The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-16
THE DOINGS or CONGRESS-
THE CONFERENCE REPORT OF
THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE
Bfl Ordered Printed-A Lively Bout
Between Messrs. Symes and
Randall.

Among the memorials presented In
the Senate today was one by Senator
FRYE, from the Bath, Me-, Board Of
Trade, against the admission OF foreign
built ships to American registry.
Among the bills introduced and re-
ferred were the following: BY Sen.
ator Vance-To repeal chapter q oil
the acts Of 1888, relating to the civil
service.
The following bills were reported
from the Postoffice Committee and
placed I'm the calendar: To amend
the postal money order system; TO ex-
tend the free delivery system.
Senator Van WICK offered resolu-
ton calling on the Secretary OF War
for information Gs to how the Missouri
River Commission has spportioned
certain money appropriated in the
river and harbnr bill for improvement
OF the Missouri river at Omaha and
other points in Nebraska and Iowa.
The resolution gave rise to considera-
BILE discussion,a pending which Sem
ator Cullom presented the con-
ference report on the interstate
comme'c, bill and asked that
It be printed, and suggested that
he would next Monday ask the SEN
ate to take II up, when, II debate were
desired, it might be postponed. He
hoped, however, that no Senator
would insist on q motion TO postpone
il until after the holidays.
Senator Hoar said the matter was
one in which his constituency had q
very deep interest. II required deep
study, not only on the part OF those
who had to vote on II, but on the part
OF the business interests OF the coun-
try, and he intimated that, as the
Christmas holidays would probably
begin next week, the report should go
over until after the holidays.
Senator Cullom did not know that
the Senate would have any holidays.
All that he desired now was to have
the report laid on the table aud print
ed. He wou d call it up early next
week, and then II there was a desire
to discuss 1t 1t might 20 over, but he
preferred not to agree to that at this
time. He read statement explana-
tory Of the report, and said the object
OF the bill, as reported, was to | ring
about that stability OF rates which the
railroads themselves we're trying TO
bring about under the system Of pool
ing. He believed that the appre-
hension expressed by the Senators
from Oonnec lieut. would prove to be
unfounded.
Senator Plat, one OF the confereee,
said he had withheld his signature
from tho report. He might, per-
haps (altbough with great reluct 'nce),
have consentt d to all the recommends
lions OF the report but one-that was
the surrender II the provisions OF the
Senate bill directing the commission
ers to investigate the system OF pool
ing between railroads, and the substi-
tuting for that provision the absolHte
prohibiting OF pooling. He thought
the public prejudice existing against
pooling by railroads was largely the
result OF misspprebensiou as to the
nature and effect OF the pooling Bys-
tenn upon the general welfare Of the
country. All interstate commerce by
railroads Yves transacted today under
pooling arrangements, and the abs0-
lutte prohibition Of such a system
might work great evils.
After further Discussion the report
was ordered printed, and Senator Gull
lum gave notice that he would call IL
up next Tuesday, and II the Senate
desired to discues it at length II might
90 over until after the holidays, but
he was very anxious to secure final
action at this session, particularly as
the Supreme Court had ruled recently
that it was the province Of Congress
10 legisate on the subject.
Senator Mcpherson offered resolu-
ton, 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.
The resolution offered by Senator
Van Wyck in relation TO the improve
ment OF the Missouri river, was again
taken up and further discussed.
Before conf ug TO vote on the reso-
luton the hour OF 2 o'clock arrived,
when the unfinished business OF yes.
teIday (the bill repeating the tenure
OF office act) came up and WAS, on mo-
ton Of Senator Hoar, allowed to stand
over till tomorrow as unfinished bust
ness.
Senator Platt then called up his res
olution that Executive nominations
shall hereafter be- considered In open
session, except when otherwise Or
dered by vote OF the Senate.
4
ment by striking out the words exec
utive nominations" and inserting in
lieu those OF the words RECIPROCITY
treaties, 20 called" He had no OBJ.
lection to that change.
Senator Platt characterized the
amendment as case Of "Greeks bear
ing gifts"
Senator Hoar moved to lay the reso-
luton on the table. Agreed to---yeas,
SO; nays, 81,
Senator Beck called up the bill pro.
hibiting Senators or r personalities
from acting rs attorneys for subsidized
railroad companies, the question be-
ing on the substitute reported from
the Judiciary Committee. He OBJ
posed the substitute and advocated
the bill ss introduced by himself, and
which, he said, had been denounced
by Leading members Of the Judiciary
Committee as an Infringement of the
rights OF attorneys in the Senate and
House. The substitute reported by
the Judiciary COMMITTEES was go abso-
lutely unjust and absurd, that he was
anxious 10 hear the grounds on which
the committee presented il. The
substitute was burlesque on all
legslation, and was 30 intended by
the chairman and leading members OF
the committee. II II was 80 intended,
then the committee had come short oil
its duty. II the original bill was bad
one, ths committee should have SO
reported; but instead Of doing so. il
had adopted all Of the original bill and
had carried 1t to u point where no.
body c1uld vote for It.
Senator Pugh, member of the Ju.
dietary Committee, justified the sub.
sdtute, He was opposed TO all such
legislation, but il il was to be enacted
he would have it carried out to its fun
extent.
Senator Beck declared the substl.
tute was unworthy OF the committee
that reported IL, and that the commit.