St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-18
CONGRESSIONAL.
Northern Pacific Railroad Land
Grant up for Discussion in
the Senate.
The Bill for the Erection of a Railroad
Bridge Across the st. Croix
River Passed.
Representative Reed Attacks the Rules of the
House of Representatives.
The Senate.

ton, which at his request were permitted to
lie on the table, to be called up in few days
for reference to a committee:
WHEREAS, The constitution delegates to
congress the power to regulate commerce
with foreign nations, and among the sew
eraI states and with the Indian tribes; there
fore, be it
Resolved, That it is competent for congress,
in the exercise of the power so delegated, to
provide by law, for such regulation of the
transportation of commerce among the sew
eral states, as shall include a system of max
imum and minimum rates charged for the
same, for free competition within the limits
so fixed, and for the prohibition of discrim-
ination OF any kind whatever, either in favor
of or against cities, towns or other localities,
| whether the same be competing or non COM
| peting points, and for applying the same
principles to transportation for individuals,
firms, or corporations in all matters relating
| to commerce among states, and for the
| preservation and enforcement of the right
of shippers to select lines, and parts of lines,
over which their shipments shall pass, to the
end that shippers may avail themselves of
all rail, or part rail and part water, routes of
the country, and for the prevention of such
pooling arrangements and agreements, and
|
tend TO impose unreasonable burdens upon
such commerce between states; for the pro-
lection of such commerce against unjust ex-
actions, based on class securities commonly
denominated ''watered stock" and for the
promotion of the true interests, both of the
corporations employed in such transportation
and the people and localities engaged in such
commerce, by the enforcement of the priuci-
pies hereinbefore stated and thereby induce
harmony and stability in the affairs of such
corporations, people and localities.
The senate went into executive session and
when the doors were re-opened Senator Cock
rell introduced bill to provide for the ap-
pointment of the Missouri River commission,
to carry into effect plans for the improve
ment Of said river from its mouth to its head
waters.
The senate, proceeding to the considera-
ton of bills ON the five minute calendar, took
up the bill to authorize the secretary of war
to adjust and settle the account for arms be-
tween South Carolina and the government Of
the United States, and to balance the same by
so reducing the overcharge made against the
state in 1869 as that the amount paid on ac-
count by South Carolina in the last ten years
may be taken in full satisfaction of the ac-
count. After some discussion the bill pass
ed. Yeas 30 nays 70.
The senate then passed the bill to author
ize and direct the managers of homes for
disabled volunteer soldiers to locate q branch
home at some suitable point in either the
states of Arkansas, Colorado Kansas, Iowa,
Minnesota, Missouri or Nebraska. Before
passing the bill it was modified by amend
ments proposed by Senators Miller, of Colo
rado, and Conger.
Senator Miller's amendment authorizes the
board of managers to receive propositions
from the managers of the Veterans Home
located in Napa county, California, for a
| transfer of the buildings and property of that
home to the United States for use as a branch
national soldiers home, and to report to con-
gress in respect to the property and the ex-
pediency of an acceptance Of said veterans
home. Senator Miller thought this was
most desirable transfer to be made, as all the
homes on this side of the mountains would
be too far away for the soldiers of the Pacific
coast.
Senator Conger said, the soldiers and sailors
o1Michigan were unanimous in their de-
mand for home in their own state, where
they would be amoung people who would
take an interest. On his motion, the bill
was SO amended so as to require the board
of managers to inquire into the expendiency
Of establishing q branch home in Michi-
gan.
On motion Of Senator Logan, clause was
added providing that the amendment should
not interfere with or delay the establishment
of the home provided for by the bill.
Two hundred and fly thousand dollars was
appropriated to carry out the purposes of the
bill
Senator Slater, according to notice given
some days since, on presenting his bill to
forfeit the unearned land grants of the
Northern Pacific Railroad company, adj
dressed the senate on the motion TO refer the
bill to the committee. He reviewed the his
tory of the land policy of the government,
and severely criticized the course Of the land
department in reading from the testimony
OF an employe Of chat department, TO show
that doubts were resolved in favor of railroad
corporations and against settlers. Referring
specifically to the Northern Pacific railroad
Slater says, that in the life time of its grant
that road had earned 10000, 900
acres, and since the term of the grant
expired had earned 10000, 900 more. Con-
gress had been most liberal 10 that road, and
no corporation had been more enriched by
government. In round numbers, the cor
poration had already received over 81, ,000,-
600 from the sale of lands. In round num-
bers, it had earned lands to the amount of
40, 600, 900 acres, which, at the very lowest
estimate, will realize S100 600, 600, and its
coal lands on the Sound are so valuable it
would not sell them at any price. The COM
pany was not entitled to any leniency. 1t
was simply entitled to the letter of the law,
and no more. Slater said his bill sought
only to forfeit the lands adjacent to the
uncompleted portion of the road, he
not being able to satisfy himself that any
other portion of the lands were now within
the reach of congressional legislation. He
moved reference of the bill to the committee
ON public lands.
Senator Dolph asked that the bill lie on the
table, to which Slater assented.
The consideration of the bankruptcy bill
was then resumed, and amendments were
offered by Senators George, Morgan, Wilson,
Hoar and others. Hoar and other senators
were anxious to have the bin disposed to-day,
and were willing to sit late, but it becoming
manifest that considerable discussion would
arise on some of the proposed amendments,
the senate adjourned.
The House of REPRESENTATIVES
WASHINGTON, April 17.-The bill passed
authorizing the construction of a railroad