Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-01-22
PORTY-ElGHTH CONGRESS-.
Second Session.
sen ATE.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2l.
The chair laid before the Senate a COM
munlcation from the secretary of war. with
reports from Col. Elliot of the engineer corps
and Gen. Newton, chief of engineers, recon-
mending that Fort Green be turned over to
the city of Newport, R. l., to be used as
public park until such time as it NAV be
needed by the United States.
Mr.. Cameron of Wisconsin, from the CON-
mittee on claims, reported favorably the
House bill limiting the time for the presenta-
ton and payment of claims against the United
States; placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Plumb's resolution offered Yesterday
requesting the President to advise the Senate
as to his views on the present stratus of the
lands known as the Oklahama lands, after
discussion, went over till tomorrow
On motion of Mr.. Hoar, the Senate, by a
vote of 26 to l3, decided to take up the bill
to establish court of appeals. This is
known as the David Davis bill.
Mr.. Morgan said the bill did not secure to
descendants in criminal cases any right to a
writ of error. He proposed an amendment
making the right referred to absolute. The
amendment was agreed to.
Further consideration of the bill was cut
of by the Limitation OF time.
The consideration of the interstate COM
merce bill was resumed, Mr.. Coke being en-
titled TO the floor
Mr.. Coke said that no amendment to the
Senate bill that would accord with the theory
on which the bill was founded would make it
practical measure. The House, or Reagan
bill, was conservative and practical meas
ure. For that bill he invoked the candid
consideration of the Senate. Under the COM
mon law, common carriers were prohibited
from pooling.
Mr. Mcpherson inquired whether if pool
rates were reasonable, there would be any
need to prohibit pooling
Mr.. Coke replied that the courts of the
State of New York had decided to be illegal
a pool composed of twelve poor canal men
who had scraped together money enough to
buy boats of their own. How, therefore,
could pool of forty great railroads, which
now controlled the commerce of the country.
be legal? ''That pool" said Mr.. Coke with
emphasis, ''has openly defed all power and
and authority OF the State" Applause in
the galleries.
Messrs. Morgan and Harrison asked why
the bill was needed at all if the common law
applied sufficient remedy
Mr.. Coke replied that necessity for the
bill was found IN the fact that the railroads
deny the power of Congress to deal with the
questions involved. Mr.. Coke severely
criticised Chas. Francis Adams Jr.,
who, he said, after having ascertained that
the railroads were establishing despotsm
that no spasmodic popular action could shake
off" was now advocating the consolidation or
federation of all the railroads in the country
under one head In days of his impartiality,
Mr.. Adams saw the evils of the great rail-
road combinations; since he had got to be
'cheek by jowr with Jay Gould he saw no
harm in them.
On the conclusion of Mr.. Coke's remar ks
a message was received from the House of
Representatives announcing the death of
Hon. John Hamilton Evins, late represen ta-
tive in Congress from South Carolina.
On motion of Mr.. Hampton the message
was at once taken up, and Mr.. Hampton of
fered a resolution fittingly expressing the
sense of the Senate on the death of Mr..
Evins.
MIR. Frye, who had served in the 10th Con-
gress with Mr.. Evins, expressed in warm and
felictious phrases his high personal regard
for him
Mr.. Butler also spoke fittingly in eulogy
of the deceased.
The Senate, then, at 4.30 p. NJ, as mark
of respect to the memory of Mr.. Evins, ad-
iourned.