Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-01-17
FORTY-ElGHTH CONGRESS-.
second Session,
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. l6

from 5000 cigar makers of Philadelphia. set
ing forth that the ratification of the Spanisf
treaty would throw out of employment more
citizens of the United States than there are
inha bitants of Cuba and Porto Rico.
Mr.. Frye, from the committee on com
merce, reported favorably a bill to establish
port entry at Mount Desert Ferry, Hancock
county. Me.
Mr.. Frye urged the immediate considera.
lion and passage of the bill, in order ro
accommodate the growing summer business
OF Mount Desert. The bill was read the
third time and passed.
Among the bills introduced was one by Mr.
Beck, to settle and adjust the claims of any
State for expenses incurred by it in the de-
Tense of the United States
Mr.. Sewall introduced resolution TO refer
to the President the controversy between the
United States and Venezuela, in respect to
the award of the mixed commission; referred
to the committee on foreign affairs.
Inc resolution tor memorial tablet to
Henry Wilson in the room in the Senate
wing where he died, was agreed to.
The Senate then proceeded to the consider
alton of bills on the calendar.
A message from the House was received.
announcing a disagreement in that BODY to
the Senate amendment to the temporary
naval appropriation bill.
The Interstate commerce bill was taken
up.
Mr.. Van Wyck said the people were de-
manding the regulation of railways and pro-
lection from their extortions, and it was pro-
posed to give them a commission without
power to correct abuses or redress wrongs.
They would only be required to write ess ,ys.
The Reagan bill was infinitely better. This.
he said, ''is no time to delay. The work of
deception cannot longer be carried on You
cannot pretend willingness to do something
that the obstinate or unwilling House of Rep
resentativeS refuses. If the Senate falters
now to accept the House bill, indignant peo-
pie will believe it falters in a double sense,
and is seeking by disagreement to prevent
the legislation SO long sought and SO long
denied"
Mr.. Van Wvck quoted from letter writ
ten by Hon. VIM. Walter Phelps, in which
he said the letter showed that senators and
representatives purchased railroad shares on
basis of one to three. Certainly" he said
''stocks and bonds according to this evidence
are owned in this chamber and the other end
of the capitol on that basis. That is, you
put down one dollar and take up three. SO
it would appear that even members of Con-
gress lean where the little joker is. No won-
der there is here manifested the same con-
tempt for public clamor as Vanderbilt is said
to have exhibited in language more forcble
but not so reverential as by distinguished
senator's" The senator never believed that
the strong and arrogant slavery in the days of
its control of Congress and judiciary needed
sympathy and protfers of assistance, as did
the slave, menacled and cringing beneath the
lash. Corporations benigned four billions
dollars of stolen property for years, controll-
ing State legislatures the National Congress
and judiciary as remorselessy as did slavery
need not sympathy or acts of support of sem
ators. 1t is the toiler seeking labor in
furnace heat in an underground labyrinth,
the settler in the dugout on the frontier of
Kansas and Nebraska, whose wives and
children are drawing warmth from corn be-
cause the great corporations refuse to reduce
their rates of freight so that the coal of Penn
sylvania can be exchanged for the corn of the
West.
Mr.. Mcpherson regarded as unconstitu-
tonal, the pending amendment of Mr.. Slater,
which would prohibit Interstate railroads
from charging anv greater compensation for
Transporting similar amount and kind of
property shorter than longer distance. 1t
would give some roads power to bankrupt
and ruin their rival. The New York Central
and Penniylvania, being each supreme in one
State, would, under the proposed amendment,
be able to ruin the Erie, Baltimore & Ohio,
Lehigh Valley, Delaware & Lackowanna
and West Shore and all other roads whose
tracks were confined to one State could ruin
inter State roads.
Mr.. George proposed to amend the amend
ment of Mr. Slater so that Mr.. Slater's pro-
posed amendment shall not be construed to
legalze charging as much for shorter as for
| a longer distance in any case.
| Nj Georges amendment was agreed to.
The debate continued until ) o'clock, when
without action the Senate adjourned.