Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-12-16
CuIlom Presents the Conference Re-
port on the Interstate Commerce
Bill TO the Senate.
The House Considsrs the sondry Civil BIZ
and the Bill for the Allotment OF
Lands to Indians.
NLIX CONGRESS.
THE SENATE.

The following bills were reported from
the postofiice commission and placed on
the calendar: To amend the postal
money order system; TO extend the free
delivery system.
Mr.. Cullom presented the conference
report on the interstate commerce bill
and asked that it be printed, and suggest
ed that he would next Monday ask the
senate to take 1t up, when, II debate was
desired 1. might be postponed. He
hoped, however, no senator would insist
on motion to postpone 1t until after the
holidays
Mr.. Hoar said the matter was one in
which his constituents had very deep
interest II required study, not only on
the part of those who had TO vote on 1t,
but on the part of the business
interests of the country, and he
intimated that, as the Christmas
holidays would probably begin next
week, the report should go over until af-
ter the holidays
Mr.. Cullom did not know that the SEN
ate would have any holidays. ALI that
he desired now was to have the report
laid on the table and printed. He would
call 1t up early next week, and then If
there was desire TO discuss 1t might go
over; but he preferred not to agree to
that at this time. He read a statement
explanatory Of the report.
MIR. Plat, one of the conferees, said he
withheld his signature from the report.
He m eht, perhaps, although with great
reluctance, have consented to ali the
recommendations of the report but one,
that was the surrender of the provisions
of the senate bill directing the commits
sioners to investigate the system of pool
| ing between railroads and sub
shutting for that provision All
solute prohibition Of pooling. He
toought the public prejudice existing
against the pooling by railroads was
largely the result of misrepresentation as to
the nature and effect of The pooling sys-
TEN upon the general welfare of the
country All the inter state commerce by
railroads was transacted to-day under
pooling arrangements, and the absolute
prohibition of such system might work
great evils.
Mr.. Cullom said the object Of the bill,
as reported, was to bring about that sta
bility of rates which the railroads them
selves were trying TO bring about under
the system OF pooling. He believed the
approximations expressed by the senator
from Connecticut would prove to be un-
founded.
After further discussion, the report
was ordered printed, and Mr., Cullom
gave notice that he would call it up next
Tuesday, and if the senate
desired 10 discuss it at length
it might so over until after the holidays,
but he was very anxious to secure final
faction at this session, particularly as the
supreme court had ruled recently that il
was the province Of congress to legislate
on the subj CT
Mr.. Mcpherson offered resolution,
which was adopted, calling on the secre-
tary of war for information as to the pro-
posed bridge across the Arthur-kill be-
tween New Jersey and Staten island.
Mr.. Platt called up his resolution that
executive nominations shall hereafter be
considered in open session except when
otherwise ordered by vote of the senate
J Mr.. Morrill, moved an amendment by
striking out the words "eXecutiye nom,
nations" and inserting in lieu there Of
; the words reciprocity treaties so
/ called.n
Mr. Platt characterized the amendment
t as case of "Greeks bearing gifts"
) Mr.. Hoar moved to lay the resolution
Q on the table. Agreed to. Yeas SO
5 nays 81.
: Mr.. Hawley said he voted "no" ONLY
, because he wanted a direct vote on tn,
e resn ution,
' Mr., Beck called up the bill prohibiting
r senators or representatives from acting
I. as attorneys for subsidized railroad com
e panies, the question being on the sub
$ stliute reported from the judiciary com
:, mlttee Mr.. Beck opposed the substitute
e and advocated the bill as iniro
@ duced by himself which, he said
d had been denounced by leadin.
!. members of the judiciary committee a.
!, iniringements on the rights Of com
l. panies in the senate and house. TIL,
substitute reported by the committee wa
so absolutely unjust and absurd that h.
= was anxious to hear the grounds OIL
which the committee presented it. Tn,
substitute was burlesque on all legisla
y tion, and was SO intended by the chair
:, man and leading members of the com
$ mittee. III 1t was so intended
then the committee had COM
short OF its duty. II the origina
Oil was one the committee should hav,
N so reported, but instead of doing so, 1
" had adopted all of the original bill an,
=, had carried 1t to q point where NOBODY
= could vote for it,
Mr.. Plgh, member of tine iudicisr,
y committee, justified the substitute. III,
J. was opposed 70 all such legislation, bu
g. II 1t was to be enacted, he would have /
% carried out to its full extent
Mr.. Beck declared the substitute wa
Is unworthy of the committee that reporte,
'e 1t and that the committees action was II
X bad faith. The object was to defeat tn
= measure which the senators dared no
'e vote down directly. Mr.. Beck denounc,
y It as indecent for senators and member
y to sit and vote upon measures affectini
70 great railroad companies amounting /,
. hundreds OF millions, while having tn
II money OF these companies In their pock
] cts. Public right, common decency ant
y the honor of every senator and represen
IT tative was involved In havilg the worl
II to understand that no man was sitting fl
y either house as a hIreling or retained
e attorney or agent of any O
= these subsidized railroad corporations
n He had introduced the bill In good ,aitb
u thinking 1t TO be bill which every sena
a tor would be glad TO vote for, SO as I,
10 prevent any such Ruguestion ana h. 49,.