The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-21
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS-.
THE SENATE.
Routine Business-Brief Debate on the In
tafo

Routine Business-lSrief Debate on the In
terstate Commerce Bill.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 2O.-A bill was passed au-
thorizing the National Bank, of Bloomington,
Ills, to change its name
A resolution was agreed to. authorizing the
committee on transportation routes to the sea-
board to sit during the session for the purpose
of securing further statistical information in re-
gard to the cost Of transportation, etc.
Mr.. Plumb offered a preamble and resolution,
which went over until tomorrow. The preamble
sets forth that widely extended belief pre-
walls that the unoccupied lands in the Indian
Territory are subject to settlement, but the
President does not concur in such opinion, and
considers it his duty to remove, by military
force, those persons now On the lands, and
IN consequence there seems to be danger
OF conflict; therefore, the Senate resolves
that the President be requested to advise the
Senate as to the status of the lands in Question
as viewed by the executive, the action taken, if
any, to expel persons seeking to settle thereon,
and the reasons for the same together with any
other information in his possession bearing upon
the existing controversy.
Mr.. Coquitt presented the credentials of Jo-
seph E. Brown, reelected senator from Georgia.
Referred.
A bill was reported favoraply from the com
lands have been withdrawn from sale because of
grants made to an internal improvement, and
such Withdrawals have been afterward termina-
ted, or where lands have been reduced in price
to 81. % per acre, and such lands have been pur
chased in good faith and patents obtained there
for, without having been first proclaimed by the
President such patents shall be valid where, on
the 10Th OF January, 1885, there are no conflict
ing claims.
The Senate then proceeded to consideration of
bills upon the calendar
Among the bills passed was one authorizing
the President of the United States to appoint
commission composed of one or moro army Off
GERS to act in conjunction with commission to
be appointed by the State of Texas to ascertain
and mark the point where the Tooth meridian of
longitude crosses Red River, and appropriating
$4,000 for the necessary expenses Of the COM
mission.
The Senate resumed consideration of the inter
state commerce bill The House BILL the Rea-
gan bill, socalled, having been already in the
Senate read twice by title and placed on the
calendar, was now taken from the calendar and
read in full.
The question before the Senate was the mo-
ton of Mr. Cullom, heretofore made. to strike
out after the enacting clause in the House bill
and insert instead the several provisions of the
commission bill, already debated and agreed to
in the Senate. The latter bill was now also read
in full.
Mr.. Beck said the House bill approached the
question directly, and did not attempt to ap-
proach it through means of doubtful constit1-
tionality. The railroads, he said, and the best
trained attorneys, could not place the subject
matter of the bill in position more favorable
for themselves if they tried, than was done by
the Senate in agreeing to the commission bill
The Senate knew the House would
never agree to the commission bill.
Senators were. simply trying to give the
railroads another chance by giving them
commission against which the railroads
could urge, in the courts the ground Of uncon-
stitutionality. That ground had not been con-
troverted in the Senate, since it had been so
ably stated by the senator from Arkansas Mr..
Garland) AS it was absolutely certain the
House would not accept such bill, what was
the use of trading the question of railroad regu-
lation In the way in which the Senate was now
doings The Senate would simply be pretending
to do something while taking care not to do any
thing The railroads had i'll one period of six.
teen months given the Standard Oil company
rebates amounting to $l0O00000 Sufficient
discrimination showed the necessity for interfer-
ence on behalf of the people. Mr.. Beck moved
to amend the House bill by striking from the
first section the provisions regarding discrimina-
tions in passenger accommodation, aud discrimi-
nation on account Of color. This would leave
the bill, he said, in the condition in which it
had been originally brought into the House.
by Mr.. Reagan. Mr.. Beck said he would also
move to amend the House bill so as to prohibit
railroads frem charging more for carrying
freights over part Of their line than they charge
for carrying them over the whole length Of the
line. If the railroads We're common carriers all
persons along their lines, Mr. Beck said,
ought to be treated with common fairness.
The companies should not be allowed to extort
from people along their line what they lose by
gambling in freight at the ends of their roads.
Although tax on exports was unconstitutional,
and Congress could not impose one, yet the rail
roads could substantially impose such a
tax by their discriminating rates. The
question was whether Congress would have the
courage to declare to the railroads what Congress
knew the people wanted the railroads to know.
Unless the railroads were checked they would
very soon control both houses OF Congress. If q
proper law were first passed, Mr.. Beck would
then favor commission, not to legisate, but to
investigate and report.
Mr.. Maxey recognized the great advantages
conferred on society by the railroads, and had
no prejudice against them. He had never owned
q railroad bond share of railroad stock in
his life. The question now, he said was, on one
hand, whether we should have a commission to
supervise the railroads. or, the other
hand, should pass laws for their regulation and
leave all infractions of laws to be dealt with by
the courts. With regard to the constitutional
right of Congress IN the premises, and as strict
State rights man, he recognized that Congress
had such rights, but he opposed the proposed
commission. With regard to the House BILL Mr..
Many thought any measure Of railroad regula-
ton mast necessarily be tentative The power
and wealth of railroad men were increasing dan
gerOuSly ldSt. AllHOSb every railroad IN IeXRS
under the control of Jay Gould. As be-
tween the House and Senate bills, Mr.. Maxey
favored the House bill, believing the commission
bill would do no good
Mr.. Coke rose to address the Senate on the
bill, but yielded to a motion to go into executive
session.
A message from the President was laid before
the Senate transmitting information as to the
increasing relative foreign commerce of Mexico,
Central and South America. the Spanish West
Indies HaVti and San DOMINICA and tha share
of the United States therein.
Mr.. Voorhees, introduced bill to increase the
limit of the appropriation for the public building
at Terre Haute 20 $2GJ, 900.
After executive session. the Senate adjourned.
THE HOUSE.
A Proposed Modification of the Tarin-Dis-