Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-01-10
WASHINGTON.
why the Railroads Do Not Fight the Rea-
gan Bill.
Speras8 10 sAs Register.

yyhx the Railroads Do Not Fight the Bea-
gan Bill.
Spsris1 70 tAs Register.
WAsHIEGroS, January s.-The passage OF
the Reagan Railroad bill by the House Of
Representatives yesterday afternoon was not
a great surprise to any one. 1t had been
apparent for some time that if vote could
be reached the bill would be successful, The
sentiment of the public was too strong to be
disregarded, but it is not believed
that the same force will be
strong enough to pass the measure
through the Senate although there is pos
sibility that it may. There are more rail-
road men " the Upper than in the Lower
House and they are far more reliable. Ii
the corporations have any fear OF the Dill as
it stands they will not fail to defeat it. But
it is a notorious fact that there has BEEN
very little lobbying against it up to the
present time, and 1t looks as though the
railroads proposed to let it go through 6y
default. The reason of this is perfectly
obvious. =,
1t is not thought that it will be possible to
enforce the law with the present legal ma
chinery. Endless litigation will result from
any attempt TO enforce it. AS q conse-
ouence the corporations are somewhat IN.
different about its passage. Ihey Will
probably take measures, however, 10 nave
the provisions of the bill so altered by the
Senate that an action under 1t may
be transferred at any time from State
to q Uuited States court In many parts OF
the country the railroads are exceedingly
ayerse to having an action against them
tried:before Jury of the vicinage" for the
reason that such juries have no love for the
corporations. .. =,
The Senate has not yet confirmed the
Nicarauga Treaty but has decided to con-
slider that measure before it considers the
Spanish Treaty. 1t is said that this decis-
ion has been arrived at BY the Committee
on Foreign Affairs, with a
view to passing favorably on all the treaties
if possible. 1t was thought that the Mica
ragua scheme had more powerful flrces be.
hind it than the others, and that if one OF
the treaties could be confirmed all the 9th
ers would be the stronger for 1t. The com
mittee is unquestionably in favor OF the
measure proposed by the administration
Its chairman, Senator Miller, of Calitor-
MIA, gave out for publication to-day. a
letter or the substance of s. let
ter from Signor Ramon AJuris,
who is said to be the heaviest sugar planter
in Cuba. He claims that it is for the inter
est of the United States to encourage the
sugar planters of Cuba by reciprocity, for the
reason that unless encouraged the industry
is liable to die out and leave the United
States to the mercy of other sugar produc-
ing countries controlled by Great Britain
The argument is strong one upon Its face,
but rests almost entirely on the chance OF
killing off the sugar interest in Cuba and
the Antilles by failing to encourage" it. 1t
is hardly likely to affect the feeling of the
Senate toward the treaty in any way: Re
ciprocity is only partial free trade and must
be so regarded. The experimental treaty
with the Hawaiian Islands has not proved
so marked a success as 10 justify similar ex-
periments IN future
The House of Representatives is entitled
to some credit for its fairness in seating
Craig, the Republican who contested the
seat of Shelly, Democrat from Alabama.
The evidence in favor of Craig was so strong,
however, that the vote was unanimous.
c. C. Watts, of Charleston, W. Va. and
Fl. T.. Matthews, of Huntington, W. Va,
are at the Natinal Hotel. Representative
Snyder has again taken his old room at the
same hostelry, ]. A.