Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-04

cd a senator Of the United States from
the particular State named for given
term was sufficient credential accord
ing to the usages Of the Senate and laws
Of the States.
The Chair tMr. Edmunds) stated that
the papers read did not contain any
certificate from the Governor, as re-
quired by the act Of Congress.
The papers were referred to the Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections.
Mr.. Morgan introduced bill, accom-
panied by memorial on the subject
from the Legislature Of Alabama, pro-
viding for loan Of tents to an associa-
ton at Mobile. Ala, in control of the
interstate drill. The bill and memo
rial we're appropriately referred.
On motion Of Mr.. Cullom the Senate
then resumed the consideration Of the
interstate commerce bill.
The question was on Mr.. Plumb's
motion TO add the words "under SINH
lar circumstances to the amendment
offered by Mr.. Beck, which amendment
would prohibit a railroad company from
charging more for transporting goods
over a part of its line than for trans
porting the same goods over its whole
line.
/ Mr.. Plumb's motion was agreed to-
yeas, 90; nays, 20.
The question then required on Mr..
Beck's amendment as modified. On
this Mr.. Vance took the floor. He ridi-
culed the idea that senator's did not
have sufficient knowledge and common
sense to be able to say that railroads
should be prohibited from pooling and
discriminating against persons and
places. There were no doubt matters
of railroad management that senators
did not understand, but there were also
some simple matters that even Sem
ate pages could understand. Much
eloauence had been expended in
the Senate on this railroad sub
iect. but Mr.. Vance thought the
eloquence of senator's was in in
verse ratio to their disposition to do
anything effective. Ii had been said
that so many people were interested in
railroad stocks that we ought not to
pass laws to restrict their charges.
The same argument would apply to the
business Of robbing hcn-roosts. The
clamorS of the railrOad-men were
like the protests of the chicken-steal-
ers. who would inform legislators that
they did not understand the business of
chicken-stealing; that it was a very
complicated business. and differed to-
tally from the vulgar business of steal
ing things other than chickens. The
references to the railroad authorities as
"experts - was, in Mr.. Vance's opin-
ion. as though the chicken-stealerS
should insist that one Of their number,
Bill Sykes. for example, should be con-
suited by the representatives of the peO-
pie before any laws were passed on the
subject of chicken-stealing, because Bill
Sykes thoroughly understood the sub
iect; that Bill Sykes had been in the
business for forty years, and could tell
an old hen from a pullet by starlight i'll
the top of the loftiest apple-tree in
the farm-yard. There was, in Mr.. Nance's
opinion, one great mystery about the
railroad business, and that was the
meek endurance and long-suflcring
patience of the American people. The
claims of Vanderbilt. Jay Gould, AL
bert Fink, Ct I'd omne genus, to having
cheapened the price Of commodities by
railroad transportation were claims that
properly belonged to science and not to
the parties named. As well might the
seine claim credit for letting water pass
through it. There was not much credit
to be given to people who said " The
public be damned"
Mr.. CullOm said the bill was the di-
rect progeny of the circumlocution
Office. and would result in nothing.
The Senate should not dodge the issue
by passing such bill.
Mr.. Vance favored the House bill,
Mr.. Beck said that he would now
vote against his own amendment, since !
it had been modified by the amendment /
Of Mr.. Plumb. 1t would make the bill /
utterly useless if passed. He Sc
verely criticised the bill.
Mr.. Beck'S amendment as modified (
was then voted down-yeaS. q nays, II, /
Mr.. Sherman followed in long /
speech upon the general subject covered /
by these bills, starting out with the .
statement that nc preferred the Senate .
bill, but would have voted for either the /
House or the Senate bill if the other /
were out of the way.
Mr.. kenna came next IN opposition |
to the commission features of the pro-
- -
p0Seu ieglSiatl0n.
Mr.. Beck's amendment permitting 4
reduction of rates without previous no.
tice was agreed to-yeas, 46; nays, I.
The House bill provides that no dis
elimination shall be made between pas
scngers on account of race or color, but
the furnishing of separate and equally |
comfortable accommodations should not |
be deemed a discrimination.
Mr.. Ingalls, moved to strike out all OF |
this provision except the statement that
there should be 10 discrimination on ac-
count of race or color. Mr.. lngallS's |
mouon was agreed to, thus striking out
the proviso regarding " separate ac-
commodatons." The vote striking out |
was "a yeas, II nays-Messrs. Butler
and jackson being the only Democrats
voting in the affirmative.
An amendment was then offered by
Mr.. Wilson TO the Senate bill, which
was agreed to. requiring railroads to
give the benefit of reductions to ship |
pcrS. who. after a reduction of rates by |
railroad company, may, within five
days before the publication of notice.
have paid higher rates.
No further amendments of detail Of
fcring to the House bill. Mr.. Cullom
moved now to amend by substituting |
for it the Senate or commission bill.
This was agreed to--yeas, IS; nays,
Is. The Democrats voting in the af-
fiImative were MeSsrs. Colquitt, Hamp- |
ton, Jonas. Mcpherson, Morgan, and !
Pueh. The only Republicans who
voted in the negative were Messrs. Ed
munds and Van Wyck.