St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-22
NATIONAL LEGISLATION.
Congress Awakening to the Reality Of
the Situation in the Okla
hOma Lands.
Legislation Needed and Some Steps Should
be Taken to Quiet Title to
Said Lands.
More Legislation on TObacco-Ellis and
Holman in a WOrdy eight
EuloniZing Eyins.
FoRTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.
he senate.

The senate.
WAsHfNGToN, Jan. 21.-In the senate to-
day a resolution was agreed to calling on the
secretary of the treasury for any further cor
respondence in his department relating to
the collection on postponement tax on dis
titled spirits.
The chair laid before the senate Senator
Pumbs resolution offered yesterday, re-
questing the president to advise tue senate as
to his views oil the present status of the lands
known as the Oklahoma lands. Owing 10
Senator Plumb's absence Senator ingalls,
wished it to go over till tomorrow.
Senator Vest offered substitute for the
resolution providing that the secretary of the
interior shall communicate with the authori-
ties of the Creek and Seminole nations of
Indians to ascertain upon what terms they
will convey to the United States all their
rights to the Oklahoma lands.
Senator Conger said when the matter
should come up for consideration he would
move to refer it to the committee on Indian
affairs.
Senator Dawes saw no use in that, as that
committee had already reported on the sub
ject and the senate had adopted the report.
He thought some good would result from
giving the president the opportunity Of pro-
claiming again the position which, under his
oath, he feels compelled to assume, namely.
that the settlers on the lands in question are
there in violation of the law.
Senator Vest said that early action on the
subject was desirable, as it had been stated
in the press tnat United States troops were
prevented only by high water from having a
conflict with the people who had gone onto
the lands.
The matter then went over till tomorrow,
and the senate proceeded to the cousidera-
ton of bills upon the calendar.
A bill was passed authorizing the Illinois
u Missouri Railway company to constr let
bridge across the Mississippi at point north
OF Grand avenue, St. Louis.
The senate then took up the bill to estab-
lish court Of appeals, known as ''the David
Davis BILL"
Senator Hoar said, in order to remove any
objection that might exist to its passage on
account of resulting in appointments, that
undoubtedly the appointments would fall to
the incoming and not the outgoing admins
tration.
Further con sideration of the bill cut of by
limitation of time, and the consideration of
the interstate com merce bill was resumed,
Senator Coke being entitled to the floor.
Senator Coke said no amendment to the
senate bill that would accord with the theory
on which the bill was founded would make it
| II practical measure. Tue house (Reagan)
Till was conservative and practical measure.
For that bill Senator Coke invoked the can
| did consideration of the senate. He main
| tanned that in the principal features it was
simply codifcatiJn OF common law. Under
| the common law common carriers were pro-
| hibitrd from charging unreasonable rales,
and discriminating against individuals, and
! were also prohibited from pooling. Rail-
road companies exercised in parts the sover-
eighty OF tie state by condemning land for
| their own uses. Such exercise was a public
| trust. and the public We're, therefore, entitled
TO know all ab out railroad administration.
Senator Mcpherson inquired why, ii pool
rates were reasonable, there would be any
need to prohibit pooling.
! Senator Coke replied the courts of the state
| of New York decided to be illegal pool com
posed OF twelve poor canal men who scrsped
together money enough 10 buy boats Of tneir
own. How, therefore, could pool of forty
great railroads, which now controlled the
commerce Of the country, be legai THAT
pool" said Senator Coke, with emphasis,
''has openly defied all power and authority u
the state" Applause in the galleries.
Senators Morgan and Harrison asked why
the bill was needed at all If the common law
supplied a sufficient remedy.
! Senator Coke replied mat the necessity for
the bill was found in the fact that the rail.
roads denied the power Of congress to deal
with the questions involved. The people, he
continued, sometimes did wrong, out give
them a little time and they would remedy
the wrongs they had Inflicted. Tho
''sober second thought OF the people was the
perfection OF human wisdom. Senator Coke
took up the senate bill in detail and criticised
Its provisions. Each Of the nine commits
slouers, he said, would have five states under
his supervision. Could he hear one in ten oi
the cases coming before himl Should
witnesses BE- brought from the remotest cor
! ners Of the United States 10 get the mere
"opinion" of n com mission. Sen ator Coke
severely criticised Charles Francis Adams,
Jr., who, be said, after having asserted that
railroads were Establishing a despotsm
that no spasdomic popular action could shake
of, was now advocating consolidation OIL
federation Of all railroads in the country
|
TALLY Adams saw the evils Of a great rail.
road com bination. Since he had got To be
'cheek by jow'' with jay Gould he saw nc
harm in them. Coke said that the great
railroad companies were the most lawless
bodies with which the government bad tc
deal, and the passage Of the Reagan bill
would. iu bis opinion, have greater mora
effect upon them than anything congres:
could do.
On conclusion OF Coke's remarks a mes
sage was received from the house announc-
Ing the death of Hon. John Hamilton EviDs,
late representative to congress from South
Carolina. On motion OF Senate Hampton the
message was At once taken up, and Hamp
ton offered resolution 6ttingly expressing
the sense Of the senate on the dccesse d
Evius. Senator Hampton in Offering the
resolution said the deceased gentleman haC
been a close and dear friend OF his. Justice
to his memory needed not the language Of a
pznegyric, but the calm aud sober Language
Of truth. Hampton then paid su eloquent
and feeling tribute 10 the memory OF hi
friend.
Senator FRYE, who bad served in the forty
sixth congress, with Evins, expressed IN
warm and feeling terms bis high personal re
gard for him, and his hope that God ma,
temper the heavy blow to bis wife and chill
dren.
Senator Butler also spoke fttingly IL
euloyy Of the deceased.
The senate then, on motion Of Butler, az
mark Of respect 10 the memoY Of Mr.Evins,
adjourned.