The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-08
TEE HOUSE.
A Spirited Discussion of the Reagan Inter-
state Commerce Bill.
journed.

"A Spirited Discussion of the Reagan Inter-
state Commerce Bill.
WASHINGTON JAN THE Speaker laid before
the House letter from the Secretary of the
Treasury transmitting an estimate of $780, 900
for completion of the lighthouse at the mouth
of the Detroit river. Referred. Also. a letter
from the Secretary OF the Treasury transmitting
an estimate from the Secretary of the Navy for
an appropriation of $9,5O0,0 900 for erection of a
gun foundry and purchase of steel for manu-
facture of heavy ordinance, in pursuance of the
recommendation of the gun foundry board.
Referred.
The House resumed consideration of the in
terstate commerce bill, the pending motion
being one submitted by Mr.. O'Neil, of Penn
sylvania, to strike out the section prohibiting
railroads from charging more for a short than a
long haul
Mr.. Townshend inquired of Mr.. Reagan as to
the time to be occupied further consideration
of the BILL but Mr.. Reagan, not hearing the
question, Mr.. O'Neill volunteered the informa-
ton that 1T would consume three weeks longer
Mr.. O'Nell then spoke iii support of his motion
He could not see how it was possible to oblige
the railroads to carry out the idea contained in
the section. An attempt to do would be in
imical to the business interests of the country.
Mr. Horn supported the motion The section
contained principle which would do more to
render this bin nugatory and injurious than all
other provisions of the measure combined. If
gentlemen We're governed by business princip pies
this section would not get twenty votes and if it
were retained 1t would be retained entirely as a
matter of political claptrap
The motion was lost-yeas co. nays 1877.
At this point Mr.. Burns, from the committee
on appropriations. reported the consular and
diplomatic appropriation bill, which was referred
to the committee of the whole 1t appropriates
ST., 100, SS5, reduction from the appropriation
for the present fiscal year of $34 255 and 1892,
291 less than the estimates The bill provides
for an agent and consul general at Cairo, Egypt
Of equal salaries of S.. 600, and for consul gen
eral at Madrid. The consulship at Ningpo,
China, is abolished An appropriation of $12 900
is made for carrying out the provisions of the
neutrality act
Discussion Of the interstate commerce bill
having been resumed, Mr.. Reagan defended the
measure from the attack made upon it before
the holidays by Mr.. Phelps, and maintained that
the gentleman had never read the bill, or,
having read it, had not understood it. The
gentleman, in his peroration, had threatened the
House that if the bin became law, the railroad
companies would either violate every provision
of it and block the wheels of justice, lock up
their silent locomotives in their round houses.
The gentleman had chosen in this arena to
menace and attempt to intimidate Congress by
a threat that If it passed just and necessary
law to protect the great body of the people
against greed. rapacity and tyranny, that class
The gentleman was mistake in thinking the
railroads could block the wheels of Justice
There was too much honor and patriotism on
the bench to be intimidated by the companies
This attempt to overawe Congress would not
command the respect of law-abiding people
LITTLE "REMINISCENCES BY Mr.. PRs,.Ps.
Mr. Phelps said he recognized, in the remarks
made by gentleman from Texas that intellec-
tual defect which had made it impossible for him
to propose bill which would be operative and
therefore useful When he (AIr. Phelrs) said
what the laws of trade and nature would be, the
gentleman failed to recognize the distinction be-
tween prophesy and threat. He made no threat
He had no power to make threat, or to carry it
out Whether he was good prophet or not
time would show. He had right to suppose
in view of the past, that his prophesy would
come true When the gentleman from Texas
was giving his high character and ability
In support of another cause, DISTINGUISHED
representative from Pennsylvania, who was
giving his influence to the preservation
of the Union. concluded that he would under
take by legislation, TO correct the wills of the
current time. The great trouble - that time
Ia the mind of Thaddeus Stevens was that gold
would go up The great trouble of the gentle
man from Texas WAS that the railways would
charge something for their freight, ItIwould