The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-05-28
CONGRESSIONAL.
Senate.

MAY 12.-The Senate passed the inter-
state commerce bill to-day after agreeing
to most OF the amendments made in COM
mittee. The amendment offered by Sena-
tor EdmundS restoring 10 the long and
short haul clause the words struck out by
the Camden amendment, ''from the same
original point of departure" and adding to
these words, "Or to the same point OF arr-
VAL" was rejected by vote of yeas %,
nays "a, after II prolonged debate, but was
afterward adopted by u vote OF "a to "a.
An attempt to strike ont the long and
short haul clause was defeated and mo-
tiOn made by senator Riddleberger to lay
the motion on the table was rejected by u
vote OF A to l, the single vote In its support
being cast by Senator Riddleberger, who
afterwards said that the sole object of his
motion was to establish the general propO-
sitiOn that the federal government had a
right to control raj roads, which carried
with 1T the proposition to control te!egraphs.
lie wanted to hear no more talk of "un-
cOnstitutiOnality" on these points.
The vote on the passage OF the bill was
yeas AZ, nays 4. Senators Brown, Colquitt,
Morgan, and Ransom voted nay.
The Interstate commerce bill, as passed
provides that all complaints shall be made
In writing to the commission. The COM
mission shall send the complaint to the
common carrier and require either satisfac-
ton OF the complaint or an answer In
writing within reasonable time specified.
stated the commission shall investigate the
complaint The commission shall also in
veStigate all complaints forwarded to IL by
state commissions, and may institute i'll
quirles on its own motion. Complaints
shall not be dismissed because Of the alb
sence of direct damage to the complainant.
The reports OF the commission shall be in
writing. and its decision shall be made
prima-facie evidence in all judicial proceed
in Whenever anc commo, o,r,,sr shall, r.-
fuse to obey any lawful order of the COM
mission 1t is made the duty of the United
States Circuit court, sitting in equity, to
issue after hearing writs OF injunction or
other process, mandatory or otherwise, to
restrain further violation of the orders of
the commission by the common carrier.
The bill requires that all charges for any
service i'll transporting passengers or
freights, or storing goods, by common car
rlers, shall be reasonable; it prohibits all
rebates and drawbacks and all unjust dis
elimination, requiring that all persons shall
be charged and treated alike for services
rendered under substantially similar cir
cumStances and conditions. Every COM
mon carrier subject to the bill is required to
file within sixty days after il becomes q
law with the commission copies of all its
tariffs and freights, including its classified
ton and terminal charges, and TO make
them public so far as the commission may
deem practicable. No advance Oh such
days public notice.
The long and short hauP' clause section
of the bill reads as follows:
That it shall be unlawful for any COM
mon carrier TO charge or receive any great
er compensation III the aggregate for the
transportation of passengers OF of the like
class and quantity of property subject to
the provisions of this act for u shorter than
a longer distance over the same line in the
same direction and from the same original
point of departure or to the same point of
arrival, but this shall not be construed as
authorizing any common carrier within the
terms of this act to charge and receive as
great compensation for Il shorter as for q
longer distance, provided, however, that
upon application 10 the commission APP
pointed under the provisions of this act
such common carrier may, in special cases,
be authorized to charge less for longer than
for shorter distances for tile transportation
OF passenger or property, and the commits
sion may, from time 10 time, make general
rules eXemptlng such designated common
carrier in such special cases from the oper-
alton of this section of this act; and when
such exceptions shall have been made and
published they shall, until changed by the
commission or law. have like force in the
effect as though the same had been Specl-
fed in this section. Any common carrier
who shall violate the provisions of this act
shall be deemed guilty of eXt0rtion and
shall be liable to the person or persons
against whom any such excessive charge
was made for all damages accustomed by
such violation.
MAY 13.-Tbe Senate took up the general
pension bill which provides aid for all sold
iers whO having served six months or
more, have become disabled since their
service from any cause not due to their
own vicious conduct and who are now de-
pendent for support on their own manual
labor, or on the contributions of others not
legally liable for their support. Senator
Blair said that the money involved would
not exceed S2l,OU0,O00 year, and that the
bill would not add over $50 600 names OH
the pension rolls.
Senator Il try (Ark.) opposed the bill te-
cause lie did not believe union soldiers fa-
vored it. He knew it was regarded as little
less than treason FOR one who had been III
the confederate army to vote against Dill
of the character now under debate, but il
senators, through fear OF mlSconStructi0n,
We're not at liberty 10 vote against measures
that they believed huriful to the people of
the country they were not free or independ-
ent legislators and were unworthy of con-
fldence.
was the slightest disposition on the part OF
anybody to regard 1t treason for eX-con-
federates to oppose this bill. lie was glad
to know that none OF the confederate sold
iers were obliged to look to the public Tor
support, but the fact that a disabled union
taken as any indication that anything
wrong was going to be done. Our govern
ment would be unworthy the name OF a re-
public ii it permitted the men who fought
and suffered for it and saved it for us all to
be neglected in their helplessness.
Senator Vest obtained the floor, and after
an executive session the senate adjourned.
MAY 4.-Mr. Frye, from the Com. on
Commerce reported favorably his bill ito
limit the privileges of foreign vessels III
the ports of the United States to the pur-
poses accorded to vessels of the United
states in foreign countries. Mr.. Frye said
he would, at the proper time, move this bill
as an amendment to the shipping bill. 1t
was placed on the calendar. Mr.. Edmunds
offered resolution, which was agreed to,
instructing the Committee on Military AT
fairs to inquire into the expediency of es-
tablishing branch national home for dis
1bled volunteers in Northern New York or
Western Vermont. A House bill was
passed authorizing the construction of q
bridge across the Ohio river between Cow
ington and Cincinnati.
MAY 1.-THE Senate went into commit
tee to-day on the general pension bill, the
pending amendment being that heretofore
offered by Senator Van Wyck, providing
that no soldier under the act shall receive