Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-18
BROWNS PERCHED PIKE.
HE FINISHES HIS BOUT WITH
THE REAGAN BILL.

THE REAGAN BILL.
Uncontrolled Competition Declared In
imical to Railroad Prosperity-The
Bill FOrebOding Disaster to the Rail-
TOads-Mr. slater's Amendment Rsjec-
ted-Mr. COnger Finds a New Objection
in the Measure.
WAsHINGTON, Jan. 17.-At . O'Clock
this afternoon the Chair laid before the
Senate the Interstate commerce bill, and
Senator Brown continued his speech in
opposition to the later amendment pro-
hibiting higher charges for short than for
long hauls. All railroad experience, ne
said, showed that this plan would seri-
Ously disturb the operations of through
transportation and would be highly detri-
mental to the commerce Of the country
in many ways. The principles which
found acceptance among business men
generally would not work in railrOading.
For example, uncontrolled competition in
trade was held to be for the best interests
of communities, but it did not
always work well in railrOading,
and frequently would not work
at all. Where several lines were in COM
petition rates were likely to be cut down
below point which would be profitable
TO either line. Out Of this condition of
things would grow a consolidation of in
terests and a monopoly. UnbIidled COM
petition, frequent railroad wars, and cut
ting Of rates were most detrimental to
merchants and business generally.
Having concluded the argument portion
of his remarks, Mr.. Brown continued,
that the tendency seemed constantly to
be toward a greater enlargement of the
power of the Federal Government This
was the most faT-Teaching step yet taken
in that direction. The commission pro-
posed would soon need an enormous re-
tnue, which would grow year by year until
government officials would be found in
every town and village in the United
States regulating the business Of rail
roads. MI. Brown was emphatic in his
condemnation Of the Reagan bill. which
be said would result most dIsasuously to
the commerce Of the country, and while
he could not support that bIu under any
circumstances, he would be prepared TO
support a commission with properly
limited power to investigate and report,
leaving true regulation where the com
mon law lett it.
SKATERS AMENDMENT REJECTED.
The debate was continued by Messrs
Camden and Hawley. Mr.. Slater's
amendment was then brought to a vote,
and was rejected by IL yeas to 30 nays.
The vote in detail was as follows:
Yeas-Messr7. Camden, COckren, Coke,
FAIR, kcnna, MaXey, Slater, Vance, Van
Wyck, Vest and NoOrhees-ll
Ndls-N essrs. Allison, Brown, Butler, Cam
eron of Pennsylvania, Cameron Of Wisconsin.
COuger. 'CullOm, DOluh. Frye. German, Hale,
Harms. Harrison, Hawley, Hoar' InSaljS'
jackson, Jonas. Lapham, Henderson, Mitchell,
Morgan, Morrill,, = Ike, Plat, Pugh, Ransom,
sawyer. Sheffield. sherman, Walker ana
WlsJn-32,
An amendment proposed by Mr.. Allison
was agreed 10 by vote of y yeas to 30
I nays, increasing the number Of commits
sion from five 10 nine. and amending
the latter's provision so as to require
that not more than five of them shall
belong to one political party.
Mr.. AllisOn's amendment also provides
that one OF the commissioners shall be
selected from each of the nine judicial
districts OF the United States.
An amendment offered by Dir. Pugh was
agreed to limiting the powers Of the COM
missiOners to the power specifically given
by the bill. Dir. Pugh said that he offered
this amendment in order to Obviate Mr..
G8rland's objection thai Congress MAS
delegating its own powers to commits
sion.
Mr.. Conger was surprised to discover
that the bill as it stood gave the COM
mission control, not only over railroads,
but over vessels and water cOmmUnica-
ton generally. If this were so, he said,
the sooner 1t was either strangled or
brought to a halt the better.
The amendments TO the bill having been
completed, some question arose as to the
parliamentary status Of the measure,
which, having been ascertained, the
House bill was by unanimous consent
taken from the calendar, and Mr.. CullOm
moved to amend it by striking out all
after the enactIng clause and inserting
the provisions of the Senate bill. On this
motion, Mr.. Vest called for the yeas ana
nays, but without action on the call the
Senate at $40 o'clock adjourned.
THE CULLOM BILL.
The opponents Of the CullOm inter-cOm-
merce commission bill clam that their
success in securing an adjournment of
the Senate this evening just as the friends
OF the bill had moved to substitute it for
the Reagan bill indicates that they will
be able to defeat the CullOm bill. They
say that when it next comes up in the
Senate its friends will find
themselves unable to substitute
it for the Reagan bill. and
that the latter will be passed. MIR. Reagan,
who has thought that the Senate would
pass the CullOm bill, is credited with the
nope tonight that the Senate may adopt
his bill next week. This is not certain,
but the CUllOm bill will be entangled next
week in questions of consideration. and
will suffer thereby. The Senate's adj
jOurnment of this afternoon in the face OF
the desire Of the friends of the bill to pass
it is very untayOrable sign.