The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-03
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS-.
THE SENATE.
Routine Business-Senator Harrison ON the
interstate Commerce Bin.

Routine Business-senator Harrison ON the
Interstate Commerce Bill.
WAsHINGToN, Feb. 1.-THE Chair laid before
the Senate the credentials of Mr.. Spooner. of
Wisconsin, and Mr.. Vest of Missouri; ALSO
communication from the Secretary of the Treas
ury transmitting further correspondence relat-
ing to postponement Of collection of the whisky
tax.
After the transaction of routine business the
Senate took up the Pacific railway BILL
On motion of Mr.. Hear, certain amendments
reported by him from the judiciary committee
were made to the bill The amendments, as ex-
planned, specify by name the Sioux City road as
included in the bill and subject to its provisions,
and make clear. what otherwise might seem
doubtful, that the interest ON the whole debt
must be paid each half year. and substitute 40
per cent instead of So per cent. of net earnings
as the sum to be paid to the government by
such roads may elect to operate under the
provisions of the Thurman act.
Mr. Beck preferred the House bin to the Sen
ate bill.
Mr. Mcpherson opposed giving the roads any
such privileges as the bill proposed. He was
not In favor of the Pacific railroad companies
any longer running the United States govern
ment as we'll as the roads.
The matter then went over until Wednesday
and the Senate took up the bill to repeal the pre-
emption and timber culture laws, but, after a
short discussion, it was displaced by the inter
state commerce BILL consideration of which was
resumed.
Mr. Cullom said he hoped the bill would be
completed to day; if not he would ask the Sen
ate to remain in session to-morro until it was
disposed of, and would interpret declination OF
the Senate SO to remain in session tomorrow
evidence or an intention not to do anything at
all with the subject
Mr. Harrison then addressed the Senate He
denied the statement that the Reagan bill had
met with popular approval. Out of thirty-fve
States which had undertaken to regulate the
railroads twenty-five had adopted the commits
sion plan: yet some senators had said the com
mission plan was the plan of the railroad com
pa',les He denied the right Of any senator to
make such an assumption. He had noticed
dispatch this morning from Texas, showing
that the Reagan bill had been introduced in the
Legislature of that State, but was not expected
to pass.
Mr.. Coke asked who sent the dispatch
Mr.. Harrison replied that it was dispatch of
the Associated Press.
Mr.. Coke said the Reagan bin could not pass
the Texas Legislature, because it dealt with
interstate commerce only.
Mr.. Harrison had assumed that the bill would
be modified to snit the State.
Mr.. Coke said it would then cease to be the
Reagan bill.
Mr. Harrison thought The State could legislate
against pooling and improper determinations.
Mr.. Coke replied that the Constitution of Tex
as made pooling and discrimination illegal.
Mr. Harrison then continued his speech in sup
port OF the com mission bill. and read from the
testimony of Mr.. Chttenden. the representative
of the New York Anti monopoly League to
show that the New York State railroad commits
sion was entirely satisfactory to the people of
that State, and was accomplishing great work
In the interests Of the community. If each State
had such commission, MIR. Harrison said, and
h1ac
1t would be the climax and contamination of
great system. Mr. Harrison would not give
| snap of his fingers for any legislation or remedy
| that did not reinforce the individual in his un-
equal contest with the railroad companies This
reinforcement. too should he given from the in
| ception of the individual effort The Reagan
bill would not give this reinforcement, but the
Senate bill would. ts ga
ment 10 strike out from the House bill the pro-
vision relating to equal facilities and accommo-
| cations of passengers, and the Senate, by vote
OF y to 33, declined to strike out the clause
The bill provides that railroad shall not
charge more for a shorter than for longer haul
| that includes the shorter.
| Mr.. Beck moved to amend this so as to pro-
| hibit merely charging more for transportation
any distance less than the whole length of line
| than is charged for similar service over the
| whole length of line. Mr.. Beck said he desired
| to stop the practice of charging more for car
| rying freights part of the length of railroad
imam was charged Tor carrying the same freight
| the whole length of the same railroad.
| Mr.. ingalls, asked if It was right for road to
| charge as much for shorter as for longer dis
| lance.
| Mr.. Beck answered no; but said he was trying
| to remedy one evil that was fragrant, without
attempting to regulate intermediate rates, with
| all the complications attributed to them. This
amendment would stop the practice of doubling
up charges on local business in order to make
up what was lost on through business.
f1rfh God NV
! Hoar, Plumb. Van Wyck and Beck, when, with