The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-15

braska Iowa, Illinois, and other States were
suffering from the extortions of the railroads.
de would like to know how community could
be benefited by the railroads charging, as they
did, in an instance cited by him, $500 for o car
load delivered 600 miles east of San Francisco,
and charging only $500 for carload delivered in
San Francisco, 600 miles beyond.
air. Hoar favored commission, and said the
massachusetts, Railroad Commissioners had ac-
compllshed results hardly less than marvellous.
Mr. Coke inquired whether commission could
act for the whole United States as advantage
ously as for single State.
Mr. Hoar thought it could not enter into so
much minuti2, but could do great good.
Mr.. Slater explained that his amendment
would have the effect to prohibit the companies
from charging from Chicago to any point west
OF New York greater sum than it charged from
Chicago to New York. IL they charged $l00 a
car to New York, they should not charge more
than 800 a car to any point between Chicago
and New York. He defended his amendment as
tending to the building up of places of moderate
SIZE instead of concentrating population and
business so denseiy in a few large cities. He
also cited cases of extortion growing out of dis
ordinations by railroads in favor of large cities
Mr.. Allison thought Mr.. Skaters amendment
was radical departure from the principle OF
commission embodied in the BILL 1t would be
fixing cast-ron rule The sharp competi
ton of railroads and water routes render
the establishment of such a rule
matter so material undesirable The principle
of the amendment would be impossible of applica-
ton without serious effect With the risk of
some criticism, arr Allison, for one, pre-
ferred to favor the appointment of a commission
OF eminent men, as provided for by the bill, and
80 thoroughly examine the subject and give
their combined and mature judgment, and not
to take the hasty judgment of one man who had
examined the subject He believed in making
haste solwly in this matter Commissions had
been successful in several States; let a commits
sion be tried for the United States
Mr.. Van Wyck, while criticising Mr.. Aliison'S
position. was interrupted by Mr.. Mcpherson,
who said he could give Mr.. Van w yck asubject
of discussion that would last him an hour This
''Oh, DON'T Mr. Mcpherson said the railroads
sometimes carried grain from Chicago elevators
for less than the cost of the labor involved.
Mr. Van Wyck replied that there were eleva-
tors In other localities from which railroads
greatly oVercharged.
Mr.. jackson thought Mr. Skaters amendment
dangerous one. 1t would be embodyingin law
an implication that the railroads might, if they
chose, charge as much for a haul of ten miles as
for one of 1000 miles.
Mr.. Camden recognized the difficulty of GOV
ernlng the great railroad interests by arbitrary
regulations made by Congress. He thought. in
general, that natural competition was a better
gulde, but the intense competition existing IN
certain great commercial centers which induced
the railroads sometimes to take goods for less
than cost, induced them to greatly overcharge
local communities.
Mr. Harrison called the attention of the Senate
to the death of Hon. Schuyler Colfax, who had
been presiding officer Of the Senate and Vice
president of the United States. After few
brief but feeling words Of eulogy OF the deceased
by Mr.. Harrison and Mr.. Sherman, Mr.. Hasri-
son offered resolution reciting that the Senate
had heard with regret and sorrow of Mr.. Cofoxs
death, and out of respect to his memory the Sen
ate adjourned.