The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-12-31

during the present session. de
thinks there Is no question Of the
rights of congress in the matter. The
power of congress over railroads charter
ed by the states is that derived from
clause three, section eight, article one,
of the constitution, as Interpreted by the
supreme court in numerous decisions.
Many questions arise in relation to these
roads as to their corporate rights, franz
chises, and the management of the cor.
which can only be dealt with by
States creating the corporations. Take
for example the watering of stock of
such roads, which generally results in
greater burdens on the ship
pers. This would have to be dealt with
by the states, and is not within the pow
er of congress. There are many such
questions. There are now three bills
pending on this subject. The Reagan
bill has for its object the abridgement of
the powers of railroads, and the prOtec-
ton of the people from freight discrim-
nations. at does not interfere with the
of railroad corporations"
saws Mr.. Reagan. ats provisions are
few, simple and easily understood. 1t
is proposed by this bill: 1. To
prohibit all discrimination between
shippers in freight rates and charges.
2. To prohibit rebates in drawbacks in
all cases. 3 To prevent in all cases The
pooling of freights by otherwise CON-
peiing railroads, so as to secure to the
public the benefits of competition. 4.
To limit the power of discrimination as
between different places by providing
that no more shall be charged for u car
load of freight for shorter than for a
longer distance ON the same haul. 5. II
provides that schedules of freight rates
and charges shall be conspicuously post.
ed up and that no more nor less shall
be charged than specified in
the printed schedule. Railroads now
profess to post up such schedules, and
it is proposed by this bill to limit them
to their published rates of charges.
After making these provisions the bill
provides ample means for their enforce.
ment by giving the remedy in civil dam
ages to the shipper for any wrong done
him in violation of the provisions of the
bill who on recovering judgment j:
allowed triple damages, with a provi
sion that the damages shall in no cast
be for less sum than $500. This is de.
signed to prevent the wearing out o.
poor litigants by the delays of law
Next, the bill provides for qui tan
action 10 be prosecuted by the public
officers, in which upon the conviction
the penalty is not to beless than 1000
one-half of which is allowed to go to the
informer. Then the officers and manager
of such corporations are subject to in
dictment for doing anything pro.
hibited to be done, by the
bill, or for refusing TO do anything
commanded by the act, and on convic
ton they are subject to a penalty of no
less than $1,000. In order to enforce tn
civil remedies, and prevent the conceal
| ment of facts or evasion of the law, it i
provided that the parties to such suit
may be compelled to testify, with tn
reservation that certain testimony shall
not be used against them on crlmina
grounds, and equitable as well as lega
power are given to the courts tryinl
such cases, with the power to compe
the production of books and papers
These provisions are essential to the er
forcement of any legislation on this sui
| ject. The wisest provision of the Law
upon this subject would be useless, un
less the law compels the opening of tn
mouths of the officers and managers
and authorizes the examination of book
and papers of these corporations"
The sprague- COnkling Scandal.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 29-The ar
ticipated Sprague- Conkling scanda
which is believed to be impending upo
the family difficulties of Gov. SpraguC
excites much interest here, where all tn
parties and some of the circumstance
are SO intimately known. Much of tn
friendly relations between the New Yor
senator and Mrs. Sprague has long bee
the property of Washington gossip. Nov
that the male Sprague has indicated a
intention of making case against hi
wife, for the avowed purpose of ruinin
MIR. Conkling, the whole subject
freshly revived. The recent difficult
| with Senator Bayard and the rumore
political alliance of Hayes and CARTEL
against ConklIng, have contributed
bring the latter into more than usui
prominence. 1t is not believed any cas-
made by Governor Sprague will affet
Conkling's social standing or politics
influence, even among those who person
ally dislike him. There is an indistint
idea, however, that Sprague will carr
the matter to extremes. In support c
this comes the intelligence that he hs
been tracking his wife and Conklin
with detectives in other cities, and I'll
additional fact that two well known d
tectives of this city are now believed {
be engaged in fixing the relations b
tween the Senator and Mrs. SpragU
here. There are many rumors IN tn
connection too indefinite for publication
Certain it seems to be that the found
tion of ali the newspaper gossip at IL
capital is being privately investigate
presumably in furtheTance of Il
Rhode Island ex Senator's reports
intention. This revival of Il
scandal is much commented upon ar
| n Cd
says all the evidence that Sprague wan
: from this point can be easily furnishe
Whether or not they were at work upl
the case he refused, of course, to sa
To illustrate the public sensitiveness
the subject of Conkling, the effect of
rumored personal conflict between ty
senator's last night may be mentione
It was reported at an early hour til
morning that two prominent senate
: had met by accident and assaulted ea
other, one knocking the other down wi
heavy cane. Although it was after
O'Clock in the morning when the sto
got out, it spread like the yellow few
J The representatives of promine
d western papers secured t
e city, banging the doors
everybody who might possibly La
known something about it in the
tempt to hunt the item down. 5uspici
at once attached to Mr.. ConklIng, wi
whose name was linked that of the De
e ware senator and several others wi
\ whom the former is at outs. For fear
being beaten, some of these enterprise
journalists sent an account of the aft
{ to their papers. To-day the rumor
II solves itself into bit of pleasantly
!. the part Of q brother scribe. The frieE
. of Mr.. Conkling state that he will ta
no further notice of Mr.. Bayard in |
Phelps, Dodge s. Co. moiety case. tt
say IL Mr.. Bayard can let the matter 7
where il is, Mr.. ConklIn can. If
4 former should afford the opportunity
!, the floor of the senate, Mr.. Conkling v
most crtainly reply.
Boreas on q Bender.
= NEW YORK, Dec. 27.-A steady nor
+ easily gale, accompanied by snow q
1 sleet, set in at an early hour this mo
q ing and still continues. At Sandy He
this evening the wind is blowing
:, miles an hour, and disasters to shippi
; are apprehended.
: BALTIMORE. Dec. z7.-rhe heavi
. snow storm OF the winter occurred
day. After rain storm OF nearly
night snow began to fall about o'clo
II this morning, and continued until
r O'Clock in the forenoon Snow fell
the depth Of 4 foot, the heaviest fall
three years
e BosToS, Dec. IA heavy eastel
S gale with light snow prevailed all d
:. along the ceast. and continues unabatI
J, AT Thatcher's Island the velocity OF /
wind Is 81 miles. As vel there are