Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-07
LONG AND SHORT HAULS.
VANCE STOPS TO TELL A STORY
AND TAKE LUNCH.

Will keep Ihe IEOuuCbS VI INC
Oocident out of Market-senator
Browns Opposition.
WASHINGTON, May 6.--In the Senate
to-dav Mir. Cullom called up the inte
State commerce bill.
Mr.. Frye called up the Staten Island
bridge bill.
The Chair stated that the Senate had
already given unanimous consent to con-
tiuue consideration of the commerce bill
during the morning hour and throughout
the dav from day to day until disposed of.
The commerce bill was therefore laid
before the Senate. Mr.. Butler opposed the
bill on four grounds:
1. Because Congress could not interfere
with freight traffic on local roads operated
wholly within State lines, and therefore
the bill could not cure the evils COM
plained of, and must be partial and dis
eliminating in dealing with the subject.
>. Because he preferred TO leave the So
luton Of the subject to the laws of trade
and competition, and TO tae States.
COULD NOT SUCCEED
3. Because OF his conviction that any
legislation on the subject by Congress
would prove Intellectual and abOrtive to
correct the grievances connected with the
railroad problem.
4. Because the assumption by Congress
OF jurisdiction and control Of this vast
and complicated problem would aggra-
vate the evils, and result in undermining
the government by corruption and favor
itism.
Mr.. Wilson, Of Iowa, offered an amend
ment providing that the provision of the
bill against receiving more for a short
10 har nj ho
strued as authorizing any railroad CON-
pany to charge as much for the shCrter as
for the longer haul. He did this, he said,
20 prevent companies from holding that
the bill gave them an implied authority to
charge as much for a haul of 100 miles as
for a haul of 1000 miles.
GENERAL DEBATE.
The general subject of the bill was then
discussed by Messrs. Harris, Maxey,
Ingalls,, Camden, Platt, Hoar, Allison,
Cullam and Blair. The Western mem
hers argued that under the provisions of
the bill as it now stands, with the Camden
amendment, no Western produce would
ever reach the sea coast.
Mr.. Call denied that the Camden amend
ment would have any injurious effect. 1t
would not increase freight rates from the
West, but would prevent a company from
charging more for a haul of 100 miles
There WAS nothing Injurious to commerce
in that proposition.
Mr.. Brown cOntended that it would be
highly injurious. 1t would be simply i'm
possible for the people OF Illinois, Iowa
or any State of the West to get it's pro-
duce to the markets OF the East or Eu-
rope.
LIMITED TO 800 MILES.
Under It's provisions no commerce could
oOndnRtn1
miles distant from any given point. This
would be ruinOus to the interests, not
only of the railroads, but of the people.
There was no getting away from that fact.
The Senate had not heard any proposition
to regulate river commerce, Mr.. Brown
said, although determinations by river
steamboat companies were worse than
any ever practiced by railroads, Mr..
Brown cited number OF facts to illus
trate his statement III this respect.
Mr.. Vance saw no injustice in the
camden amendment. The bill, he
thought, even with that amendment fell
Jar short OF dong justice to the people.
We bad been warned 50 often Of the dan
ger OF interfering with commerce that it
was proposed to stop short tor the pres
eht with this modest proposition, and
then wait to see whether the world would
come to an end. Laughter.
VANCE TELLS A STORY.
II reminded Mr.. Vance of a story. A
white man once ordered a drink OF "Jer-
sey Lightning" and seeing an Oleagin-
GUS African standing by gave MIN the
urink, and when asked why he did not
take il himself replied, "If
that niger amt dead in 10 minutes Phi
take some too" Laughter The Senate
was going to try this bill, and If
eataclysm did not occur the Senators
would thank God and take courage The
railroads were bringing freight at low
rates from Chicago and maintaining their
roads by ext0rtiOn on local freights all
along the line.
Mr.. Platt bad heard it said that through
lreights bad been carried at a loss, but
from the testimony taken by the commit
Tee he did not think that was true. 1t
was done. however, at rate that, If ap-
llled proportionately to all freights along
the line, would not pay the companies.
NO RIGHT 70 MAKE 1T UP.
Mr.. Vance replied that they had no
hght TO MAKE up on a short haul for
losses on long haul.
Mr.. Hoar interpOsed to say that roads
were built primarily for local purposes,
and were bound 10 serve their own local
tues without eXtOrtiOn. II, however, they
complied with that requirement they
should be allowed TO meet reasonable re-
quirements OF through traffic. Otherwise
the produce Of the country could not be
brought To market. He illustrated the
point by the citation OF instances.
VANCE TAKES LUNCH.
Slr. Vance said he had yielded for a
suggestion and got speech-had yielded
,9f snort haul and got long haul.
Laughter. He too would illustrate by
sh instance. He had just been 10 lunch
.he Senate restaurant aud had a
ssanu wich and glass OF milk. Another
sehAJor sitting near him had had porter
pp,VuAe steak "wlth accompaniment"
lLsughter.l II the restaurant man had
enarged him { Mr.. Vance as much as he
snsrged the other Senator there would
na'e been an immediate breach OF the
peace IN the capitol. Renewed laughter
ar 9I' Coke expressed himself as unquali-
neoiy IN favor Of Mr.. Camden's amend
hent' One serious defect OF this bill,
."oNeFer was that il did NOT regulate
p9oung." 10 was the ''poolingV system
Suu lts determination IN favor OF long
Nall nat kept stationary the business OF
eW Orleans, Galveston. Charleston and
safahhan, whose business would other
wise greatly Increase.
nr. Wilson's amendment was agreed 20.
II a. gfeal number Of amendments were
mn submitted and ordered printed. IL
shas unanimously agreed that vote
-uYAlQ De taken on the bill before adj