The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-04-11
SENATE,
Washington, Ap

Washington, April 4,
Mr. Morrill, offered resolution providing for
select committee of seven to consider the proprie
ty taking tenth census He said the arrange
ments had to be made during the present Congress
for taking the tenth census, and, as the next ses
sion was a short one, the preliminary step,
should now be taken. The resolution was agreed
to-
At the expiration of the morning hour, conside
ration was resumed of unfinished business-the
Pacific Railroad Funding bill--and Mr., Matthews
replied to the arguments against the Railroad
Committee'sobill.
Mr.. Matthews said he had been panied to hear
Edmunds refer to the friends of these great and
powerful corporations being present on the floor,
in the obbies and in the galaries. Whatever grain
ofrealty there may be in all this, Senators should
be careful how such insinuatons are
made unless they have specific charges to present,
He next referred to the remarks of Christiancy
who said he had made what was not law appear
most like law, and he had, In citing authorities
stopped at point where 1t suited his views and
omitted that which was against 1t. He had since
carefully reviewed the citations and had no cor.
rections to make AS to the arrangement that can
be arrived at between the Government and these
companies, he was Indifferent. Whatever they
could be induced to pay he was desirous they
should pay, He stood here to-day impressed with
the responsibility Of what he said, and If the Gov.
ernment had to loose ALL 1t had better do so than
give its assent to this bill which In effect upset the
decision Of the Supreme Court which determins
the relations between these parties
At the conclusion of his remarks, Mr. Matthews
said he would withdraw the bill of the Railroad |
Committee which he had offered as substitutein |
order that there might be direct vote on the Ju |
dietary Committees bill.
Mr. Dorsey offered a resolution requesting the |
House to return the bill relating to the Hot |
Springs resolution which passed the Senate March |
3rd.
Mr. Edmunds asked the object Of recall,
Mr.. Dorsey explained that the amendments
adopted in the Senate were objected to by the
committee Of the House. and his object was TO
move 10 strike them out and let the bill 90 to
the House as reported from the Senate Com.
mittee.
Mr.. EdmuDds thought this an unusual mode
of tIansacting business, but would not object in
this case. 80
The resolution was then agreed to-
Mr.. Bayard was recognized as entitled 10 the
floor, but gave way to Mr.. White, who introduced
q Dill granting site to the city of Baltimore for a
dry dock Referred.
ARGUMENT OF MR.. THURMAN
Mr.. Thurman, in reply to questions by Messrs
Whyte and Blaine proceeded to argue that the
right to alter and amend reserved in the acts was
valid and operative at this time that the decision
OF the supreme Court applied to the law as il stood
at the time the decision was rendered and that il
had no bearing upon the law that might hereafter
be enacted
Mr.. Blaine asked at what point the power to
amend stopped In the opinion Of the Senator?
Mr.. thurman said he would not stand here to
answer hypothetical questions. Life was too short
10 stand up here, and be catechized like the an.
clent dialectcians, ready to answer all and any
questions that might be presented He was a 9
plain practical man to defend measure he had {
introduced. He would put questions to the sena. :
TOR from Maine. He would take until tomorrow
to answer II. Did he deny the right of Congress {
70 require these corporations TO provide sinking
Iund 70 meet their obligations to the Government? D
The supreme Court had, he said at this session u
and while they had been talkingabout It. decided n
that this reserved right to amend was voted in 81
case where the Legislature of his own State had a
under this reserved right reduced rates on rail- 81
road One.third
Mr. Hill said the distinction which he insisted g
upon was contract Of corporation and a subse i
quent contract on what there was a consideration
and this principle he claimed had been settled IN
the Supreme Court.
=, In reply to question by Mr. Herman he said y
there was no legislative power to compel a rail. II
road 10 pay its debts. The railroad was notincor.
pOrated to pay its debts but to carry fraghtR and
passengers The courts were proper authorities
10 compel It TO pay its debts
The Senate then adjourned j