Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-10
TLYIIITH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, January 0, 1885.

Il
ported favorably, and the Senate pass
ed, the bill directing the transfer Of one
of the vessels of the Greedy relief cx-
petition to the Treasury Department
for revenue cutter for use in the wa
tiers in Alaska, and authorizing the re-
tention Of the other two for use in the
navy as surveying vessels or otherwise.
In submitting the report Mr.. Cameron
said 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 Eng
lish Government the ship presented by
the latter Government to the United
States for the purposes of the Greedy
relief expedition.
Mr.. Cameron replied that he was not
informed on the point, but under the
law as it would stand without the pas
sage of this bill, the Secretary of the
Navy would be required to sell all the
ships forming part of the relief expe-
dition.
Mr.. jackson, from the Committee on
Pensions, reported favorably, without
amendment, the bill introduced yestcr-
day by Mr.. Allison, comprising the le-
gislative provisions of the pension APP
preparation bill recently passed by the
House Of Representatives. Mr.. Jack
son said he would call the bill up to-
morrow.
Mr.. Slater called up the Oregon Cen
trail land-forfeiture bill, which has been
in allowance subject to Mr.. Morgan's
motion to reconsider.
NJ. Morgan said he had learned from
some Of the senator's who voted against
his proposed amendment that they had
so voted, not from opposition to the
principle covered by the amendment,
but because they did not think 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 Representa-
tives. The Senate proceeded 20 the
consideration Of bills upon its calendar.
After debate without result on the
bill for private relief, the Senate re-
sumed the consideration o. the inter-
State commerce bill. Mr.. Garland
called up House bill on the same sub
ject, with the view, he said, Of moving
to recommit the Senate bill, with all its
proposed amendments, together with
the House bill, to the Committee on
Railroads for further consideration.
The House bill was read by its title,
and Mr.. Garland addressed the SEN
ate on the subject matter. He di-
rected his argument principally against
the commission proposition, admit
ting that Congress itself might
regulate Interstate commerce. Where
did we find the power in Congress to
delegate its power to a commission?
Delegated power could not be sub-dele-
gated. Congress could not dives itself
of Is legislative power and hand vt over
TO any commission. 1t was unheard
of that legislative power should
be delegated. The powers lodged
in the commission were extra
ordinary, and Mr.. Garland asked
senator's to pause and seriously con-
slider the bill. 1t not only gave the
commission legislative but judicial
power. 1t seemed to him that the
courts were competent to deal with the
questions involved, and if they were
not their jurisdiction could be enlarged.
He thought the bill just passed by the
House of Representatives better |
measure than any of the measures pro-
posed in the Senate. The House bill |
defined what was wanted and, did not |
leave it to any subordinate officer or
commission. II did not delegate the |
power Of Congress TO any other
body; and so it left the matter |
within the Constitution. The question |
of what was State commerce and what |
Interstate commerce was very diff |
cult one sometimes to decide. Great |
danger in a clash between the States
seyerally and the United States arose on
this very question. He believed that
the greater progress would now be
made by rccommtting all the bills and
amendments to the committee,
who could consider them and report
to the Senate.
After further debate, participated in
by Messrs. Bayard, Dawes, Cullom,
Harrison, Ingalls,, Slater, Maxey, and
Jones of Florida, the motion to recon-
NIT was rejected by vote of Is TO "a.
Mr.. Cullom said that when, after
discussion, the Senate bill should be
perfected he would move to amend the
House bill by substituting the Senate
bin for il.
Mr.. Wilson's amendment making it
for railroads to discriminate
against localities or individuals was
added to the bill.
Mr.. Vance proposed an amendment
making it unlawful for railroads to
charge small shippers higher rates than
arge shippers. The subject to which
The bill related, he said, constituted
inc coming question in American
politics for the next twenty years.
Il may be tentative measure,
Dut something was necessary. The pub
ic were not willing to commit the CON-
nercc Of the country for all time to the
Freed and cupidity Of railroads without
TO protect themselves
against exto:tion. He acknowledged
hat difficulties surrounded the subject,
,ut beginning had to be made. There
vas no reason why railroads should not
% as popular as they were necessary
hey were public servants, and were no
more justified in charging poor man
n small shipper more for service
cndered him than WAS charged for
Ike service to rich man q large ship
,cr. Il would be Ike the case Of the