Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-10
IN SENATE AND HOUSE.
)NE OF GREELY,s SHIPS TO
BECOME A CRUISER.

BECOME a CRUISER.
Interstate Commerce still Food for
Senatorial DiscussiOn-SenatOr Brown
Perpetrates a Coed Joke Ridiculing
One of the Bill's PrOvisiOns-A Light
Day in the House.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-In the Senate to-day
Mr.. Cameron, Of Pennsylvania, from the
Committee on Naval Affairs, reported favor
ably, and the Senate passed the bill directing
the transfer of one of the vessels of the Greely
relief expedition to the Treasury Department
for a revenue cutter for use in the waters in
Alaska, and authorizing the retention Of the
other two for use in the navy as surveying
vessels or otherwise. In submitting the report
Mr.. Cameron said that the revenue cutter now
in ALASKA was insufficient for the purposes Of
the government.
Mr.. Mcpherson inquired whether there was
any intention on the part of the government
TO return to the English Government the ship
presented by the latter government to the
l Onlted states for the purposes of the Greely
relief expedition.
Mr.. Cameron replied that he was not in
formed on the point, but under the law, as il
would stand without the passage of this bill,
the Secretary of the Navy would be required
to sell all ships forming part of the relief
expedition.
Mr.. Jackson, from the Committee on
Pensions, reported favOrably, without amend
ment, the bill yesterday introduced by Mr..
AllslOn comprising the legislative provisions
OF the pension appropriation bill recently
passed by the House of Representatives. Mr.
jackson said that he would call the bill up
Mr.. Slater called up the Oregon Central
land forfeiture bill. which has been in abey-
ance, subject to Mr.. Morgan's motion to re-
consider Mr.. Morgan said that he had
learned from some OF the Senators who voted
against his proposed amendment, that they
had so voted, not from opposition to the prin-
ciple covered by the amendment, but because
Iney ulQ not thlnk the amendment necessary
under the special circumstances of the Oregon
Central case. He then withdrew his motion
To reconsider. The bill, therefore, stands
passed as amended by the Senate. 1t now
goes to the House of Representatives.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration
OF bills upon its calendar.
After debate, without result on bills for
private relief, the senate resumed consIdera-
tlOn Of the Interstate commerce bill.
THE HOUSE BILL CALLED UP.
Mr.. Garland called up the House bill on the
same subject, with view, he said, of moving
TO recOmmlt the Senate bill with all its pro-
posed amendments, together with the House
Dill, 10 the Committee on Railroads for further
consideration.
The House bill was read by its title and Mr.
Garland addressed the Senate on the subject
matter. He directed his argument princi-
pally against the commission proposition.
admitting that Congress itself might regulate
inter state commerce, and report promptly.
After further debate, participated in by
Messrs. Bayard. Dawes, Cullom, Harrison
Ingalls, slater, MaXey and Jones of Florida
the motion TO recOmmit was rejected by
vote of Is to a. Mr.. CullOm said that when
after discussion the Senate bill should be per-
fected he would move to amend the House
bill by substituting the Senate bill for it.
Mr.. Wilson's amendment making it unlaW-
full for a railroad to discriminate against
localities or individuals was added to the bill.
Mr.. Vance proposed an amendment making
IL unlawful for railways to charge small
shippers higher rates than large shippers.
The subject to which the bill related, he said
constituted the coming question IN United
States politics for the next twenty years. 1t
may be tentative measure, but something
was necessary. The public were not willing
to commit the commerce of the United
states Tor all time to the greed and
cupidity of the railroads without trying
to protect themselves against eXtOrtiOn
There was no reason why the railroads should
not be as popular as they were necessary.
They were public servants and were no more
justified in charging a poor man or small
shipper more than the service rendered. Mr..
Vance thought that however grave the diff
culties of government supervision of railroads
may be those difficulties would be overcome,
as the genius of the race to which we belong
had always been equal to the redress of every
grievance that had pressed upon them.
MR.. GEORGES SUPPORT.
Mr.. George supported Mr.. Vance's amend
ment. Unless we were prepared to say that
a difference in wealth among men justified
difference IN charges, the amendment was
"
ately more expensive to carry small ship
ments than large ones was an argument not
permissible to railroads, since they did not
pretend 10 charge for carrying goods accord
ing 20 the cost of service, but accord
irg TO the principle of what traffic
would bear the cost of service. Mr.. George
spoke at length upon the inevitable tendency
of the industry to concentration, and the
severity with which that tendency bears
on on the the weaker err and and poorer Rr--
this tendency was undoubtedly the result
Of fundamental economic laws, yet human
laws were the instrumentality of its express
sion and human laws could regulate and
direct 1t for the good of society. If the pro-
posed amendments were adopted small enter
Drises would be encouraged and an impetus
given to efforts OF the energetic who do not
happen to have large capital. Mr. George
cited many illustrations of the incOngruities
and determinations of railroad charges in the
South to the great disadvantage, he said, of
Mississippi.
Mr.. Brown moved to amend the amendment
Of Mr.. Vance by adding to it that "nO mer-
chant shall sell larger package or quantity
Of goods at a smaller per cent. than he
charges for smaller packages of goods of like
quality, If the goods have been produced IN
or transported from another State, so as to
fall within the power Of Congress to regulate
inter State commerce." Before the smile at
Mr.. Browns joke had quite disappeared Mr..
HOar moved that the Senate proceed to the
consideration of executive business. The
motion was agreed to and the Senate at 4:50
p. m. went into executive session, and with
in ten minutes the doors were reopened and
the Senate adjourned to Monday next.
IN THE HOUSE.
In the House to-day the Speaker announced
the appointment Of Mr. Williams, of Alabama,
as a member of the Committee on Ventilation
and Acoustics, and also the appointment of
Mr.. Tucker, of Virginia, and Mr.. Ryan, of
Kansas, as directors of the Columbia Inst-
tuition for the Deaf and Dumb.
Mr.. Hutchins, of New York, moved to post
pOne consideration of private business in or
der that the naval appropriation bill might be
discussed and passed.
Mr.. Mcmillan, of Tennessee, opposed the
motion, and thought that at least one day
should be devoted to the claims OF private in
dIviduals.
Mr.. Randall, of PENNSYLVANIA, pointed out
the Importance of passing the naval bill to-
day in order that il might be acted on by the
Senate, but the House by a vote of 81 to so re-
fused TO agree to Mr.. Hutchins' motion, and
the Speaker proceeded to call the committees
for reports OF private character.
large number of private bills were re-
ported and placed on the appropriate calen-
dars.
Mr.. Curtin, of PENNSYLVANIA, from the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, reported a
resolution calling for information from the
executive relative to the arrest Of L. X.
ernment of Mexico. 1t was adopted. Mr..
Curt n also reported Mr.. BelmOnt's resOlu-
tion calling on the President for information
relating to the Congo conference. 1t was
adopted.
The House then went into committee of the
whole, with Mr.. Cox. of New York, in the
chair, on the private calendar.
At 4:45 O'Clock the committee rose and the
House passed a number of relief bills, and
took recess till 5 O'Clock. the evening session
to be for the consideration of pension bills.
The House at its evening session passed
tWenty-One pension bills, and at :25 O'Clock
adjourned until O-mOrrOw,
NEW YORK IN THE CABINET.