Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-18
-YLVIIITH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, January IL, 1885.

senate.
Bv designation of the President of the
Senate, Mr.. Allison presided over the
Senate to-day.
A message from the President was
read transmitting, i'll compliance with
Mr. IIawlev's resolution. the commune
cation of General Sherman to the Secre-
tary Of War regarding the policy of the
Confederate Executive Department. 1t
was laid on the table.
At 2 O'Clock the Chair laid before the
Senate the Interstate commerce bill,
and Senator Brown continued his speech
in opposition to the Slater amendment,
prohibiting higher charges for short
than for longer hauls. All railroad eX-
pcrence, he said. showed that this plan
would seriously disturb the operations
of through transportation, and would
be highly detrimental to the commerce
of the country. In many ways princi-
pies which found acceptance among bust
nesS-men generally would not work in
railroading. For example. uncontrolled
the best interests of communities, but
it did not always work well in railroad
ing, and frequently would not work at
all. Where several lines were in COM
petition the rates were likely to be cut
down below the point which would be
proiitablp to either line. Out of this
condition of things would grow the con-
Solidation of interests and monopoly.
Unbridled competition, frequent railroad
wars, and cutting of rates, were most
detrimental to merchants and business
generally.
Having concluded the argumentatiye
portion of his remarks, Mr.. Brown con-
tinucd, that the tendency seemed con-
Stantly TO be toward the greater en-
largement of power in the Federal Gov
mcnt. This was the most far-reaching
step vet taken in that direction. The
commission proposed would soon need
on enormous retinue, which would grow
year by year until the Government Off
cials would be found in every town and
village of the United States "regula-
ting" the business of the railroads.
Mr.. Brown was emphatic i'll his con-
demnation of the Reagan bill, which,
he said. would result most disastrOusly
to the commerce of the country, and
while he couldnot support that billund
any circumstances, he would he pre-
pared TO support commission with
properly limited powers to investigate
and report, leaving the true regulation
where the common law left it,.
The debate was continued by Messrs.
Camden and Hawley. Slater's amend
ment was then brought to vote and
was rcjected--yeas, ii ; nays, 81. The
vote in detail was as follows,
Yeas.-Messrs. Camden, Cockrell,
Cooke, Fair, Kenna, Maxey. Slater,
Vance, Van Wyck, Vest, and Noor-
hees-ll.
NdN.-Messrs. Allison, Brown, But
Ter. Cameron Of Pennsylvania, Came
ron of Wisconsin, Conger, Cullom,
Dolph, Frye, German, Hale. Harris,
Harrison. Hawley, lloar, ingalls,, Jack
son, Jonas, Lapham, Henderson. Mitch
ELL. Morgan, Morrill,, Pike. Plat,
Pugh. Ransom, Sawyer, Sheffield, |
sherman, Walker, and Wilson-32.
An amendment proposed by Mr.. Alli-
ton was agreed to by vote Of % yeas
o 20 nays increasing the number of
from five to nine, and
intending the later provision so as to
eouire that not more than five Of them
hall belong TO one political party. Mr..
\ llison's amendment also provides that
me of the commissioners shall be Sc
ected from each of the nine Judicial
districts of the United States.
An amendment. offered by Mr.. Pugh,
vas agreed to limiting the powers of the
70 the powers specifically
iyen by the bill. Mr.. Pugh said he
Gcred this amendment in order to OBJ
late MIR. Garland'S objection that Con-
ress was delegating its own powers to
commission.
MIR. Conger was surprised to discover
hat the bill as it stood gave the com
,;ssion control not only over railroads
nj over vessels and water eommuniea-
ON generally. II this were so, he said
"a sooner il was either strangied or
youeht 10 halt the better.
Amendments to the bill having been
,,pplcted. some question arose as to
: parliamentary status Of the measure,
hieh having been ascertained, the
ou,e bill was, BY unanimous consent,
ken from the calendar. and Dir. Gull
m ~ owed 70 amend it by striking out
afler tie enacting clause aud insert
. The pro,isions Of the senate o,a.
on his motion Mr. Vest called for !