The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-13
THE TORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-
The Senate Debates and Finally Passes
the Interstate Commerce Bill.
Debate in the House in Reference to Indemnity
for the Rock Springs 0utrages-Passage
Of the Army Appropriation Bill.


THE SENATE.
completion of the Debate on the Interstate
Commerce Bul-Passage of the Measure.
WASHINGTON. May II Mr.. Mitchell submit
ted concurrent resolution expressing it to be
the sense of Congress that negotiations should
be entered into between the United States and
the Chinese government with view to securing
such notifications of the present treaty with
China as may result in stopping the coming OF
Chinese to this country except in the case of
diplomates and their servants, and except, also,
in the case of persons at sea driven to seek
place of shelter. The concurrent resolution was
referred to the committee on foreign affairs
Mr.. Stanford gave notice that on the 9th
inst he would submit resolutions in respect to
the death of bis colleague Mr.. Miller.
Consideration of the interstate commerce bill
was then resumed
The bill having been completed as in commit
teo of the whole, the question was On agreeing in
the Senate to the amendments agreed to in COM
mittee. A protracted debate arose on the vari-
Gus amendments especially the amendments to
the long and short-haul clause In the course of
the debate, Mr. ingalls, said the bill was becom-
ing more and more metaphysical as it proceeded.
T.
aphysical TO practical railroad men.
Mr.. ingalls, replied that the trouble was that
the members were not practical railroad men.
but were dealing with practical railroad ques-
tons.
Dir. Culom inquired whether Mr.. Ingalls's idea
was that because Senators were NOT practical
railroad men the Senate should do nothing in
respect to tho subjectmatter of the pending bills
Mr.. Ingalls, replied in the negative, but thought
the matter Immediately under consideration, as
70 the details of the long and short haul, should
be left to be dealt with by the proposed commits
sion He believed that the more the Senate
tried to deal with the subject the more inextrica-
bly, befogged it became He criticised the Ian
guage of the long and short haul clause, saying
as TO one phrase in it, that he ''shrewdly sus-
pected' that some smart railroad men who had
been before the COMMITTEES had succeeded, for q
purpose, in getting that phrase In 1t.
Mr.. Cullon warmly repealed this suggestion.
Mr.. Ingalls, disclaimed any lmputation on any
Senator
Mr. Cullom saw no "metahysics" in the bill
reported by his committee, but admitted that, as
rapidly getting into the condition described by
Mr. ingalls,.
Mr.. Riddleberger moved to lay the bill on the
table.
This motion was defeated-yeas tMr. Riddle
berger) nays a.
Mr.. Riddlebeeger then stated that this vote set
tied all constitutional questions, and resolved all
that we attribute to the Democratic States
rights party into one general proposition, that
the federal government had a right to control
railroads. The sole object of his motion had
been to develop that fact.
Mr.. Edmunds moved to restore to the long
and-short-haul clause the words struck out by
the Camden amendment, namely, from the
same original point Of departure" and to add
to those the further words ''or to the same point
Of arrival"
Mr.. Sherman opposed the amendment Ad-
dressing himself to the longand short-haul
clause, Mr.. Sherman said he would not do any
thing that would hinder our people from compel
ing with India and Russia in the markets of
Europe. He wanted, however, to protect the
people of Ohio and their commerce. He did not
want to break down the many smaller cities and
towns In the country, whose people, with the sur
rounding farming communities, constituted the
great strength of the Republic We ought not
to give railroads this power to break down all
the farmers and all the towns between Chicago
and New York to merely benefit people living
beyond Chicago. Mr.. Sherman animadverted
seriously on the discrimination of the rail
roads
Mr. Teller defended the low rate for the long
haul, which he regarded as indispensable to the
prosperity not only of the West but Of the
East also. ''If you destroy the business of the
West" he asked, where will you get purchas-
ers for your manufactured goods2" Without the
low rate for the long haul. what would become
of our export businessi Seventy.two per cent.
Of our exports were the products of the farm and
forest Where did those products come from2
With the price of wheat falling in Liverpool, we
should seek cheaper rather than dearer rates on
freight from our Western States.
Mr. Edmunds said his amendment was for the
purpose of preventing discrimination against the
farmers Of Vermont, Ohio, California and the
other States that wanted to send their goods to
Chicago or New York.
Mr.. Harris remarked that il Mr.. Edmunds's
amendment were adopted, the lorg-and- short
haul principle would not apply all along the
line. Hence Mr.. Harris was opposed to it.
Mr.. Edmundss amendment was at first reject
ed-yeas %. nays 24-but Mr. Edmunds again
offered it later, and it was agreed to-yeas q,
nays "a.
Mr.. Mcpherson moved to strike ont Section T.
being the long-and-shert haul section, and to
replace it by provision directing the commits
sioners to investigate the question involved and
report to Congress-. This proposition was re-
jected-yeas 20. nays 49,
Mr.. Morgan offered an amendment declaring
the proposed commissioners to be executive
officers merely. and denying them legislative and
judicial powers. This was rejected,
The bill then came to q vote and was passed
s--yeas Al. nays4.
The negative votes were those of Messrs
Brown, Colquitt, Morgan and Ransom. A num-
Der or pairs were announced.
The bankruptcy bill was then laid, pro forma,
before the Senate. but Mr.. Hoar yielded in favor
of the pension bill, which latter accordingly.
remained the unfinished business for 2 o'clock
Tomorrow. The Senate then adjourned.
THE HOUSE.