New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-03
GOVERNMENT TOPICS.
DISCUSSION AT WASHINGTON.

GOVERNMENT TOPICS.
DISCUSSION AT WASHINGTON.
THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE BILL-PRoGREss OF
THE COMMITTEE on OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
MRyr OF THE STAR ROUTE POSTAL SERVICE.
Mr. Reagan, of Texas, Chairman OF the House
Committee on Commerce, believes that the
session will not be brief. The subjects OF IN
terstate commerce, American shipping ana
others are too important to be disposed of hastily
Mr.. Blount. acting Chairman of the Committee
on Appropriations, reports that good progress
has been made and that prompt action may
no cxpected on the Naval Appropriation bill.
The deficiencies in the Post Office Depart
meDt. and the management OF the star Route
Service are discussed by a prominent Dem
ocratic member of the House.
IMPORTANT COMMERCIAL QUESTIONS.
TALK WITH MR.. REAGAN. OF TEXAs-TiiE INTER-
STATE COMMERCE. BIIL-AMERIcAN SHIPPING.
Icy TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON Jan. Pin conversation with
TRIBUNE correspondent to-day, Representative
Rearan of Texas spoke with great freedom on
several questions relating to our foreign ana 40
nestle commerce. In speaking of the Interstate
Commerce bill, which has been agreed upon by the
Committee on Commerce, of which he Is chairman
Mr. Reagan said II have just received letter
from Mr.. Vanderbilt asking that the committee de-
Law reporting the bill until the interests OF the New
York Central can nave hearing shall reply to him.
ms have to Colonel Scott Mr. Jewett and others
who have made similar requests, that will submit
the matter to the full committee. For my part am
willing that the railroads shall have an opportu-
n,ty TO discuss the provisions OF the bill itself;
but am not disposed to grant delay i'll order that
they NAV discuss propositions which are not IN the
b!l at all When the gentlemen representing the
railroad interests were before committees III the last
Congress they devoted most of their time TO oppos-
ng propositions which not in our bill. The bili:
upon which we have agreed aims TO do four things
First-To prevent UNJUST discrimination in freight
rates ana charges in all interstate commerce.
SecOad-As a eorOllary TO the nrst, 10 prevent all
rebates and drawbacks.
Third-To prevent the pooling of their earnings by
dfferents corporations
Fourth-To prevent a company from charging
more for a carload of freight fer short distance
than it does for long distance on the same haul
You will observe that the bill does not mcddle
with the ouestion of rates at ALL 1t seeks for the
benefit of the people simply to abridge the power OF
great railroad monOpoies and to do this in as simple
a manner as possible. There was some talk OF pro-
viding for a railroad commission, and there are
few who would be glad to have the Government fix
neither of these provisions incorporated in the
bill The latter proposition rejected imprac-
ticable and it was generally felt that the time had
not vet come to carry the first into effect although
1t is my own opinion that commission VIII ulti
mately be found necessary
"Iam not All enemy of railroads" continued Mr.
Reagan and do not really think that the rail-
road companies are justified in regarding our bill as
hostile to their interests butf they insist that 1t
is for one am prepared to meet hostility with hos
tilty. Our interstate commerce amounts TO the
enormous sum of $50 900. 900 900 year, and it is
now at the mercy of $4,5OO.0O 1000 of capital
invested in railway corporations. Something must
be done to rescae this vast trade from the control
Of these monopolies which have made it foot
ball"
Mr. Reagan says that the Committee on Com
merce will devote a large portion of its time to
thorough study of questions affecting American
shipping interests, and he hopes that some measure
may be devised at the present session 10 advance
them. But" said he. u am sometimes almost
discouraged. Our tariff system Is almost en-
tirely based on legislation for the benefit
of particular classes and the effect OF 1t
is to make the few rich at the cost of keeping the
many poor. When i go home TO Texas ava talk
about tariff for revenue alone, my people, who
are greatly interested IN w0ol-QrOwing. say Yes,
let's have a tariff for revenue alone, but you must
NOT forget to protect our wool! In Louisiana the
people want sugar protected and revenue tarit on
everything else, and so it goes throughout the en-
tire country"
On being asked what he thought the duration of
the present session would probably be, Mr., Reagan
replied: a. think the session will be a long one
chiefly because / do not remember that there has
been since entered public life short session of
Congress IN the year preceding Presidential cleo
ton There is q great deal OF work that ought TO
be DONE There are these measures relating to inter-
State aud foreign commerce on which alone Congress
might proiitably spend a, good deal of time.
Then there questions relating TO immigration,
to the revision of our public land system, to our In
dian AFFAIRS &c, all of which are of very great I'M
portance, and the solution of which calls for the
exercise of high qualities OF statesmanship. II we
could spend some months in discussing these and
similar questions in spirit of patriotism and
statesmanship aud could avoid tue miserable crimi
nations and recriminatIOns of which believe the
country is heartily tired, we might accomplish some
good" ,
In relation to the election laws. Mr.. Reagan said
he thought that attempt would be made to re-
peal them at this He thinks that, so long
as the Democrats poweress to secure their re-
peal they had better refrain from further discussion
of the subject.
POSTAL SERVICE DEFICIENCIES
VIEWS OF PROMINENT DEMOCRAT IN THE HOUSE