Morning journal and courier., 1884-12-09
deputy commissioner of pensions.

HoUsK.-Bi1ls were introduced and report ed as follows: Military academy bill, appro- priating $309, I'll joint resolution providing an amendment to the constitution that here after treaties be made by and with the con sent of the House as well as the Senate ap- propriating $25, ,000 for monument to the officers and men who died on the Greedy ex- petition; to suspend the coinage of silver dollars making appropriation for the pedestal for the Bartholdi statue inquiring of the Attorney General whether the eight hour law applies to letter carriers appropri- ating $500, ,000 for the harbor of Philadel- phia enforcing the law protecting seamen from charges for obtaining situations on United States vessels and from usurious charges in cashing seamen's notes fixing tariff charges on ladies' cloaks made of wool or other fabric than silk at fifty per cent ad valorem and sixty-five cents per pound made wholly of silk sixty-fve cents per pound.
 On motion of Mir. Cox, of New York, the House took up and passed a joint resolution extending the time for closing the census bu- reau from July 1 until the money now appro- priated shall be expended.
 MT. Turner, of Georgia, in the absence of MT Ranney, of Massachusetts, representing the minority, said he would not call up the special order for to-day, the Pooi-SkinneT election case, and the House proceeded to consider the h6aSdu- 1uGSI-OGdiS COiAu0ICS bill MT. Findlay, of Maryland, addressed the House, favoring the bill of the committee as more practical and effective than the Req gan substitute.
 MT. O'Neill, of Pennsylvania, followed He argued that the evils complained o1 were correcting themselves as rapidly as cir cumstonces would permit and that the ex- perience of the past ten years showed that great reductions in the cost of transportation I loo h1yt tho rAi1P0oSe and a continuation of this reduction might be reasonably expected. They had opened up to settlement and had given market to the products of immense districts and were rapidly going in this direction. Would any one. he asked, think of taking up the rail roads to the Pacific if they could get back all the land and money the government had given in aid of their construction? He re- gretted that MT. Reagan was not as iberally disposed towards the railways as he was toward the waterways ot the country and was not sure this measure had not originated in the interest of those connected with water transportation. With existing State leg1sla- ton and in the absence of petition or popu- lar demand for it he did not think any neces- sity existed for the passage ot the pending bill.
 MT. Warner, of Ohio, argued that the time had come when the general government should assume the regulation of interstate commerce by railroads. Favoritism or un- just discrimination was, he said, the root o1 all the existing evils. Prevent this and fur ther legislation was unnecessary. He advo- cated the committee's bill with a commission to look to the enforcement of the law:
 Mir. Rockwell, of Massachusetts, said the primary object of railroads was the develop ment of the interior portions of the country and that discriminations were necessary fol such development Legislation should not be to hamper and cripple the roads, but te secure fair and impartial charges to each un der like circumstances. He favored the bill reported by the committee
 Mr. Rice, of Massachusetts, favored the committee bill with 8 commission given dis
 MT. Barksda1e, of Mississippi, was recog, nized, and yielding to motion te that effect the House at 4:40 P. ID. adjourned.