The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-22
PROCEEDINGS III CONGRESS.
Senators Show Their Preferences in
the Discussion Of the Inter-
State Commerce Bill.
The Indian Appropriation Bill
Oklahoma Lands and Other
Kindred Matters.
FORTY.EIGHTH CONGRESS.



WAsHINGToS, Jan. 2l.-A resolution was
agreed to calling upon the Secretary of the
Treasury for any further correspondence in
his department relating to the collection or
Jostponement of the payment OF tax on dis
TILED spirits.
The Chair laid before the Senate Mr..
Piumb's resolution, offered yesterday, re-
guessing the President to advise the Senate
rs to his views OF the present status of the
lands known as 'Oklahoma lands" Owing
to Mr. Plumb's absence Mr.. Ingalls, wished
1t 10 go over till tomorrow.
Mr. Vest offered q substitute for the resO
luton, providing that the Secretary of the
Interior shall communicate with the author
1ties of the Creek and Seminole nations of
Indians to ascertain upon what terms they
will convey to the United States all their
rights to the Oklahoma land. 1t then went
over.
The Senate then took up the Inter State
Commerce bill.
Mr.. Coke said there was no amendment to
the Senate bill that would accord with the
theory on which the bill was founded would
make i q practical measure. The House Tor
Keegan BILL was conservative and practi-
cal measure. For that bill, mir. Coke invoked
the, candid consideration of the Senate.
He maintained that in its principal
features it was simply codi6cation
of common law. Under the common
law common carriers were prohibited
from charging unreasonable rates aud dis
terminating against individuals, and were
also prohibited from pooling. Railroad
companies exercised part OF the sovereignty
of State by condemning land for their own
uses. Such exercise was pubiic trust, and
the public were, therefore. entitled to know
al about railroad administration.
MIR. Mcpherson inquired whether, IL pool
rates we're reasonable, there would be any
need TO prohibit pooling.
Mr.. Coke replied the courts of the State of
New York had decided 1t to be an an illegal
pool, composed OF twelve poor canal men,
who soraped together money enough to buy
boats OF their own; how, therefore, could a
pool OF forty great railroads, which now
contr, lied the commerce of the country, be
legal? That pool, said Coke, with emphasis,
has openly defied all power and authority
Of the State. Applause in the galleries
Messrs Morgan and Harrison asked why
the bill was needed at all Il the com mon law
supplied a sufficient remedy.
Mr. Coke replied that the necessity for the
bill was found in the fact that railroads de-
MED the power of Congress to deal with the
b Iestions involved. The people, he con-
unued, some times did wrong, but give
them little time and they would remedy
the wrongs they had inflicted. The sober
second thought" of the people wat the per
Z.
up the Senate bill in detail, and criticised
its provisions. Eeach of the nine commits
sione-s he said, would have five States un-
der his supervision. Gould be hear one In
ten Of the cases coming before him? Should
witnesses be brought from the remotess
an ''opinion" from commissioner?
The Reagan bill was peoples bill. Un-
der ii the questions at issue were to be ex-
amined by the Courts at the homes OF cit
izsns where the witnesses lived, and not at
Washington, which might be 1000 miles
from the field of operations. Mr.. Coke Sc
verely critised Charles Francis Adams, Jr,
who, ne said, after having asserted that the
railroads were establishing a deSpotism
and that no spssmodic popular action could
shake IL of. was now advocating the con-
selodstion or federation of all the railroads
in the country under one head. Ia the days
OF his impartiality, Adams saw the evils of
great rails way combination. Since he had
got to be cheek By jowP with Jay Gould,
ne saw no harm in them. Mr.. Coke insisted
that the great railroad companies were the
most lawless bodies with which ths Govern
inert bad ever had to deal, and the passa &c
OF the Reagan bill would. in his opinion,
have greater moral effect on them than
anything Congress could do.
On the conclusion of Mr.. Coke's remarks
a message was received from the House an.
pcuucing the death of Hon. john Hamilton
South Carolina.
On motion of Mr.. Hampton. the mes sage
was az once taken up, and Mr.. Hampton
offered resolution fttiDgly expressing the
seDse of the Senate on the decease of Mr..
Evins Mr.. Hampton, in offering the res
luton, said the deceased gentleman had
been s close and dear friend of his; that jus
lice to his memory needed not the Language
of pangeyric, but the calm and sober Language
OF truth. Mr.. Hampton then paid an elo
quent and feeling tribute to the memory oil
his friend.
Mr.. Frye, who had served in the Forty
sixth Congress with Evins, expressed in
warm and feeling terms his high personal
regard for him, and the hope that God may
temper the heavy blow to his wife and chill
dren.
Mr. Butler also smoke ittingly in e1logI
o. the deceased The Senate then, on tn
molten of Mr. Butler, as mark of respsc
10 Mr. Evins, adjourned.