The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-24
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

WASHINGTON, JAM %. 1879.
GENERAL ARTHuR's REPLY TO SECRETARY sHER-
MAN BEFORE THE SENATE COMMERCE. COM
MITrEE.
The letter addressed by General Arthur to Senator
Conk,ing. chairman of the Senate Commerce Com
mttee and read at the session of the committee to-day
is Of considerable length he replies to the charges
seriatm in addition to making them subject of
prehensive denial and emphatic general comment
With reference to the charge that he INSTRUCTED the
reforms ordered by the Treasury Department upon
the report of the jay Commission. he asserts that
these very reforms were suggested by him in COM
muncations addressed to the Secretary of the
Treasury long before the Jay Commission was
created and for specific confederation of this
ton he refers to the files of the department,
besides stating the committee in the present letter
the substance of his various recommendations. He
further alleges that the Jay Commission conducted
their investigation unfairly, giving his own wit
no adequate opportunity to be prepared; but
making unlimited Of numerous witnesses, who
had personal grievances against his subordinate off,
Gals and who industriously coached" by
Treasury special agents.
He takes direct issue with Secretary Sherman's
assertion that the collecting revenue under
his administration of the Custom House was greater
than it has been subsequently, and to the falling off
in the total amount of collected by HIM, in
comparison with other incumbents of the Office
he remarks that the importers and consumers of for
egn merchandise should be considered responsible
for any diminution Of the imports and the COL
lector Of import duties.
The reply of Mr.. Cornell. though understood to DO
on the way TO Washington, not at hand, and the
committee without taking action upon either of the
nominations, adjourned until tomorrow morning.
INTERSTATE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES IN FAVOR
OF THE HOUSE BILL BEFORE THE SENATE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMMERCE.
The Senate subcommittee on Commerce, consist
ing of Messrs. Spencer (chairman), Mcmillan and
Dennis, tonight heard arguments on the House bill
regulating interstate commerce and prohibiting un-
just discrimination by common carriers. A large
number of gentlemen from various parts Of the
country interested in the measure, were present
The chairman stated that many petitions in favor
of the passage of the bill had been received To-
night the committee would hear gentlemen in adj.
vocacy of the bill and set aside night to hear srgu-
ments in opposition to it.
representative Reagan. of Texas, chairman of the
House Committee on Commerce. who reported the
bill and pressed to its PASSAGE gave the history of
the legislation the subject and some of the
provisions of the BILL which was intended to prevent
the exercise of powers which, il arbitrarily and I'M
Justly exercised would operate unustly against com.
munities hence. the prominent features requiring
equal rates to all persons and prohibiting rebates
and drawbacks. He stated that after consult.
ing judicial authorities he had come to
the conclusion that no power was more
clearly given in the constitution than that to regulate
commerce among the States. the States themselves
having no such power. Therefore his object and
that of other members of the Committee on Com
merce was to impose legal restraints to secure JUS
tce to the people, but in to inct injury to
transportation companies. One of the leading mo-
tives in the formation of the constitution was to
regulate among the States SO as to confer
uniform benefits and prevent conflicting legislation
by the several States. He had doubt that the in
terest of the country demanded the regulation of
commerce on land well water.
In reply to suggestions by Senator Mcmillan as to
the constitutional power involved. Mr.. Reagan said
the bill proposed TO regulate commerce from its
point of shipment that of it's destination irrespcc
tive Of the number of corporations affected by II.
Mr. M. l.. Woods said he appeared here to represent
some of the merchants OF New York interested in
transportation As he understood the BILL it did not
undertake to regulate charges except in far that
they may be uniform. He read memorial numerously
signed by merchants shippers and shipowners saying
that the passage of the bill would destroy the ar-
rary rates of transportation and confer
great benefits upon the country He read letters
that they had been overchargcd by the Pacific and
other railroad lines while others had been favored
by rebate or drawback He also read letter from
Chapman and Flint of New York. complaining of the
unjust determinations of the Pacific railroads. who
striving 10 drive merchants from clipper ships to
the exclusive use Of the railroads. and saying that
about four hundred merchants have been forced to
bow to those companies. Tho writer's OF the letter
add that they ask for protection further than that
railroads shall not unjustly discriminate against
commerce and compel it TO use only channel of
/ transportation--nainely, the railroads.
Ambrose Snow said he appeared in his private ca.
pacity as shpowncr. and also delegate of the
| New York Board of Trade and transportation, to
show what the present effect OF the railroadng sys-
TEN has been on business. Tho shipowners had
heretofore felt but little interest in raroading but
now they found one OF the most important routes of
commerce threatened with extinction by the Union
Pacific hailroad. which discriminatos against mer-
! chants who send their goods by the wa of Cape