the
gentleman from Alabama knew more about
the rules OF the House than he did, but he,
Reagan, understood the rules Of common
honesty and the sacrednass of an agreement.
III this agreement can be set aside no one will
hereafter trust t. the treachery OF the unan-
imOus consent of tho I'll use.
Mr. Hewitt aid as the gentlemen showed
30 much feeling, and aS he seemed to imagine
that some one WAS cheating him, he would
withdraw the motion.
The House then resumed consideration OF
the Interstate commerce bill
Mr.. Bragg, OF Wisconsin, opposed the bill
the country We're in favor Of it, and 1t was
adverse to the interests OF the agricultural
sections Of the country. States through
which the great trunk lines run were in favor
already instructed its members here to vote
for the bill as a beneficial measure.
Mr.. Reagan said that did not prove that
the railroads were In favor of it,
Mr.. Bragg replied that the terms Of Thos.
Scott and others in Pennsylvania were syno-
nymous with the PENNSYLVANIA Legislature
The bill would give the trunk lines Of the
country too much power. He was opposed to
It also because II showed tendency to cen e
tralize power In the general government. The
bill originated with Pennsylvania, which de-
manded protection for every other interest,
and now in this bill they want to protect Tom
Scott. He opposed the bill also because It
encourage litigation, and it was fraud and
cheat.
Mr.. Potter, OF New York, opposed the bill
on constitutional gro,p hds and because it con-
ferred too much power upon railroad corpo-
Messrs. Phillips, ofkansas, and Cannon. Of
Illinois, opposed 1t because 1t was adverse to
the agricultural interests, and Mr.. Deal, OF
Massachusetts, because it was detrimental
to local short lines of roads.
The bill was then considered by sections for
amendments.
An amendment was adopted to prohibit
railroad companies from combining and rails
ing prices and pooling earnings when paral-
lei lines OF water communications are closed
by ice.
The hour of 80 having arrived without
completing the consideration of the bill by
sections, several gentlemen said that under
the terms of the order the previous question
must be called now.
Mr.. Reagan said that was not the under
standing. 1t was that the previous question
should not be called earlier than half-past 4
o'clock.
Mr. Atkins-Then the House was deceived
Mr.. Kenna, of West Virginia, inquired what
the effect would be if the House now ad-
journed
1t was ruled that as the bill was q special
order for this day only, it would not come up
Monday as unfinished business.
Mr.. Reagan then demanded the previous
question, and a good deal of confusion en-
sued, as dozen members were on the floor,
trying to offer amendments. motion to
adjourn was made, but defeated.
Mr.. Reagan then said that II the previous
question was seconded he would ask for the
previous question, and then, when the bill
came up again, he would move to reconsider,
and that would open the bill up again for
amendments.
The motion for the previous question was
agreed to, and the House, at 5 IL p. m, adj
journed.
Taxation and Patriot ism.
Washington Enterprise1