The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-06
THE FORTY-NIaTH CONGRESS
The Senate Adopts Camden's Amend
ment to the Interstate Commerce Bill.
Mr.. Hewitt Makes an Extraordinary Plea for
Southern Members as to the Voting Of
Money to Union Soldiers of the War.
THE SENATE.

Routine Eusiness-C Cons slider alton and Amend
ment of the Interstate Commerce Bill.
WASHINGTON May 5.-Mr Morgan, from the
committee on foreign relations, reported reso
luton declaring it to be the sense of the Senate
that some arrangement should be made with the
government of Mexico adequate to the suppress
sion Of the evils growing out of the crossing of
cattle over the border line between the United
States and Mexico; also. that a copy of the reso-
luton be sent to the President.
Mr.. Beck offered resolution, which was agreed
to. directing the Secretary Of State to inform
the Senate what necessity existed for the con-
tinuance OF the present charge for passports
against citizens Of the United States desiring to
visit foreign countries, and whether it could not
be reduced Or dispensed with without detriment
to the public service.
Mr. Logan said that, early in the session, he
had introduced bill to provide commission
for investigating the condition of the colored
people of the South 1t was referred to the
committee on education and labor, but had not
yet been reported. He inquired OF the chairman
of that committee as to 1t.
Mr.. Blair replied that it had been referred to a
subcommittee, which had not yet reported on it.
He would bring the subject to the attention OF
the sub committee.
about it, and would like to have some action Of
the Senate On it, this being the second session in
which he had introduced such a bill
The interstate commerce bill was then laid be-
fore the Senate.
The pending amendment was that of Mr..
Camden, being an absolute long and short haul
clause applied to each railroad separately
MIR. Spooner opposed the amendment because
1t would strike at the interests of the producers
of the West, and because it was various in prin-
ciple. It would result not in reduction of .he
through rates, but in increase of local rates.
The amendment sought to deprive Chicago of
its natural advantages for competition. and
would put on the statute books legalized dis
elimination worse than any railroad companies
had perpetrated. The West, Mr.. Spooner said,
could not ship its wheat to New York, Baltimore.
Philadelphia or Boston, if the through rates
were increased under the Camden amendment.
Montreal. The present was time, Mr..
Spooner thought. for the people of this
country to indulge in radical experiments He
criticised the feature of the bill which would
give the proposed commission authority to allow
as exceptions, from time to time, the right OF
railroads to mako smaller charge for longer
than for shorter distance. Such authority Mr..
Spooner would not give to board COM
posed Of anybody but angels. He would &C.
cept it. however, if it were coupled with a pro-
vision which, at the proper time, he would pro-
pose as an amendment. The power of the COM
missioners, ir the respect indicated. should not
be so exercised rs to substantially deprive any
community of any benefit to which il might be
entitled by reason Of competitive opportunities.
MIR. Palmer spoke against the Camden amend
ment. He was opposed to it because 1t was I'M
fair to the railroads and unfair to the people. 1t
would discriminate against certain railroads In
favor of others, against our own railroads in
favor of foreign railroads. and against our own
railroads in favor of foreign bottoms. Nobody
would suspect Mr.. Palmer of partially for rail
roads, but he thought we ought not to cripple
them. We should rather make them strong and
then make them behave themselves. Some of
the determinations that had been complained of
were Determinations not made by the railroads,
but by the Almighty Chicago had extraord-
nary elements of competition. It had the great
lakes, it had several of our own railroads. and it
had the Grand Trunk railway, going through
Canada. These facts had to be borne in mind.
The adoption of Mr.. Camdens amendment
would, as Mr.. Palmer believed cover the bill
with derision. 1t would result in a.public howl
that would make its supporters hide their heads
Mr.. Camden defended his amendment. The
BILL without his amendment. ne said, would dis
crminate in favor Of 10 cent. of the business of
the country against 80 per cent; in favor of 10
per cent of our national territory against 80 per
| cent. of It. There was more grain from east of
| the Mississippi river than was grown west of it.
| The greater proportion, which was grown near
| the market, should not be taxed in favor of the
smaller proportion, which was grown far away
| from the market
MIR. Riddleberger and Mr.. Call supported the
Camden amendment
| A vote being taken on Mr. Camdens amend
| ment it was agreed to--yeas &c. nays a.
The technicalform of Mr.. Camden samendment
thus agreed to is to strike out from the long and
short-haul clause of the committee bill the words,
| ''from the same original point of departure"
/ The only Repub licans voting in the affirmative
were Me-srs. Conger, Malone. Morrill,, Riddle
berger and Sherman. The only Democrats
voting in the negatis-.. were Messrs. Brown and
Mcpherson.
The Chair laid before the Senate an order
proposed by the committee on foreign relations,
making the anti-Chinese immigration bill and
the Chinese indemnity bill special orders for
Monday, May TO-
Mr.. Hoar gave notice that tomorrow he would
move to make the Pacific railroad funding bi II
a special order for early day.
After an executive session, tho Senate ad-
journed.