St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-21
More Quibbling In the Senate Over
ae Interstate Commerce Bill
Without Action.
SenatOr Beck Talks Pretty Plain, and Says
the Senators are Giving the Railroads
Chance On the
Commission Bill to Urge In the Courts
}the Graund of Unconstitutionality
u and Thus Kill the sill
FoRTY-EIGHrH coNGREA
The Senate.


bank Of Bloomington, ILL.,, to change its
name.
resolution was agreed to authorizing the
committee on nsportation rates to the ssa-
board, to sit during the session for the pur-
pose Of securing further statistical iuforma-
ton regarding the cost of transportation,
ETC.
Senator Plumb offered a preamble and
resolution, which went over until tomorrow.
The preamble sets forth that widely extended
belief that prevails that the unoccupied lands
of the Indian territory are subject to settle
ment bat the president does not concur in
such an opinion, and considers it his duty to
remove oy military force persons who are
now on the lands, and In consequence there
seems TO be danger Of a conflict; therefore,
be it
Resolcod, That the president advise the
senate as TO the status Of the lands in ques-
ton as viewed by the executive, action taken
If any to expel persons seeking TO settle
thereon, and reasons for the same, together
with any information In his possession bear
ing upon the existing controversy.
Senator Colquitt presented the credentials
OF Jos. F. Brown, reelected senator from
Georgia Referred.
A bill was reported favorably from the
committee on public lands to provide that
whenever the lands have been Withdrawn
from sale because Of grants made to aid in
internal Improvements, and such withdraw
ais have been afterward terminated, or where
lands reduced in price to 1925 per acre, and
TEnch lands purchased in good faith and pa
feutI obtained therefor, without having first
BEEN proclaimed by the president, such pat
ents shall be valid, ''whereon the 25th Of
January, 1885, are no conflicting claims"
The senate then proceeded TO the consider
atoms upon the calendar.
Among bills passed was one authorizing
the president to appoint commission. con-
sisting of one or more army officers, TO act
in con junction with the state of Texas to as
certain and mark the point where the Tooth
meridian longitude crosses the Red river,
and appropriating $4,000 for the necessary
expenses Of the commission.
The senate then resumed the consideration
of the interstate commerce bill. The house
bill, Reagan bill'' so called, having been
already read twice by title and placed on the
calendar, it was taken from the calendar and
read in full
The question before the senate was on the
motion OF Senator Cullom, heretofore made
to strike out all after the enacting clause in
the house bill aud insert instead several pro-
visions Of the commission bill already debated
and agreed 10 in the senate. The latter bill
was also now read In full
Senator Beck said the house bill approached
the question directly and did not attempt to
approach It through means Of doubtful con
sttutionaltv. Railroads, he said, and the
best trained attorneys could not place the
subject matter of the bill ia position more
favorable for themselves II they tried than
was done by the senate in agreeing
10 the commission bill. The senate knew the
house would never agree TO the commission
bill. The senators were simply trying TO give
the railroads another chance bg giving them
the commission against which the railroads
could urge in the courts the ground of un-
constitutionality. That ground had not been
controverted In the senate since it had been
80 ably stated ~ the senator from Arkansas.
(Garland) As il was absolutely certain the
house would not accept such bill. what was
the use OF evading the question OF railroad
regulation in the way In which the senate
was now doing The senate would simply be
pretending 10 do something, while taking
care not 10 DO anything. The railroads had
in one period OF sixteen mouths given the
standard oil company rebates amounting TO
$4,000, 600. Such discrimination showed
the necessity for interference on behalf OF
the people.
Senator Beck moved to amend the house
bill by striking out from the first section the
provisions regarding Determinations in pas
senger accommodations and discrimin alton
on account Of color. This wonld leave the
bill, he said, in the condition which It had
been originally brought into the house by
Mr.. Reagan. Senator Beck said he would
also move to amend the house bill so as to
prohibit railroads from charging more for
carrying frrghts over a part OF their line
then they charge for carrying them over the
whole lcugth OF the line. II the railroads
were common carriers all persons along their
lines, Beck sad, ought to be treated WITH
common fairness. The companies should
not be allowed to extort from the people
along the line what they lose by gambling in
freights at the ends Of their roads. Although
the tax gu exports was unconstitutional aud
congress could not impose one, yet the rail
roads could substantially impose such tax by
their discriminating rates. The question
was whether congress would have the cour-
age to declare 10 the railroads what congress
knew the people wanted the railroads To
know. Unless railroad companies were
o ,ecked they could very soon control both
ba,es uf congress. IL 4 proper law were
first passed, senator Beck would then favor
the commission, not 10 legislate, but to in
vestgate aud report.
senator MaXcy recognized the great ad-
vautagvs conferred on society by the rail-
roads, aud had not any prejudice again st
them. He had never owned a railroad bond
or A share Of railroad stock in his life. The
question now, he said. vas, gu the one
hand, whether We should have commissioners
10 SUPERVISE the railroads. OF. on the other
hand, should pass laws for their regu
lstiOu and leave all iufractious of
the laws To be dealt with by The courts.
With regard 10 the constitutional rights Of
congress in the premises as strict 4 state
rights man as Maxcy was. az recognized
that congress had such rights, but he opposed
such commission. aud with regard to the
house bill MaXcy thought any measure Of
rairuad regulation must necessarily be trnta-
tive. The power aud weslth o. railroad men
were increasing dangerously fast Almost
every railroad in Texas was under the con
troll " JAY Gould. As between the house
aud senate bills, senator Maxey favored the
house bill. believing the commission bill
would do no good Senator Coke rose 70 ad-
drvss the senate on the hili but yielded TO =
motion 20 go Into executive session.
message from the president was laid
before the senate. transmitting information
relating 10 foreign cornmerve Of Mexico, Cen
tral and South America. Spanish West Indies,
Hay'i and san Domingo, and the share u the
United States therein
Senator Voorhees, introduced bill 70 in-
crease the limit 81 the appropriation for the
t.rst a
The seuate then went into executive SEES
-. IL. Z