Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-03-09
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The Garfield Memorial.

ty. A large majority or the spectators were
ladies, who, out Of respect to the occasion, had
the prevailing hue. But there were
no signs of mourning, in the hall. A full length
portrait of the late president was hug Just
back Of the chairs Of the presiding officers, be-
ing itself undraped. The members Of the
house are early in advance, all being arrsyed
in black. In the lobby of the speakers desk
he Marine band was stationed, and at Intervals
from 10 o'clock until noon discoursed .olemn
music.
Among the distinguished guests first to ar
rive was Judge Bancroft, Cyrus W. Field and
Admiral Worden, who took seats directly IL
front Of this clerks desk. Among the guests
who at an early hour occ1pied seats upon the
floor wers General Schenck and Governors Hoyt
Of Pennsylvania, Foster Of Ohio, Hamilton VI
Maryland, Bigelow Of Connecticut At II 80
Generals Sherman, Sheridan, Hancock, How
ard and Meigs, and Admirals Ammon, Rogers
to the left Of the speakers desk. A
few minutes later the members Of the
diplomatic corps in full regalia
were ushered in. headed by the
Hawaiian minister as dean Of the corps. Their
brilliant costumes only served to throw into
stronger relief the dark attic OF tie members
of congress-, who sat Immediately behind
them The supreme court Of the distIi 4,
headed by Marshal Henry, were the next ar
rivals DR.. Bliss was also in attendance. Mrs
Blaine occupied front seat in the gallery re-
served for friends of the presi1ent. At pre-
cisely II o'clock the house was called to order
by Speaker Keifer and prayer was offel ed by
the chaplain. The speaker then said: this
day has been dedicated by the aci3p
of the twof ousec of congress 10 serv;cts in
commemoration of the life aud death of james
Abraham Garfield, late president Of the United
States. This house is now assembled and
ready to perform its part" The resolutions
setting apart for memorial services were
then read by Clerk McPherson.
At 12:l0 the B5nate was announced and al.
arose. The senators headed by the officers OF
the body entered and took the assigned seata
They were followed by the chief justice and as
sociate justices OF the supreme cOuri dressed in
their official robes. Again the multitude arose
as the President of the United Stats and Lis
clbinet we've announced. They Wore com
panied by Senator Sherman and Representative
Mckinley, chairman of the committee Of ar
rangement. The presi ent tooi front seat
en- the right or the presiding Ctiicer's cksir.
Blame, was AMI ounced, and the cerem JLies
were then opened by short speech
by Chaplain Power, after which
President Davis ssid: This day is
dedicated BY congress in memorial ser
vices for the late presto ent OF the United states
James A Garfield. present you the Hon
james G. Blaine, who has been fty chosen
orator of this historical occasi, II"
The eulogy was concluded at 80 p m,
having taken just an hour and half in It's de-
iVery. As Mr. Blame uttered the last sole mp
words the spectators broke into q
storm Of aoDlauses. which wss
40. husbel for ma n!nut 8 The ad-
dress was listened to with great Interest and in
sol mn sLenco unbroken by any sound except
by sigh OF relief, such as arses from d large
audience when strong tension is removed
from their mind.
The bentdiction WAS then offered By Rev.
DR.. Bullock The marine band Played the Gar
.eld dead maj ch as the invited guests tled out
of the chamber IN the same orGer Ii which they
eItered.
The houss was then called to order and
& concurrent resolution adopted that the thanks
of congress are hereby presented 10 Hon.
ia nes G. BlaiIe for the appropriate memorial
address delivered By him, that it te iurni-hei
o publication, and, on moti9n of Dir. McKia-
lev the house as further mark OF respect, az
COnflscating Railroad Property by Law.
From the New York Telegram.
While he State of New York is still delib-
Grating as to the desirability or the feasibility
of regulating railroad management by stat
ate, other states, and notably several of the
Central Western states, have been with va
rying success trying the experiment
Probably the experiment. is worth the try
il g and worth all the blundering that it has
thus far cost. The principle that corporate
citizens, like any other citiz MS, should be
subject to legislative authority, is sound
one The assumption that the law making
power has the disposition and the ability to
do Justice is at the base Of all organ
IL ai society. It is better that railroad cor
porations should be placed at the mercy"
Of the ttlte than that the state and Its
people should remain at the mercy OK
railroad corporations. O; any conflict that
may impend between the respective doc
trlpes of state sovereignty and railroad
sovereignty, there can be but one outcome.
YET, for the very reason that the principle
Of railroad regulation by the state IS a
sound and necessary one, any manifest in
Justice in the way of such railroad regula-
ton is the more to be deplored.
The other states that have e1erted their
authority in this direction have either
avoided all ground for serious charges OF
Injustice, or, in the light Of experience,
have so modified their statutes as to re-
lieye them of such charges. Illinois has
not In that State alone the worst princi-
pies, or rather the worst blunders OF the
first crude and unenlightened attempts to
regulate the details of railway traffic still
remain in force. The Railroad Commls-
sioners of that State, under their singular
ly absolute powers, have recently, IN
deed, established new schedule OF
freight rates, but this new tariff,
taken as whole, is reduction of the tariff
of 1873, by almost 80 per cent, and this re-
duction is effected at time when the Board
of Equalization has increased the assess
ment of railroad property in Illinois 81, 600. :
900 over that of the previous year, and
doubled the assessment as compared with
1876. Here would seem to be, without
going into the details of the respective tar
Iffs, prima facie cause for the complaints
of the railrord owners that the state OF Illi-
| neis is rapidly contiscating their property
| under the forms of law.
A presumption at least as to the injustice
| OF the Illinois method Of treating railway
property may be fairly derived from the
| fact that the railroad interests have no
spokesman or representative on the COM
mission that wields such mighty powers over
Them. Ia view of the extent of these pow
ers and the nicety Of the interests involved,
| it would seem to be no more than fair that
one out Of the three members OF the board
| Of railroad and warehouse commls.
| sioners should ct least possess some
prac tical acquaintance with railroad affairs.
| On the contrary, that board at present con.
| slSts OF druggist, an InSuIance aSens anu
a politician, and, what is much worse, the
law excludes all persons employed by OF
connected with the business Of any rail
road company or warehouse, and all per
sons owning so much as q share in an!
railroad, from serving as commissioner
This provision Of the law, as t
logic and constitutionality, woult
seem to be on par with
statute depriving all citizens who owl
any kind of property Of eligibility to tn
legislature or to the Office Of fgovernor, or +
any other office whereby property interests
may be affected.
Altogether there is indisputable evidenc
that the history Of railway regulation il
Illinois is little calculated to advance th
cause Of railway regulation elsewhere or
sustain the fundamental confidence IN th
capacity Of American popular bodies
deal Justly and 60 slow. Illinois woul
do better for its reputation. 6
we'll as for its Interest,"
by observing the example Of Massachusetts
the pioneer state in the matter of railwa
reform, where no statutory freight tari
, has ever been attempted, aud by fonowlr
, the example OF Wisconsin. Iowa and MI
: nesota, where the first ill-considered tar I