Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-27
XIX. CONGRESS-.
PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE AND THE
SENATE YESTERDAY.
A New senator-Mr. Blair on the Inter-
State Commerce Bill-Rivers
and Harbors. &c.
wAsHrNoToN, April 90, 1850.

tDe oath OF Office was administered IN
due form by the President pro tempors
Of the Senate. Mr.. Whitthorne then
took bis seat on the Democratic side OF
the chamber, on the extreme right Of
the Chair, and received the congratula-
tons Of many senators.
When the new senator had taken his
seat Mr.. Hoar called attention 70 the
form of the credentials, not having de-
sired, be said, to say anything which
might seem like objection to the swear
ing in of Mr.. Whitthorne. The formof
the credentials Mr. Hoar thought defec-
tive, inasmuch as the certificate stated
that the appointment was for Senator
Jsckson's unexpired term. 1t should
read "until the next meeting Of the
legislature" The point was Of no con-
sequence at present, but in case OF
close party division in the Senate the
question, Mr. Hoar thought, might be-
come one Of great importance, and pub
lie attention ought to be directed to it
in order that the difficulty might as far
as possible be avoided.
Mr.. Harris remarked that Mr.. Whit
thorne's credentials, in using the word
"term," made reference to term |" as
fixed by law" He thought this quail
flying phrase covered the point.
The credentials were filed.
Mr.. Hoar reported from the Com
mittee on Judiciary bill extending the
time for the completion Of the records
Of the clerk of the Commissioners Of
Alabama Claims. Passed.
Mr.. Morrill,, from the Committee on
Fin ance. reported, with amendment,
House bill relating to the bonds Of
brewers. The bill as it came from the
House modifies section 1886 Of the Re-
vised Statutes so as to require new
bonds TO be filed by brewers, not on
the LIST OF May, as heretofore, but
whenever the collector Of internal reve-
nue. shall require them to do so. The
Senate committee amended the bill so
as TO require in addition that at least
once in four years the bonds shall in
any event be renewed, whether the col
lector requests it or not.
After debate the Senate amendment
was agreed TO, and the bill as amended
passed.
A bill was reported by Mr.. Harris
making an appropriation to complete
the public building at Jackson, Tenn.
AT Mr.. Iisrris's request the bill was at
once passed.
Mr.. Van Wyck desired to take up the
bill taxing railroad lands, but yielded
to Mr.. Blair, who, according to pre-
vious notice, then addressed the Senate
on his proposed constitutional amend
ment prohibiting the manufacture or
sale of alcohol as beverage.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Blair's
speech the interstate commerce bill
was taken up, and Mr. Van Wyck adj
dressed the Senate on il. The through
rates from the West, Mr.. Van Wyck
said, now nearly amounted to confsca'
ton. Another rise would be prohibit
ton. Last year he had said that the
people in some sections Of Nebraska
were compelled to burn corn for fdel,
and that it required $50 bushels of corn
to purchase one ton Of hard coal.
Mr.. Stanford, Of California, then ad-
dressed the Senate on the bill.
MIR. Plumb, from the Appropriations
Committee, reported the post-ofiice APP
preparation bill, with amendments. 1t
was placed on the calendar, Mr.. Plumb
saying he would call it up Wednesday
morning.
The questions Of detail involved in
Mr.. Camden's pending amendment to
the Interstate commerce bill as to the
long and short haul were then taken up
and discussed by Messrs. Camden,
Harris, Plat, Brown, Wilson Of In
diana, and Cullom.
Mr.. Brown said that under the pro-
visions of Mr.. Camden's proposed
amendment it would be impossible for
railroads TO transact the business Of the
country. If they attempted it, either
they would be driven into bankruptcy
UT else the products Of the West would
be driven from the markets Of the East,
and Of course also from foreign markets.
In other words, the railroads would
have 10 put their local freightS SO low
that they could not pay fixed ex-
penses, or put such high rates on through
freights as to prohibit all shipments
Of produce for a longer distance than
500 or COO miles. No railroad could
continue running unless it could pay
fixed expenses, and if limited to fixed
expenses it could pay no dividends, nor
could it pay any interest on the CAPT
tai invested. As to watering stock,
Mr.. Brown utterly condemned it; but
be could not see how railroads
could keep out Of the hands Of
the receiver or maintain their tracks
and rolliDg-stOck in proper or safe
condition if they were not allowed to
make reasonable charges. If a rule
were established by the Government
limiting the roads to charges that would
pay fixed expenses only it would be a
practical confscation of railroad capital
for public use without compensation.
Adjourned.
House or Representatives.
The Committee on Pacific Railroads
to-day adopted the bill formulated by
the subcommittee providing for the
extension for seventy years Of the bond
ed debt Of the Pacific railroad to the
Government. The bill will be reported
to the House this afternoon if opportu-
nifty offers.
Mr.. Dunn, Of Arkansas, asked leave
to offer a resolution setting apart the
18th Of May for the consideration Of
measures reported from the Committee
on Railroads. In response to ques-
ton, Mr. Dunn stated that the mea-
sures which would probably be called
UP would be the bill requiring the
Northern Pacific to pay the cost Of sur
veying its lands, the resolution pro.
vidipg for a general investigation Of ac-
counts of the Pacific railroads, and the
bill providing for the payment of the
debts of those roads.
Mr.. Warner, Of Ohio, inquired
a.