The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-05-12
RORTY.NINTH CONGRESS-.
THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE
BILL IN THE SENATE.
Petition From the Ollie Legislature
Regarding the Payne Case
In the House.

stor Hoar presented q memorial OF the
Republican Central Committee OF the
State Of Ohio, charging that the cleo
ton Of the Hon. Henry B. Payne to
the United States Senate was secured
by bribery, fraud aud corruption, and
requesting that the Senate investigate
the matter. Referred to the Commit
tee On Privileges and Elections.
A number Ct petitions were pre-
scented aud referred, praying Congress
to enact legislation against oleomar-
gaTine.
After routine morning business the
interstate commerce bill was taken up
and its consideration resumed.
Senator Sewell's amendment, requir-
ing ten days notice of reduction OF
rates, was Withdrawn.
An amendment offered by Senator
Wilson Hal, which would punish
mea who knowingly ask for or receive
a reduction OF rates was after a short
debate rejected,
Senator Morgan formally offered his
amendment, heretofore published, to
punish by fine and Imprisonment men
who conspire to stop or interfere with
the running Of trains engaged in inter-
state commerce.
Senator Vest, Senator Teller and
Senator Maxey commended that this
was a matter Tor the States 10 deal
with.
Senator Cullom feared the amend
ment would embarrsss and perhaps
imperil the passage OF the bill, and 80
he opposed Senator MoTgan's amend
ment.
On motion of Senator Hoar the
amendment was laid on the table
yeas, 40; nays, 3. (The negative vo es
were those OF Senator's Uolph, Ed
munds and Morgan.)
Senator Brown offered an amend
ment providing for the punishment Of
perFous injuring the property Of rail-
road companies, tracks, bridges, cars,
etc. The amendment would make il
felony 10 maliciously injure such
property, and II death resulted from
the injury then the ofiense should
constitute murder.
The amendment was laid on the
table.
Considerable debate then arose on
an amendment Of Senator Plumb, Of
iered for him in his absence by Sena.
tor ingalls,. II is the amendment. Of
which Senator Plumb some time since
gave notice. prohibiting members OF
Congress, officials OF the government
and their families from accepting free
passes, and prohibiting railroad com
panies from giving them such passes,
or reduced rates.
To this Senator Teller offered an
amendment prohibiting any of the
subsidized roads from giving free
passes.
After debate, in which the amend
ment was advocated by Senator Ed.
munds and opposed by Senators Logon
and Ingalls,, II Vas, on motion Of Sen.
ator Logan, laid on the table.
Some discussion arose as to the fleet
OF the bill onclergymen, and, to avoid
doubt, Senator Brown secured an
amendment providing that the restric-
tons Of the bill as to reduced fares
should not apply to ministers OF re-
ligion.
Senator Edmunds secured q similar
amendment rs TO agricultural conven-
tons and army society meetings.
Senator Brown moved TO make the
bill applicable to river routes as we'll
Ms TO railroads, saying that the Missis-
eippi river steamboats, practiced all
the worst DETERMINATIONS complained
Of as against the railroads, and he saw
no reason why the boats engaged on
that river should be exempt from the
restrictions attempted to be put on
railroads. The amendment was 70.
jected.
An amendment offered by Senator
Spooner YVES agreed to, applying the
word unlawful to the discrimina-
lions condemned by the bill, 60 as to
bring breaches OF its provisions within
the technical meaning OF the penal
claute.
A modification Of the long and short
haul clause was suggested by Senator
Edmunds. The modification was TO
restore to the clause the words "and
from the same point Of departure"
which had been struck out by the
adoption OF Senator Camden's amend
men, but to add Immediately to the
words, "or the same point Of ar
rival"
The bill was finally ordered reprint.
ed as amended, and the Senate ad-
iourned.
Mr.. Grosvenor 0hiol moved to
strike out the Appropriation for the
Judge Advocate Generals Depart.
ment lie ssid that the department
decided cases without any knowledge
Of law, and that the system followed
by the department was outrageous.
II wss an eXCreRence ON the army,
adding TO it nothing Of grace, nothing
Of justice, nothing Of martial eli.
oience, II it fell to-day, in one year
nobody would remember il except to
point t. it as a monument Of the
grtatGs err that has ever existed in
the army
After some debate, participated in
by Mtssrs. Wheeler, Hepburn ard
Hscook, which WAS quite personal at
times, the motion to strike out was
loet-S2 to 90.
Pending further action the commit
tee lose and the House adjourned.
The House.
The special order for to-day being
the consideration OF business reported
f,o,, Nha Nnpop,ttfaa On n.iva D.,