The clarion., 1885-01-14

The distinguished chairman OF the
the Senator from Illini' 6
r Mr. CULLoM in the able aad instructive
speech he made on yesterday in support
of the bill, spoke of the commission
ers as board OF arbitrators, from whose
action he expected great benefits to the
country. As legal description OF their
Office and functions | think the term Is
siDgularly erroneous. The Law knows
nothing Of an arbitration where the
award is not equally binding and con /
elusive on both parties. the law recog- /
nizes notrial wherein the Judgment shall /
bind and fetier the hands of one party |
and leave the other free to act according /
TO his own wllI and discretion. This
hill does this; and in so far as it does 1t
is as much beyond the power OF Congress
| to enact as would be provision that
| party might be Judge in his Own case.
| As 70 the railroad companies, il Is but
/ board Of advisers, with full license Oh
| their part to treat its advice with con
tempt. a. they certainly will do If II
shall be at AL unpalatable or injurious
to their interests | respectfully sub
nit ts.at the need Of the hour j. for
puuitory, not for hortatory legislation.
! There are other defects in the frame
Of the bill, but / have detained the
Senate long enough on this subject.
Mr. President, | have criticised the
. bill freely according 70 the lights afford
= ed by my humble abilities. ] disclalm
lli dissespect in what / have said TO the
! c1mmit.ee who reported the bill. do
{ not doubt that they have discharg' d
/ their dIty faithfully and concientiously
=. 4 FTientt unf
y intricate ! do not profess To under
| stand it better than they. II is one OF
e which Senators will differ. 1t Is m!
4 fortune to be unable to agree with th'
4 work of the committee, and what | hay'
,e id has been said only in the discharg
T Of my duty as a Senator, without th
d slightest design to impute anythin
a improper to others; for / confess tha
ir If had been called on to frame bill
70 would in all probability have been NOR
y liable TO criticism than the bill no befor
as us | shall offer some important amend
Of ments as substitute for the most {
It. the bill, but in doing so / shall not off
ISL nv own work. | have ayailed myse
ic of the work, Of the judgment, and Il
b | researches OF far abier men than | al
nd rhe amendment to be offered as a su
NJ stitute is based upon and framed fro
"a bills introduced into Congress by other
n including the tenth section of the b
e, now under consideration. | may of
Oh some independent amendments of Il
ite own, and if | do the fact will be tn
all stated.
Fir | admit, Mr. President, that no me:
I'll sure that can now be passed can be p'
ill feet. Time and experience will point O
on defects. We have not sufficient inf
.oJ nation either as to all the evils or all t
an proper remedies yet there is sufficie
VA known cn,this subject to justify us in
II suming that there are atleast three gre
on wills which call aloud for remedy;
foi First, Excessive charges.
eni Second. Unjust determinations
tween persons and places.
, Of Third. The destruction of compt
Iey ton by the practice Of pooling
mis- We have also sufficient informatl
nit to enable MS to legislate intelligently,
ou far "a the substitute goes to prevt
icb these evils. Whether bill embrace
ion the provisions | approve shall pass
on not, am certain that something ous
ub to be done on this subject 1t would
-ein t.great misfortune to the country II
be disagreement as to details among
d 2 friends OF supervision there should d
his failure to legislate at all. For my o
to part, after making proper efforts to
lict .ure the adoption of what is in my j Il
our ment proper bill, if shall fail ! ST
gis support any measure which promi
suf any substantial relief to the people
the The substitute, which has been pri
also ed and laid on the desks of Senatt
lrer does not 90 as far in the way of din
ect regulation as in nay Judgment would
c OF proper. think it goes as far as is Ii
.e il iy to meet the sanction of Congress.
han furnishes the means by which excess
,ard charges aud unjust determinations II
4 e be prevented. These means, as have
one forepointed out, are in the main the
uffi- libitions TO charge more for Ion
ON han for a shorter haul, and against
ir, / practice of pooling, 1t attempts TO sec
ing. reasonable charges through competit
Iin- lf it shall be found that these proylsi
to are unavailing, | do not doubt that
sec will be able to provide other rene,
zed still more efficient for these wrol
at which in the end, without being und
. of rurdensome on the railroad compan
in viii vet make their service to the pc,
j to fair and equal, and at such rates as
Dad materially advance the public Welt