St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-17

Wavne, Cleveland or Buffalo. 1t would en-
able the road TO charge as much for run of
500 miles as for one of ! 1000 miles.
Senator Slater said the railroads were doing
that now, and great many other wrong
things besides. The amendment would pro-
hibit roads from charging more for short
haul than for long one, aud would make
the first step in the work of correcting the
great evils OF which the people are complain
ing.
Senator Williams strongly opposed the
railroad practice of charging more for short
hsuls than for longer ones. He favored the
commission bill, but admitted that since the
first YEARS. operation of the Kentucky state
commission it had accomplished nothing,
and was now mot worth cent
Senator Van Wyek addressed the question
TO the senator from Kansas Qngalls): "Was
it right TO charge the same rates from Chicago
10 Kansas City as TO Leaveuworthi''
Senator ingalls, made no reply. The in
quiry was repeated, bat still without eliciting
a response.
Senator Van Wyck said while the senator
from Kansas was bordering over his reply ne
would propnund the same question 10 the
senator from Iowa (AlliSon.)
Senator Allison said he did not want to
get into the colloquy with his friend from
Nebraska.
Senator Van Wyck-No, I should think
not. [Laughter.l Senator Allison said the
rates to both points ought TO be reasonable.
Senator ingalls, thought the compensation
of the roads should be proporsioned to the
distance.
Senator George offered an amendment
providing that Slater's proposed amendment
''shall not be construed to lcgalizc charging
as much Tor a shorter as for longer distance
in any CASE
Senator Georges amendment was agreed
TO, as modifying the Slater amendment. The
latter, however, not being part of the bill,
but still under debate.
Senator Plat favored the commission, and
Senator Salisbury said he would vote for
S-ater's amendment.
Senator Cull0m, who reported the bill, op-
posed the amendment. He thought con
gress lacked that defniteness of information
that would justify it in passing a law that
would cover every supposed condition of
affairs. He thought when the commission
should have exhaustivcly examined the sub
/ jet under debate, congress would be better
{ able to Judge what legislation was necessary.
4 Senator Cullom added that in Introducing
/ the bill his purpose had been
D
( detailed regulations against railroads, with
/ out rhyme or reason, but body of provisions
I that would do that which was fair as between
/ the companies and the people.
! Senator Brown said at about the time when
the first railroad was established between
Manchester and Liverpool, England, lot of
two and one-half acres of land on the site of
the present city Of Atlanta, was sold for a
horse, and a saddle and bride. That lot
bore more than SIS, 900, 900 worthy of prop
. erte. The difference in value, he said, had
been created by the railroads. II was easy
to recite people against the railroads; but he
was addressing himself 10 cool
headed men, brave senators who
represented .he people. He asked
no privileges for railroads, but asked that
something like justice be done them.
They should have fair play. Senator Brown
then entered upon an elaborate analysis and
discussion of tue question of railroad charges
and management Consolidation he said,
not competition, was the solution Of the
railroad question. The legislation proposed
would greatly discourage the building Of
railroads. There may be enough OF them in
the north and west. Those sections may
have enough game in the trap to be able TO
afford to pull the trigger. 1t was not so
with the south, which yet needed railroads.
Ii the present bill passed, the people who
were now clamoriug for ito passage
would be found clamoring for its re-
peal. 1t would either drive the railroads into
bankruptcy or else it would prohibit all inter
changing Of commodities at q greater dis
lance than 500 or 600 miles, as statistics
quoted by Brown showed freight could not
possibly bear the same proportionate rate
for 1000 miles. 1t would not only
destroy interstate commerce, but by making
long distance freights from the west 10 the
Atlantic coast so expensive as to prohibit
shipment 1t would also destroy our foreign
commerce.
The senate then adjourned until to-mor-
row.