The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-04-10
FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS-.
REGULAR SESSION
Nearly the Entire Session Taken Up
With the Discussion of the Pacific
Sinking Fund Bill.


WAsHISGToN, April 4.
Mr.. Morrill, offered a resolution providing
for select committee OF seven TO consider the
propriety of taking the tenth census. He said
an arrangement had TO be made during the
present congress for taking the tenth census,
and as the next session was a short one, pre-
limlnary steps should now be taken. The res
Oluti0n was agreed to.
Mr.. Anthony, from the committee on print
ing, reported resolution 10 print p. 900 copies
of the report of the commissioner of agricul-
ture on forestry. Agreed to.
On motion Of Mr. Harris the house bill Tor
the relief of James Fishback, late collector OF
internal revenue for the Tenth district OF Hi
Dois, was taken up.
Mr. Davis read letter stating that Fishback
bad been a defaultcr u the government; that
his bOndsmen had been required 10 pay S5,ug
on his account. He asked that the bill be laid
over until further inquiries could be maze.
Mr.. Harris said there had been correspond
ence with the commissioner of int ma TeVe-
nue., and no mention was made anywhere of
his being n defaulter.
Mr.. Mcmillan said ne had no objection to the
bin going over, but thought 1t rather novel
way to collect debt.
claimant. and said he was an upright, honest
and honorable man.
! &, The bill was laid over.
The house bill authorizing the secretary of
war to prescribe rules and regulations TO be
observed in the preparation, submission and
approval of contracts under the war depart
ment passed.
construction of a narrow gauge railroad from
Bismarck 10 the Black Hills was taken up.
Laid over until tomorrow at the request OF
Mr. Christiancy, who desired 10 offer an
/ At the expiration OF the morning hour con-
sideration was resumed of unfinished buSl-
ness, II being the Pacific railroad funding bill,
and Mr.. Matthews replied 10 the arguments
against the railroad commissioners bill.
! Mr.. Matthews SAID he had been panied 10
hear Mr.. EdmundS refer to the friends of these
/ great and powerful corporations being present
on the floor, in the Hobbies and in the galleries
+ Whatever grain of reality there may be in all
/ his no Of hn nj hf,yv
/ insinuatlons are made, unless they have spe-
cific charges to present He next referred TO
the remarks of Mr.. Chrlstiancy. who said he
had made what was not law appear the most
like law, and that he had, in citing the authori-
! ties, stopped al point where IL suited his
view and omitted that which was against it,
Z He had since carefully reviewed the citations
and had no corrections to make. As 10 the ar
, rangement that can be arrived at between the
. government and these companies he was IN
different. Whatever they could be induced 10
pay he was DESTROYS that they should pay.
He stood here to-day impressed with the re-
I spOnsibility Of what he said, and If the govern
ment had To lose ali, ii had better do so than
give its assent TO this bill, which in effect
upset the decision of the supreme court which
I determines the relations between these par
ties.
At the conclusion of his remarks Mr.. Mat
/ theWs said he would withdraw the bill of the
railroad committee, which he had offered a. a
substitute in order that there might be direct
I vote on the judiciary committees bill.
Mr.. Dorsey offered n resolution requesting
! the house to return the bill relating to The Hot
I
March 3.
Mr.. Edmunds asked the object of the recall.
Mr.. Dorsey explained That amendments
adopted i'm the senate were objected to by the
committee of the house, and his object was to
move to strike them 0utand let the bill go TO
the house as reported fOR the senate conf
mittee.
Mr.. Edmunds thought this an unusual mode
of tranSactlng business, but would not object
in ihis case. The resolution was then agreed
Mr.. Bayard was recognized as entitled to the
floor, but gave way TO Mr.. Whyte, who intro
more for dry docks Referred.
MI. Thurman in reply toQuestiOns by Messrs
Whyte and Blaine proceeded to argue that the
right to alter and amend the revised acts was
valid and operative at this time; that the de-
cisiOn of the supreme court applied TO the law
as it stood at the time the decision was rem
dered, and that IL had no bearing upon a law
that might thereafter be enacted.
7 Mr.. Blaine asked at what point the power 10
amend stopped, in the opinion of the senat or
Mr.. Thurman said he would not stand here
to answer Hypothetical questions. Life was
too short 10 stand mp here and be catechised
like the ancient dialecticans. ready to answer
al and any questions that might be prese nted
He was plain, practical man 10 defend :
measure he had introduced. He would put the
question To the senator from Maine, and ne
/, / could take until tomorrow to answer it: DID
he deny the right of congress to require these
corporations 10 provide a sinking fund TO mee
their Obligations TO the government. The
. supreme court had, lac said, at this session
ana while they had been talking about II
f decided that this reserved right to amend was
NOteu IN II case Where the legislature Oh ms owl
state had, under this reserved right, reduces
the rates on a railroad One-thIrd.
J Mr.. Hill said the distinction which he in
, sisted upon was the contract Of the corpora
, ton and the subsequent contract on which
, there was a cOnSide ration. and this principe
he claimed, had been settled i'm the suprem,
court. In reply to question by Mr.. KernaI
, he said there was no legislative power 10 com
pei a rauroad TO pay its debts. The railroad
: was not Incorporated TO pay It's debts but t.
{ carry freight and passengers. The courts wer'
the proper authorities 10 compel 1t TO pay II
debts.
! Adjourned.