The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-17
THE SENATE.


bzr. Dolph on Indian Observation-Disclosures
of the Interstate Commerce Bill.
WASHINGTON, April 16-No messages having
bssa received from the President motion was
snnie by Mr. Voorhees,. at 1925 o'clock, to 60
Into executive session.
Mr. Dolph said he had given notice of an In
Eension to address the Senate this morning on
khs Iadian depredations bill.
bIr Voorhees, Withdrew his motion.
Mr.. Riddleberger objected to taking up any
bin or having any business done at this time
Ehat would interfere with the resolution relating
10 open executive sessions There seemed to be
= determined effort. he said, to interfere with
Ehs consideration of that resolution. Unanimous
consent having been refused, Mr.. Dolph made
eaotiop that the bill mentioned be taken up.
On rs. Mr. Riddleberger called for the yeas
pnd nays, and Mr. Dolphs motion was agreed
Eo-yeas 43. nays 1.-The one being Mr.. Riddle
berger
klr. Dolph then addressed the Senate on his
Indian depreciation bill. and a bill (also intro.
hneed by himI appropriating So, 100000 to COM
Nsnsate citizens for losses suffered by them
Through such depredations. The depredations,
ne said, covered period from 1856 to 1878. He
maintained that it was the duty of the govern
ment TO protect its citizens against Indian depre-
laaiOns, and where it failed to afford protection
it should compensate the citizen for the loss.
The United States government. having assumed
fhs control and management of the Indians,
Bhoaid be responsible for their torts The means
TO pay damages for such torts should be taken
from the proceeds of Indian lands, there being
NOV lat 600 900 acres of reservation, worth $154,
Doc 900. The white man should be given justice
ms well as the Indian. The peculiar relations Of
tho government to the Indians made it only just
that the government should pay the honest claims
arising from the depredations of Indians. The
pioneers of Oregon and other far Western States
and Territories, isolated from civilization, neg
1eesed by the general government and sur
rounded by savage foes. had carried enterprise,
activity Christianity and culture into the fur
ehest confines of the Republic. They had done
This at the risk of life, and with considerable
loss of property from these depredations. Their
claims were just, and should have the attention
of the government which had for many years
neglected to give attention to the claims indi-
Gated
The bills were referred to the committee on
Indian affairs.
Mr.. Call offered the following resolutions:
Resolved That r. A. Final Democrat heretofore
employed skilled laborer the Senate roll of
poyes who discharged yesterday by the sergeant
tsarms without cause exceptto make place for a
Republican, DO reinstated on the roll of Senate
paoyes
Resolved, That the Republican majority of the Sen.
Rte viii allow the Democratic minority the
bsr of employees with the same proportion of salaries
m allowed by the Democratic majority to the Re-
Publican minority in 1879.
At Mr.. Calls request the resolutions were al
kowed to lie overfor the present
At o'clock the interstate commerce bill was
placed before the Senate, which Mr.. Camden
was entitled to the floor
Mr.. Voorhees, waived in Mr. Camden's favor
his motion for an executive session. but said he
would press that motion on the conclusion of Mr..
Camden's remarks.
Mr.. Cnllom said he would press the bill from
day to day until disposed of.
Mr. Edmunds remarked that the committee on
Foreign relations had subjects of special i'm
portance. which Senators understood, for the
consideration of the Senate with closed doors.
These subjects had been pending longer than the
Interstate commerce bill, and ought to be attend
cd To-
Mr. Camden then addressed the Senate on the
Interstate commerce BILL The bill before the
Senate would ,an the main features. Mr.. Camden
Thought, meet the views of the Senate and the
people The public sentiment of the country,
ne said was daily becoming more and more i'm
pressed with the necessity and propriety of
national commission to regulate interstate COM
however, in the fourth section, which dealt
with the question of the long and short haul
Mr. Camden suggested an amendment emitting
the words from the same original point of de.
parsure.. and emitting any permission to the
commission to make exceptions. His amend
msnt would prohibit any greater charge for
short than longer distance which, includes the
shorter distance, on any one railroad the term
zone railroad" to include all the roads under
control of one company, whether owned or opera
ted under lease. Mr.. Camden maintained that
che long and short hauf provision of the bill, as
reported from the committee, did not go far
enough to provide against the discrimination
most complained of by shippers. There should
application of the principle of the long
and short haul Taking Chicago as
the great starting point for ship
ments to the Eastern seaboard, Mr. Camden
argued that under the bill the rates would be no
greater to intermediate points than to the sea-
board. but that the railroad companies would
not be prevented from charging the whole coun-
try, outside of Chicago, to the seaboard, any ar
bitrsry rates they might choose. This, he said,
wCuld insure to Chicago and other great com
peting points cheap and uniform rates of trans
portation in all directions but would deny pro-
section to intermediate points and to all sections
OF the country not blessed with large commerce
ana competing roads Such a bill might be
tsrmed "a bill to increase the wealth and popu-
IAsaon OF commercial cities at the expense of the
country MT large" 1t Disseminated not only
against producers at intermediate and non-com-
petitive points. but Disseminated against the
fnfift ana enterprise of towns. against the dis
Irritation of manufacturing industries. the vaIna
of real estate and all the other interests of the
eouHtry, outside of the large cities and competi.
live shipping points This feature of the case
affected specially the State of West Virginia.
whose merchants, manufacturers and agricultur-
tsts saw freight passing their doors daily from
points further west to points east of West Vir-
GINA at one-half the rates for transportation
which the people of West Virginia were asked to
pay Tor the carriage of scientifically the class os
goods Mr. Camden CHALLENGED the nrodnction
OF any satisfactory reason for such state of
things The bill, as proposed, would not remedy
IL The amendment offered by Mr.. Camden
would provide q remedy If the provisions of
the bill were limited to shipments from the
snme original points of departure" it would only
ada 70 the evil of discrimination by sanctionine