St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-10
NATIONAL LEGISLATION.
The Senate Discussing the Interstate
Commerce Bill Again Yesterday.
Honorable Body Will Discuss 1t Again
To-day.
A Considerable Amount of Miscellaneous
Work Done in the House of Repre-
sentatives.
FORTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.
The senate.

Inc Sen:1Je.
WASHINGTON, Jan 9.-In the senate to-
day bill was passed directing the transfer
of one of the vessels of tie Greedy relief ex-
petition to the treasury department for a
revenue cutter for use in the waters in
Alaska, an authorizing the retention OF the
other two for use in the navy as surveying
vessels or otherwise.
In submitting the report Senator Cameron
said the revenue cutter now in Alaska was
insufficient for the purposes of the govern
ment.
Senator Mcpherson inquired whether there
is any intention on the part of the govern
ment to return to the English govern ment
the ship presented to the United States Tor
use in the Greedy relief expedition.
Senator Cameron replied that under the
law as it would stand without the passage of
this bill the secretary of The navy would lie
required to sell ali ships forming part of
relief expedition.
Senator jackson, from the committee on
pensions, reported favorably, without amend
ment, the bill yesterday introduced by Sena-
tor Allison comprising legislative provisions
for the pension appropriation bill recently
passed by the house. Senator Jackson said
he would call the bill up tomorrow.
A resolution was offered by Senator Wilson
and was agreed to calling on the secretary OF
the interior for copy of the report Of the
government directors of the Union Pacific
railroad for 1884.
Senator Slater called up the Oregon Cen
trail land forfeiture BILL which has been in
allegiance. subject to Senator Morgan's mo-
ton to recon slider.
Senator Morgan said he had learned from
some senators 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.
Tue bill therefore stands passed as amended
by the senate. 1t now goes to the house.
Senator Dolph reported favorabiy from the
committee on public lands bill to amend
the revised statutes relating to the entry of
coal lands by reducing the price of such
lands from $40 to So per acre, where lands
are more than fifteen miles from any COM
pleted railroad. and from $50 to $40 where
the lands are within fifteen miles Of COM
pieted railroad. i
In submitting the report Senator Dolph
said all other mineral lands are sold al So per
acre and there is no good reason for the diff
ference in the price which now exists be-
tween coal lands and other mineral lands.
He also said should the bill be passed the
sale Of coal lands will be largely increased,
the opening and development of coal mines
greatly stimulated and the receipts OF the
government from the sale OF this class of
lands coz siderably augmented. The board
appointed to investigate the comparative
merit of anthracite aud bituminous coal for
ordinary naval uses report it considers an
thracite better adopted for the pur-
board is, however, of the opinion
that i-bitumnous coal is better than
either, especially if practically smokeless
variety can be obtained.
The senate proceeded to the consideration
of the bills upon calendar
Senator Sherman to-day reported favora-
bly from the library committee the amend-
ments intended to be proposed to the sundry
civil appropriation bill, appropriating $4,000
for portrait Of Gen. Thomas by Miss Ran
som, and Sl5, 900 for painting the electoral
commission by Mrs. Tassett.
The senate then resumed its consideration
of the interstate commerce bill
Senator Garland called up the house bill
upon the same subject, with the view. he
said, OF moving 10 recUmmit the senate bill
with all its proposed amendments, together
with the house bill TO the committee on rail-
roads, for further consideration. Tue house
bill was read, and Mr.. Garland addressed
the senate on the subject matter.
Senator Garland said during his term in
the senate no question had come before it
so intricate as that involved in the PROPOSE
ton to regulate the interstate commerce.
What do we understand by Regulating in
terstate mmerce' in the sense meant by
the constitution To prescribe rules by which
such commerce should be governed, when
congress might itself regulate interstate com
merce. Where did We find the power in con-
gross to delegate its power to "A com mission
delegated power could not be sub-delegated.
Congress could not divest itself Of its legisa.
tive power and hand it over TO any commits
sion. II was unheard Of that legislative
power should be delegated. The powers lodged
in the com mission were extraordinary, and
Garland asked the senators TO pause and scri-
ously consider the bill IL not only gave the
commission legislative but judicial power.
II seemed 10 him the COURT
were competent to deal with the questions
involved, and il they were not their jurisdic
ton could be enlarged. He recognized the
demand existing in the country for some
proper legislation In the direction aimed at,
but he thought the bill just passed by the
house a better measure than any measures
proposed in the senate the house bill de-
fined what was wantrd aud did not leave 1t
To any subordinate officer or commission. 1t
did not delegate the power Of congress To
any other body. aud so 1t left the matter
within the constitution. The question Of
what was state commerce, and what inter
state commerce, was very difficult one
sometimes to decide. The great dan ger in
clash between the states severally and the
United States arose on this very question,
and the senator from Illinois (Mr Cullom)
in charge of the bill ought not to
be in too great haste to en-
counter the question in all its
length and breadth.
Senator Garland wanted 10 see the object
In view accom- plished, and felt he could say
that the senators on bis side Of the chamber
would cheerlully aid in bringing the matter
TO a close at this session. He believed greater
progress would now be made by recommit-
ting all bills aud proposed amendments TO
the committee. who could consider them and
report promptly to the senate.
Senator Cuiioin, while willing 70 cOncede
everything possible to Garland, whom he re-
garded, be said, a. one Of the most eminent
lawyers in the senate or country, would
prefer to have the bill discussed in the senate
instead of the committee. He wanted the
people Of the country TO see that tbis inter-
state commerce bill was no longer to be
foot ball, and that there was determin alton
that something should BE- done with II.
Senator Dawes said that many Of the sug-
gesiiOus made in the past few days were we'll
calculated to make the senate seem to want