Savannah morning news., 1886-05-11
SUPERVISING RAILROADS
THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
BILL AGAIN DEBATED.

Mr. Stanford Explains the Contract OF
the Pacific Railroads with the Pacific
Steamship Company for Tonnage--Mr.
Walthail Promises to support the
Measure with His Vote.
WASHINGTON, May 10.-The interstate
commerce oil was placed before the Sem
ate to-day. Mr.. ingalls, proposed an
amendment, which was agreed to, giving
to the commission the right to report to
the United States Circuit Court and geA
its speedy judgment on complaints when
ever companies decline to obey the order
of the commission.
MIR. Walthall addressed the Senate on
the bill. He said that although in some OF
its features it did not meet his approval
yet he would vote for it as the first step
in legislation on this subject. Even if it
were proven that railroad companies
were not now depressing the people he
would still support any reasonable Con-
gresslonal measure looking 10 their SUI
pervision and control.
POSSIBILITY OF OPPRESSION.
He would do so because of the undenia
bic fact that such oppression in the abs
sence of legal restraint was possible and
that no adequate protection could be af-
forded by State law.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Conger
was agreed To modifying the first section
OF the bill which relates TO the class of
companies TO which the bill is made ap-
piicable. In caseOf common carriers whose
routes are partly by railroad and partly
by water, when both are used for contin-
uous passage or shipment from one State
to another, Mr.. Conger's amendment lin
its the bill to such of those companies as
are "under common control, manage
mentor arrangement"
EFFECT OF THE BILL.
Considerable debate arose between
Messrs. Beck. Aldrich, w ilsOn of Iowa,
Brown. Sewell, stanford, Van Wyck, Mo
MILAN and German as to the effect OF the
bill In its present amended condition, and
as 1t might be further modified by various
proposed amendments, some OF which
have not yet been formally offered. Mr..
German, in the course Of his remarks,
said that Mr.. Ingalls, suggestion as to
the interest of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad was an entire mistake. The bill
would not prove to be in the interest of
that road, nor would the Camden amend
ment.
Mr. Stanford, in the course Of remarks
made in reply TO Mr.. Beck, and to some
question Of MIR. Van Wyck, said the
/
railroads had to meet was the Cape Horn
route. Speaking of the bill as whole,
Mr.. Stanford said with emphasis that If
passed it meant complete commercial
disaster.
TONNAGE CHARTERED.
In reply TO a question by Mr.. Van
Wyck as to neither the Pacific roads had
not at the time stated controlled the
Pacific Mail steamship line by paying it
| 81, 100000 year i'm order to stop cOmpeti-
tion, Mr.. Stanford said the railroads had
! chartered so many tons in those ships, and
! paid them some amount for them-not so
much as had been stated and filed
them with such freight as they did not
want to carry ON the roads, but that was
done not TO stop competition in proper
sense but TO preclude ruinOus cOmpeti-
tion. He would nos say that there was
any blackmail in it. So far as the rail-
roads were concerned 1t was business.
! Mr.. Sewell said II the bill became a law
with the Camden amendment in 1t, it
would destroy railroad system that We
! had been fifty years in building. AT $3.50
O'Clock, without further action on the
| bill, the Senate adjourned.