Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-02-06
TELEGRAPHIC.
Washington Notes.

OF cOnuuct preJuulcihl 10 Soou oruef anu
discipline in failing to report to the secre-
tary of war his knowledge OF the alleged
duplication of Colonel Morrow's
pay accounts, guilty, with recommendation
that Swain be temporarily suspended on
half pay. No information is as yet obtsina-
BILE at the war department as to the finding
of the court, the officials in whose custody
they are being under q Pledge of secrecy
and the members of the court sworn to Sc
crecy.
The interstate commerce bill having been
amended somewhat in committee of the
whole, was reported to the senate and
passed-yeas, 43. nays, II.
PENSION BILL.
The pension appropriation bill was re-
ported back to the senate to-day by Senator
Allison. The senate committee on appro-
priations has stricken out the Legislative
feature of the house bill, which provides for
the repeal of the statute authorizing pension
attorneys to receive fee of S25. 1t is I'M
derstood that a majority of the senate con-
mittee was in favor of the repeal Of this
statute but deferred to the general sentiment
of the senate, which is pronouacedly OPP
posed to new legislation upon the appro-
priation bills. The senate committee also
struck out the provisions which decreased
the number of pension agencies from eigh-
teen to twelve and added $4,000 to the ag-
gregate appropriation.
MORROW COURT MARTIAL.
In the Morrow court martial to-day only
two witnesses were examined. and their tes-
timony confirmed the statement made for
Col. Morrow yesterday by his counsel, ex-
Gov. Boutwell,. The latter submitted the
case to the court with brief argument. con-
tending that Col. Morrow had acted in good
faith in the whole matter, although he may
have committed some errors which he now
regrets. The judge advocate said that was
no argument, and the court took the matter
under consideration.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE BILL
As passed by the senate the interstate
comerce bill provides for a commission to be
composed of nine members, from each judi
cial circuit of the United States to hold of
fee for six years, except that of those first
appointed they shall hold office two years
only and three others four years only, vacan-
cies to be filed by the president. Not more
than five commissioners shall belong to
one political party. The duties of the COM
mission as defined, to exercise the powers
and duties granted by the bill pertaining to
the methods and regulating the
operation of all transportation COM
panies engaged in interstate commerce
and taking into consideration and investi-
eating various questions relating to COM
nerce between states, especially the matter
of transportation, SO far as may be necessary
to establish just system of regulations for
their government. The salaries of the COM
missioners is fixed at $500, and they are
authorized to appoint secretary at $500.
Ali necessary travelling expenses are to be
paid by the government and witnesses sum-
moned before the commission to be paid
the usual fees. The commission has power
to send for persons and papers, to admins
ter oaths and require the production of all
books, papers, contracts and documents, or
properly certified abstract there
of, relating to the matter under
consideration. 1t is authorized to require
Interstate transportation companies to furn-
sh annual reports, giving full information
as to their financial condition, cost of prop
erty, number and salaries of employees, etc.
1t shall report annually to the secretary of
the interior. The commission shall, during
the first year, investigate and report on the
subject of maximum and minimum charges,
pooling, watering stocks, unjust discrimi-
nations, etc. The most important sections
of the bill are in substance as follows:
Section 3.-If any transportation company
Engaged in interstate commerce shall collect
more than reasonable rate of compensation
for transportation or handling freight, said
company shall be deemed guilty of extor-
tiOil, WuiSu 10 ucSiulcu "a ihtcuSbcAhOis
Section Ali any transportation company
engaged in interstate commerce, shall by
rebate or other charges, charge one person
a compensation greater than another for like
service, or shall neglect or refuse to furnish
the same facilities for the carriage and hand
ling of freight to one person that is at the
same time furnished any other person under
similar circumstances, such company shall
be declared guilty of unjust discrimination,
which is declared a n isdemeanor.
Section provides that if any complaint is
made to the commission, charging any
transportation company with extortion or
unjust discrimination the company shall
have reasonable time to answer the charge,
and if they make PREPARATION for the injury
done the complaint is withdrawn and the
case shall be dismissed. If the company
shall not satisfy the complainant within IA
reasonable time, and it shall appear that the
charges made are true, the commission shall
notify the company to discontinue the prac-
tice complained of and pay complainant
damages to be fixed by the commission.
Section 8, provides that if any transport
tation company engaged in Interstate COM
merce shall refuse to pay the damages as
sessed and agree to desist from further Vi
oation of the act the commission shall GER
tify the facts to the United States district
attorney, whose duty it shall be to COM
mence proceedings to recover the damages
assessed or compel the company to comply
with the provisions of this act, and the cir
cult court of the United States shall have
jurisdiction to try the cause without regard
TO the citizenship of the parties. In case of
failure to recover the complainant shall pay
the cost of suit, attorneys fees excepted.
trap nnrfa cAnyiefad
under this act shall pay for each
offense fine not exceeding $1,000, and if
any such company shall refuse to give in
formation or produce books, etc, they shall,
upon conviction, be fined not to exceed
1000 for each offence, and such company,
or person violating the provisions of
this act or attemptingto obstruct the pro-
visions thereof shall, upon conviction, be
fined not to exceed $1,000.
The route of any transportation company
is by the bill made to include all railroad
and water routes of the company, and the
term of the transportation company is de-
fined to mean any corporation or individual
owning, operating and using any
railroad or vessel in whole or in part having
the right TO use the same; provided, such
company or Individual is engaged in the
transportation of freight from one state to
another, whether by all rail or part rail and
part water communication. 1t is also
made applicable to all transportation COM
panies rot wholly water route companies
carrying freight from any place in the
United States through any foreign territory
to any other state or place in the Uuited
States, or from any place in the United States
to any place outside the United States. The
rights of action and subsidies already
secured by law are continued in force.
The bill being in its present form a substi-
tute for the house bill and it now goes to the
house.
ALASKAN EXPEDITION.
The secretary of the navy has autho r
lied Lieut.. q. NJ. Stoney 10 make further
explorations of Alaskan waters. The expe-
dition will comprise about sixteen men, to
start early in the spring and will continue at
least year.
Forty-Eighth Congress.