The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-22
THE SENATE And HOUSE.
BILLS INTRODUCED, REFERRED
AND PASSED
In the National Congress Yesterday
II Petition In Favor Of the CHI
nese Indemnity Bill,

from the Supervising Architect OF the
Treasury, rs TO the necessity OF sddi-
tional vaults for the storage OF silver
and as TO the purchase Of additional
ground for public buildings st. Paul.
Also communication from the AS
sistant Secretary of the Interior, Mr..
Muldrow, with the report OF the gov
eminent directors OF the Union Pacific
Railroad Company, and asking atten-
ton to the suggestions contained
therein e>nceraing legislation affect
ing that company.
Amor & the petitions presented was
one eigned by sixty ministers Of the
Nebraska Conference in favor Of the
Chinese indemnity bill, and one
signed by large number OF importers
aud merchants OF st. Louis in favor OF
the immediate transportation act.
Senator Morrill,, from the Finance
Committee, reported back favorably a
bill TO fix the charge for passports at
81, and ii was Immediately passed.
Senator Allison, from the Commit
tee on Appropriations reported back
the House bill making appropriations
to supply deficiencies for the public
printing with an amendment requir-
ing the money to be expended rate.
ably. The amendment was agreed to
and the bill passed.
Among the bills introduced and re-
ierred were the following:
BY Senator Pugh: Regulating the
proceedings in Congress on private
claims.
BY Senator Salisbury, by request :
Supplementary 10 the naturalization
act.
BY Senator Sewell, from the Com
mittee on Library: Report Of bill
appointing James B. Angill, OF Michi-
gan, member OF the Board OF Regents
OF the Smithsonian Institute. Passed.
Senator ingalls, offered resolution
discharging the Committee on Pen
sions from further confederation of
the bill introduced by him at the last
session 10 remove the limitation OF the
payment of arrears OF pensiops He
faid that, as the committee had taken
no action on it, IL seemed TO him that
there were either an irreconCilable
difference OF opinion or disinclina-
ton on the part Of the committee to
bring the bill before the Senate.
Senator Blair, who YVES last session
acliog chairman Of the Committee
on Pensions, said that the bill had
been considered several tines; that
he was himself in favor of it, but
there Wac q msjorlty Of tho committee
against IL. The resolution WAS laid
over.
The House amendment to the bill
for the completion OF the public
building at Fort Scott, Ks, Yves, on
motion of Senator Mahone, non con-
CURED in, aud-a conferences asked.
Senator Morgan oflere3 resolution,
calling on the President for cores
pondence with tho Government OF
N,cGrauga, relating to the Nicaraugan
ship canal or TO the treaty on that
subject, which was pending in the
Senate on the 4th OF March, 1885.
Adopted.
The resolution for holding recess
from tomorrow to January 4th was
presented aud agreed to.
Senator Cullom called up the confer
ence report on the interstate COM
msrcs bill. III said that be did 80 for
the purpose Of giving the Senator from
Iowa Wilson, an opportunity OF maxi
ing some remarks upon the bill.
After which, in accordance with sug-
gestions OF many Senators on both
sides as To the impracticability of
action on it bsiore the holidays, he
said that he would let the bill so over
until after the holidays. He an
nounCed, however, that when the Som
ate resumed It's session he would again
call up the conference report, and in
sist upon its consld Grafton from day to
day until disposed o.
Senator Wilson (Iowa) tbereupon
proceeded to address the Senate in
favor Of the adoption of the report.
He represented the railroad aytten Of
the country az having steadily and I'M
reasonably refused to recognize the
simplest business demand, aud ss hay.
ing worked out lines of action for
itself which hGd excited the resent.
ment Of almost every interest which
il bad been created to serve. 1t had
made itsef an intermeddler in almost
every department Of business it had
refused to admit that it had been
created to serve the proper purposes
and interests of society, and it had
assumed 10 control and direct those
interests, The managers OF the trans
poitaton system, while admitting
great defects in it, had resolutely OPP.
posed all efolt3 of the State and M.
tional governments TO project aud
establish reforms. The adoption OF
the conferences report, while IL will no,
accomplish all that he should like,
would afford the country an oppor-
tunity to test regulatlve remedy,
unleEs the bill should be vetoed by
the President. There must be imme.
date and affirmative action. Congress
must enact law for the regulation Of
interstate commerce and (by expo
rienCe under ito administration come
to the knowledge OF the right or wrong
OF the matter in the war OF opinion
now obstructing the way. Nothing VI
said Mr.. Wilson, had done more To
demoralise railroad managers, officers
and agents, than pools. II had come
TO be expected, indeed, that the poo
of today would be disregardsd by some
of its members tomorrow, and thi:
came TO be the basis Of the hope of re.
ward by railroad officers and agents
for successfully enlarRing business by
the violation Of such arrangements
Then came the rate war and the con
sequent loss of revenue. Under The
present system, however, these losse
were unloaded ON the bushes Of the
intermediate or local points. Thi
practice was in itself an outrage anC
the most fruitful source OF com
plant on the part OF the people
A vast amount OF the railroaC
traffic of the country was don,
at rates less than half thust
charged on business between loca
points. That was au iniqnity which
ought not TO be tolerated, and which
the pending bill OH becomes a law
would prevent. The people were will
ing that the railroad companies shoul,
proper and should be reasonably pal,
for their services, but they did no
recognise them az their mastsrs, f.,
they knew the railroad companie
were created to be servants. And
might be set down as one OF the thin :
frraue n hlsy On tlod nnnt, that tha M y