Daily Los Angeles herald., 1882-06-11
LATE TELEGRAMS.
SPECIAL TO THE HERALD
FROM the CAPITAL.
Budget Of Political and Other
News from Washington.
THB PROPOSED CONSOLIDATION OF PA
CIFIC RAILROADS.

CIFIC RAILROADS.
WASHINGTON June lO.-Senator Jone
introduced in the Senate to-day bill
now in the Judicial Committee o
the House, in which it wa
introduced by Representative Ellis, b,
which he proposes to allow the Mexican
Pacific Railroad Companies of New
Mexico, Arizona, Los Angeles and th,
San Diego Railroad Companies of Cali
fornia and the Southern Pacific Railroad
Company of California to consolidate
under the name and style of the South
ern Pacific Railroad Company, and confers
upon the three first named companies
or consolidated companies all the fran
chises, rights, authority, etc., granted
to, and the privileges conferred upon the
Texas Pacific Railroad Company by the
Act of March, 1871, relating to that part
of the Texas Pacific Railroad situated
west of the Rio Grande, and confirming
to them the grant of public land made
to the Mexican Pacific by Act of March,
1871. The condition attached is that all
of the railroad companies shall be oper-
ated as one continuous line.
A BOARD OF RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS IN
SUBSTITUTION OF THE REAGAN PLAN.
WASHINGTON, June 9.-Townsend, of
the Committee on Commerce, has pre-
pared q report OH Interstate commerce
which he will submit tomorrow. The
report, after considering at length the
difficulties in adjusting railroad fares
and freights, concludes that no set of
laws could possibly meet the complca-
tions constantly arising, and considers
that the Reagan bill, or similar meas
nre, would do great harm to the ship
pug interests OF the country. The re-
port then recommends a bill providing
ior three commissioners, with salaries of
seven Thousand live hundred dollars a
year, to be under the control of the See
retary of the Interior. fheir business
Alli be 10 collect testimony in regard to
high rates, over eaar9es ap;l discrimina-
tion, aud to submit i.iem To Congress,
itad to collect faeiS IN regard to the roads
by which Congress nitv be enabled to
iegisate intellisenily. The Commission
efs shall have powes TO summons wit
nesses, administer oaths, take testimony
aud direct the production OF books and
papers and contracts. All Judges of the
United States District Coarts and Circuit
Courts are directed, in or out of term
time, to compel the attendance of wit
nesses before the Commission The
Board shall have power to call on COM
mon carriers for reports of all rates and
charges. The Commission is to be ap-
pointed by the President, by and with
advice and consent OF the Senate, and is
to hold office for five years. Action on
the bill at the present session is not ex-
pected.
DECISION AGAINST THE NORTHERN Pa
CIFIC.
A case of considerable interest, in
which the Northern Pacific Railroad
claimed certain lands free from expenses
of survey, etc., was decided by Secre-
tary Teller to-day adversely to the rail
road. The railroad set forth that, ac-
cording to the original grant, it was not
liable for the expenses of surveying, Sc
lecting and conveying lands, and that
Congress had not the authority, by a
subsequent act, to require such payment.
Secretary Teller holds that Congress had
such power, and orders that no further
patents for lands shall be issued to the
Northern Pacific Company until the
amount due for patents already issued
is paid, and also the expenses of convey
ing the patents to be issued; and directs
that the Department shall not recognize
any further selection of lands by the
Northen Pacific until all the amounts
charged against said company for the
purposes mentioned are paid.