St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-16
THE NATIONS CAPITAL
Yesterdays Session of the Senate Enliv-
ened by Some Pertinent Remarks
From Mr.. Beck,
Who Doesn't Like Congressman to Act as
the Attorneys of Big Cor
pOrations.
q Bill Drafted Which Proposes
Marked Changes in Exist
ing Laws,
So That National Banks Will Be Sub
iected to Close super
vision.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-Among the
memorials presented in the senate to-day
was one by Mr.. Frye, from the Bath board
of trade. against the admission of foreign
built ships to American registry.
Among the bills introduced and referred
were the following: By Mr.. Vance, to re-
peal chapter 81. of the act of 1883, relating
to the civil service.
The following bills were reported from
the postOffice committee and placed on the
calender: To amend the postal money order
system; and to extend the free delivery
system.
Mr.. Van Wyck offered resolution, call
ing on the secretary of war for information
as to how the Missouri river commission
has apportioned certain money appropriated
in the river and harbOr bill. for improve
ment of the Missouri river at Omaha and
other points in Nebraska and Iowa. The
resolution gave rise to considerable discus
sion. pending which Mr.. CulOm pre-
scented the report on the interstate CON-
merce bill.
The report was finally ordered printed.
and Mr.. Cullom gave notice that he would
call it up next Tuesday.
Mr.. Mcpherson offered a resolution,
which was adopted. calling on the secretary
of war for information as to the proposed
bridge across the Arthur Kill between New
Jersey and Staten Island.
sOPEN EXECUTIVE SESSIONS.
Mr.. Platt then called up his resolution,
that executive nominations shall hereafter
be considered in open sessions except when
otherwise ordered by a vote of the senate.
MI. Morrill, moved an amendment by Strik-
ing out the words executive nominations
and inserting in lieu thereof the words re
ciprUcitY treaties, so called" He had no
objection to that change. Mr.. Plat char
acteriZed the amendment as a case of
Greeks bearing gifts" Mr.. Hoar moved
to lay the resolution on the table: agreed to
yeas 80, nays 81.
Mr.. Beck called up the bill prohibiting
senators or representatives from acting as
attorneys for subsidized railroad companies,
the question being on the substitute re-
ported from the Judiciary committee. Mr..
Beck
OPPOSED THE SUBSTITUTE
and advocated the bill as introduced by
himself, and which he said had been de-
nOunced by leading members of the jul
dietary committee as all Infringement of
the rights of attorneys in the senate and
house. The substitute reported by the jul
dietary committee was so absolutely unjust
ard absurd that he was anxious to hear the
grounds on which the committee presented
it. The substitute was bureSQue on ali
legislation, and was so intended by the
chairman and leading members of the conf
mittee. If it was so intended then the
committee had come short of its duty. If
the original bill was a bad one. the COM
mittee should have so reported; but instead
of doing so it had adopted all of the orig
inal bill, and had carried it to a point
where nobody could vote for it. Mr.. Pugh.
a member of the Judiciary committee. juSti-
fed the substitute. He was opposed to all
such legislation. but if it was to be en-
acted, he would have it carried out to the
full extent. Mr.. Beck declared that the
substitute was unworthy Of the committee
that reported it, and that the committees
action
WAS IN BAD FAITH.
The object was to defeat measure which
senators dared not vote down directly. Mr..
Pugh did not believe that the senator from
Kentucky intended 10 charge the committee
with bad faith. Mr.. Beck did not know
what the gentleman considered bad faith.
He had given MSAoplnion as to a report
made to the senate. Mr.. Pugh said if
there was to be any legislation on the suo-
ject he would have it as comprehensive as
it had been made in the substitute. MI
Beck denounced it as indecent for senators
and members to sit and vote upon measures
affecting great railroad companies to the
amount of hundreds of millions. while hay
ing the money OF those companies in their
pockets. Public right, common decency
and the honor of every senator and repre-
sentative was involved in having the world
to understand that no man was sitting in
either house as the hireling or the retained
attorney. or the agent, of any of the sub
sidized railroad corporations. He had in
trOduced the bill in good faith. thinking it
to be bill which every senator would be
GLAD TO VOTE FOR,
so as to prevent any such suggestion, and he
was amazed at finding a substitute reported
for it which was going far beyond any
point that any senator would want to 60
He wanted fair vote taken on the bill as
introduced and not to have the bill killed
by indirectiOn. Mr.. MaXey advocated the
original bill and on behalf of his absent col
league Coke offered an amendment which
has the effect substantially of restoring the
bill to its original form as introduced by
Mr.. Beck Mr.. Call expressed his decided
opinion as opposed to the bill. There was
no necessity for it. If the senator from
Kentucky knew of any such case as he sug-
gested the remedy was in a resolution of
expulsion He reminded that senator that
he Beck had voted against the bill forfeit
ing the Northern Pacific railroad grant. while
he (CalD and others opposed to the Beck
bill had voted for the forfeiture of the
Northern Pacific grant, but it was not to
be presumed that the votes had not been
given honestly. The Beck bill, or a hun
dred such bills. would not have the effect
proposed. If senators were to be bought
they would be bought all the same. He
argued also that the bill was uncOnstltu-
tional. Without reaching vote the SEN
ate went into executive session, and when
the doors were reOpened, adjourned.
TIE NATIONAL BANKS.
LegfslaffOn of an Important Char.