Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-05-21
CONG RESS.

MAY 10.-SENATr.-Th chamber Of com
merce in Cincinnati submitted petition
praying Congress to create court for the
settlement of customs disputes. A bill
was introduced ito limit the commercial
privileges of vessels of foreign countries
in the ports of the United States to such
purposes as are accorded to American
vessels in the ports of such foreign coun-
tries" a resolution was adopted asking
for information concerning the seizure of
an American fishing vessel by Canadian
vessel few days ago. The
Interstate commerce bill was placed before
the Senate, discussed and amended, and
without further action the Senate adj
j0urncd.
HousE-A number Of bills and resolutions
were introduced. and the House proceeded
10 the consideration Of business report
cd from committee on District of Column
hia. The bill 20 punish the advertisement
Of lottery tickets in the District Of Column
bia was called up. and after some time
spent in the effort 10 secure q quorum, it
was passed. Adjourned.
MAY l.-SENATE.-Routne business was
quickly dispatched. and the interstate
commerce bill was taken up ana its con
Stdcration resumed. which occupied the
attention OF the Senate until the hour of
adjournment.
HorsE.-The army appropriation bill
was laid before the House in committee of
the whole. \ long debate ensued, in
which personal invective figured con.
spicuously. and at the close of the debate
the House adjourned.
NAY 12-SENATE-Mr Mitchell of Oregon
submitted n concurrent resolution ex
pressing it to be the sense OF congress that
negotiations should be entered into be
tween the United States and Chinese gov
ernments with view TO securing such
notifications of the present treaty with
China as may result in stopping the com
ing of Chinese to this country except in
the case of diplomats and their servants,
and except also in the case Of person, at
sea driven to seek Il place OF shelter. The
concurrent resolution was referred to the
committee on foreign relations. Consider
alton of the Interstate commerce bill was
resumed. and the bill was passed by vote
of II yeas, nays I. The bill provides for a
commission of five persons with not more
than three of the five persons from the
same political party. The commission is
given authority to inquire into the bust.
ness and management of all common
carriers, TO summon witnesses. investigate
complaints etc. Its reports shall be deem
ed prima facie evidence in all judicial pro-
ceedings. The bill requires that all charges
for any service in Transporting passengers
or freight. or storing goods 10y common
carriers shall he reasonable; it prohibits
all rebates and drawbacks and all un lst
discrimination. requiring that all persons
shall be charged and treated alike for ser.
vices rendered unuer SUBSTANTIALLY similar
circumstances and conditions The ''long
and short haul clause provides that it
shall be unlawful for any common carrier
to charge or receive any greater compen-
sation In the aggregate for the trans.
pOrtation of passengers or of the like class
and quantity of property subject to the
provision of this act for shorter than for
Il longer distance over the same line. in the
same direction aud from the same original
point of departure. or TO the same point of
arrival that this shall not he construed as
authorizing any common carrier within
the terms Of this act 10 charge and receive
as great compensation for Il shorter a. for
"A longer distance Any common carrier
who shah violate the provisions of this
section uf this act shall be deemed guilty
of extortiOn and shall be liable TO the per
son or persons against whom any such ex-
cesSve charge was made for al damages
occasioned by such violation. The bill
now goes to the House of representatives
for concurrence. The pension bill was dis
cusSed for IL little While and the Senate adj
jOurned
HOUSE. Belmont's Chinese indemnity
resolution was discussed 10y the House at
length, but finally gave way for the army
appropriation bill. which measure was
finally passed. Considerable work on
appropriation bills was done, and the
House adjourned.