The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-10
THE HOUSE.
Cruelty to Cattle on RaiIways-A Spat Over
Public Buildings.

Public Buildings.
WASHINGTON, April 9.-Mr Hopkins, of Penn
sylvania, offered the following preamble and
resolution, which were referred to the committee
on commences
Whereas, It is charged that the present system of
transporting live stock by railroad companies engaged
IN interstate commerce is barbarous and destructive
that 10 per cent of the animals perish in consequence
of this treatment and the flesh of the remainder is
hit for human food; and
Whereas 1t is charged that the flesh of animals so
treated including that of the dead and dying is sold
to the people, and cannot, when dressed, be distin
guished from sound meats, and is the cause of many
and various Diseases and
Whereas. 1t appears by report of the committee
on agriculture made to this House on Jan. 81 1879,
thar the loss by shrinkage alone in the weight OF ami
mails caused by this system of transportation amounted
to the immense of So 600 600 the business of
1870, and must now be nearly quite $4,000 600
per annuln; and
Whereas, It has been charged that said railroads
by system of favoritism, give to small number of
bonus or gift almost of $15 every carload of
beef cattle shipped from the West to the East, and
said sum being part of the actual legitimate cost
OF transportation but on the contrary is collected
by the transporters and paid to these socaled
eveners gratuity; and,
Whereas The losses and charges above constitute
in the aggregate tax a necessary arti-
Gle of food which must be borne by the producer and
consumer alike, diminishing the just profits of meat
growers in the West and placing meat food, in many
instances beyond the reach of poor in the East;
and,
whereas, IL is charged that the acts OF Congress
requiring railroad companies to unload stock in tran
stu every twentyeight hours is habituay violated
therefore,
Resolved That the committee on commerce be in.
structed to inquire whether those evils do in fact
ist and to what extent they may be remeded by law
with power to send for persons and papers and with
directions to report at any time by bill or otherwise
Then struggle arose as to which of the
many pending special orders should obtain pre-
cedence.
Mr.. Dingley essayed to bring up the shipping
bill but the effort was unsuccessful, the motion
being defeated yeas 16, nays 156.
Mr.. Reagan met with like fate on his motion
to consider the interstate commerce bill, the
proposition being voted down, yeas l01 nays
The Speaker ruled that the unfinished bust
ness was the Oregon Central land grant bill.
Mr.. Stockslager, under the order made on
Monday, asked the House to con- der the public
building bills and moved to go into committee
of the whole for consideration of such bills
The antagonists of these measures and the
more prominent advocates of the Oregon Cen
trail bill united in opposition to the motion, but
they were unsuccessful, and the House, by
vote of yeas 160, nays 81, went into committee
OF the whole, Mr., Wellborn i'll the chair Even
then, however there was no plain sailing.
The first bill ealied up by Mr.. Stockslager was
one for public building at Keolluk, Ia. Con
sideration was objected to by Mr.. Thompson,
who contended that, under the rules, the bill
must be reported to the House and passed upon
by that body.
The point was raised that the rule which re-
quired this course to be taken had been sus-
pended by the terms of the resolution making
this class of bills special order.
The Chair having held the point to be well
taken. Mr.. Thompson appealed from the decis-
ion, and, though the decision was sustained by
large majority of the committee, the debate
which took place enabled the opposition to con
sumo more than an hour of time.
The Keokuk bill which provides for an ulti-
mate appropriation of $l50,OOO, was then adj
voeated by Mr.. McCord, who presented facts
which in his Judgment necessftated the cree
ton of the building.
In opposition Mr.. Holman read an article in
the Burlington ia Gazette, ridiculing the idea
that public business at Keokuk required the
erection of building, and setting forth that
this action would result in loss to to the govern
ment by surrender of leases.
Mr.. McCord explained that the newspaper
article was the outgrowth of neighborhood
quarrel
After six tedious votes by tellers the bill was
laid aside. with favorable recommendations.
The next bill was one appropriating 800, 900
for the erection of public building at Waco
Tex. This was bitterly opposed by Mr.. Warner
on the ground that the population and business
of that city did not justify the large appropria-
ton asked for, and he especially expressed his
disapprobatiGa Of linking these bills together
like sausages There might be some good
meant, but there was plenty of bad 1t was
the worst form of legislation, and unless this
special order vacated, he would resort to
every parliamentary method to defeat these
bills.
Mr. Buckner also entered his protest against
this species of legislation. The Democrats stood
to-day exactly where the Republicans had stood
two years ago They putting the cast
off hablments of their friends. The people had
rejected the Republican party and had elected
Democrats representatives of reform. Did
this mode of legislation look like reforml
Mr., Mills. in advocating the pill resented the
idea of the gentleman from Missouri lecturing
the Democratic party. In the last Congress,
when the question of building in his own
State was up the gentleman had been as silent
as the grave.
Mr. Buekner-I was doing my duty; you are
not doing yours now.
What did you do about st. Louis and Kansas
Cityr queried Nh. Mills. "What has made you
so sudden converhto the cause of economyY'
Il will tell you" answered Mr. Buckner lit
is because you have nrSde ring; and want to
get your share of the pork
You have got yours, retorted Mr.. Mills
'"The gentleman is a singular statesman. He
says we were elected to reduce taxation. | want
to know if he has not been sneering at all efforts
to reduce taxation on clothing
mo, sir" replied Mr.. Buckner, emphatically.
you have been contending it would be i'm
polite and unwise to do anything, have you
notW persisted Mr. Mills
Yes, sir / have" replied Mr. Buckner
All exclaimed Mr., Mills, the only trouble