Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-08
NATIONAL LEGISLATORS.
MORRILL, ATTACKS ONE-sIDED
RECIPROCITY TREATIES.

Many of Them Classified as Bad Invest
ments for the Government-Mr. Bav-
ard Rather DistrustfuI of the Inter
state Commerce BilI-Mr. Hammond
Addresses the House on the Same Sub
ject
WASHINGTON, Jan. THE Chair laid be-
lore the Senate to-day the report of the Mis-
slsslppi River Commission, and report show
ing the maintenance by Capt. Eads of the
enamel in the South Pass, Mississippi river
1he papers were appropriately referred
On motion of Mr.. Dawes the Senate took
up and passed the joint resolution for the ap.
preparation of $4,000 to relieve the wants of
destitute Indians.
Mr.. Morrill, called up the resolution some
weeks ago submitted by him relating to
reciprocity treaties. The resolution is as fol-
lows
Resol0ed, That so-called reciprocity treaties
having no possible basis OF reciprocity with
nations of inferior population and wealth. in
yOlvlng the surrender of enormously unequal
| sums OF revenue, involving the surrender of
immensely larger volumes of home trade than
are oHefed 10 us IN return, and involving con-
stltutional questions of the gravest character,
! are untlmely. and should everywhere be re-
garded with dlsfAVOr.
Mr.. Morrill, spoke at length in support of
the resolution, taking the ground that reci-
| prOclty treaties were unconstitutional: that
/ opa4N AIUhi At4tlE uuCOQsblluLlOnalGY IleY
were "lncurably Wrong," and that they were
at war with the ''most favored nation' clause
of all other treaties; that so-called reciproc-
ltY treaties with inferior nations surrendered
much home trade in return for a little foreign
trade, and that real reciprocity with such ma
tiens was impossible. Throughout the speech
there was careful avoidance of distinct men
ton OF the Spanish treaty, statistics of
trade with Mexico being mainly relied on by
Nj. MorrIll TO support the points that there
could be no real reciprocity with nations of
nd hot
we gave up much more than we gained by
such treaties. In conclusion Mr.. Morrill, in
sisted that reciprocity treaties were unrepub-
mean IN thelr origin and character, tending
to largely increase the power of the executive,
and making Congress mere register of the
executive VIII.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
Consideration Of the Interstate commerce
bill was then resumed. Mr.. Bayard express
ed the hope that consideration of the bill in
the Senate would be carried no further for
the present, as the question embraced IN the
bill was dnder consideration in the House
with the probability of an early decision on it
by that body. The responsibility was upon
Congress TO affrmatively show that it had the
power to 10 that which it proposed to do and
not legislate on doubtful premises.
Mr.. CullOm replied that the House had been
discussing the subject for ten years, and that
II was not necessary for the Senate to wait on
the action of the House.
Mr.. Bayard preferred to wait and see what
sort OF a measure the House would present to
the senate. lie COulu not Dut Ieel bnaG there
had never been so much power committed TO
any five men on earth as it was proposed by
this bill to commit to five commissioners.
Mr.. ingalls, said that he was surprised at
the position taken by MIR. Bayard, that the
senate should not consider the subject con-
tempOraneOusly with its consideration by the
House of Representatives. 1t was tantamount
to an admission that when the House had any
topic in hand the Senate would have either to
take up some other topic, or go into eXecu-
tive session.
rPha ,lobata xras coDtiruad q fo,r, r,,;r,,+oe
longer, and then, after an executive session,
the Senate adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.
The Speaker laid before the House to-day a
letter from the Secretary of the Treasury
transmitting an estimate from the Secretary
| of the Navy of an appropriation of 81, 500, 600
| for the erection of gun foundry and the pur-
| chase Of steel for the manufacture of heavy
| ordnance IN pursuance Of the recommended
| tiou Of the gun foundry board. 1t was
ferred.
On motion of Mr.. Tucker, of Virginia. Tues
day, Jan. I3. was assigned for the consdera-
tiOn of business reported from the Committee
on the Judiciary.
The House then resumed consideration of
the Interstate commerce bill, the pending
motion being one submitted by Mr.. O'Neill,
of Pennsylvania, to strike out the section pro-
hibiting railroads from charging more for a
short than long haul.
Mr.. Townshend, of Illinois, inquired of Mr..
Reagan as to the time which would be occu-
pied in the further consideration of the bill,
but Mr.. Reagan not hearing the question. Mr..
O'Nell volunteered the information that it
would consume at least three weeks longer.
1ir. O'Neill then spoke in support of his mo-
ton. He could not see how it was possible to
oblige railroads to carry out the idea con-
tanned in the section.
Mr.. O'Neill's motion was lost by go yeas to
l27 nays.
Mr., Burns of Missouri, from the Commit
tee on Appropriations, reported the consular
and diplomatic appropriation bill, and it was
referred to the committee of the whole.
Discussion Of the Interstate commerce bill
having been resumed, Mr.. Reagan, Of Texas,
defended the measure from an attack made
upon il before the holidays by Mr.. Phelps, OF
New Jersey. and maintained that that gentle
man had never read the bill, or having read
1t he had not understood it.
Then a passage of arms took place between
Messrs. Keifer and Reagan, the former deny
ing the statement made by the latter to the
effect that the Committee on Commerce in
the Forty seventh Congress was packed
against his bill, and the latter reiterating his
statement.
An amendment was adopted giving United
states courts power to issue wrIts of man
damus compelling railroad companies to
forward freight.
Mr.. Hammond, OF Georgia, offered an
amendment providing that no case brought
under this act IN any State Court of compe-
tent jurisdiction shall be removed to any
United States Court. 1t was agreed to by
vote Of l24 to SO.
MR.. HAAIMoND'S VIEWS.
Mr.. Hammond, in speaking to the verbal
amendment, said that he believed that any
rigid rule with regard to railroad rates, or
rigid rule as to railroad management would
work evil and only evil to the people. While
there was much to be said In favor Of legisa-
tion on the subject Of railroads much more
was to be said sgainst any prOcustean bed on
which all must lie, though it took a knife to
make them fit. He knew the expressions OF
railroads, but he knew also that the people
needed these roads, and that every burden put
on them would sooner or later come out OF
the pockets OF the people. He
was unwilling that the bill should
he voted upon without his declaring that,
while he differed with reluctance from the
gentleman from Texas, he felt compelled to
vote against this legislation. Pending action
the matter went over.
Mr.. Davis, OF Missouri, gave notice that he
would call up tomorrow the Alabama con-
tested election case of Craig vs.. Shelley.
On motion of Mr.. Cox, of New York. a reso-
luton was adopted calling on the Secretary
of the Navy for information in regard to the
cause of the death of Naval Cadet Frederick
). Strang, who, it is alleged, died in conse-
quence of cruelties inflicted by senior cadets
The allegation on which the resolution is
based is that the cadet came to his death from
the effect of o-called ''horse play" the
part OF the third class, he being put in a bar
rel and rolled around.
On motion of Mr.. Tucker, of Virginia, bills
were passed removing the political dIsabli-
ties OF g. IL. Hin, w. IL. Ward and j. K.
Waddy, of Virginia,
Tha ION ar3i