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


PSNittOu W Vic QCPtiIiuChI AOi 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 for
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 .he navy would he
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.
resolution was offered by Senator Wilson
and was agreed to calling on the secretary OF
the interior for copy of the report of the
govern ment directors of the Union Pacific
railroad for 1884
Senator Slater called up the Oregon Cen
allegiance subject to Senator Morgan's mo-
ton to reconsider.
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.
The bill therefore stands passed as amended
by the senate. 1t now goes to the house.
Senator Dolph reported fayorabIy 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 $40 to SO where
the lands are within fifteen miles Of COM
pleted railroad.
In submitting the report Senator Dolph
said all other mineral lands are sold at 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 he largely increased,
the opening and development of coal mines
greatly stim uiated and the receipts OF the
government from the sale of this class of
lands cor siderably augmented. The board
appointed to investigate the comparative
merit of anthracite and bituminous coal for
ordinary naval uses report it considers an
thracite better adopted for the pur-
poses named than bituminous. The
board is, however, of the opinion
that semi-bituminous coal is better than
either, especially if q. 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 $40, 900
for Il portrait of Gen. Thomas by Miss Ran
som, and SIS, 600 for painting the electoral
commission by Mrs. Tassett.
The senate then resumed its consideration
of the interstate commerce bill.
upon the same subject, 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 rail-
roads, for further consideration. The house
bill was read, aud Mr.. Garland addressed
the senate on the subject matter.
Senator Garland said during his term in
the senate no question had come before 1t
so intricate as that involved in the PROPOSE
ton 10 regulate the interstate commerce.
What do we understand by Regulating in
terstatr commerce. in the sense meant by
the constitution TO prescribe rules by which
such commerce should be governed, when
congress might itself regulate interstate com
mcrce. Where did we find the power in con
gress to delegate its power to a commission
delegated power could not be sub-deegated.
Congress could not divest itself Of its legisla-
tive power and hand IL over 10 any commits
sion. Il was unheard Of that legislative
power should be delegated. The powers lodged
In the commission were extraordinary, and
Garland asked the senators TO pause and scri-
ously consider the bill. II not only gave the
commission legislative but judicial power.
1t seemed TO 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. Tue house bill de-
fined what was wanted aud did not leave 1t
to any subordinate officer or commission. IL
did not delegate the power OF congress 10
any other body, and so 1t left the matter
within the constitution. The question Of
what was state commerce, and what inter
state com merce, was very difficult one
sometimes to decide. The great dangerin a
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 bin ought not to
be in too great haste 10 en-
counter the question in all its
length and breadth.
Senator Garland wanted to see the object
in view accom- plished, aud felt he could say
that the senators on bis side Of the chamber
would cheerfulIy aid in bringing the matter
TO a close at this session. He believed greater
progress would now be made by recommit-
ting all bills and proposed amendments TO
the committee who could consider them and
report promptly to the senate.
Senator CuIlon, while willing TO concede
everything possible 70 Garland, whom lie re-
carried, be said, - 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 20 see that this inter
state commerce bill was no longer 10 be
foot hall, aud that there was determin alton
that something should be- done With It.
Senator Dawes said that many Of the sug
ges;ions made in the past few days we're we'll
calculated 70 make the senate seem TO want
to do something about this question, while
the senate vas really taxing care that moth
ing should Be done. the senate had It nox
in its power to do something and il ought 10
do il, and not refer the subject to the com