Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-19


resumed the chair to-day.
ingalls, offered resolution directing the
Secretary OF the Treasury to inform the
Senate what proportions of the $4,000 900
of United States bonds called for payment
February l, 1856, are held by the national
banks as basis for circulation. and how
much b. each of said banks.
Harrison gave notice that on Friday he
would call up the Dakota bill.
Eustis addressed the Senate upon the
silver question, and, after an executive SEES
sion, the Senate adjourned
House of Representatives.
WASHINGTON January 1Sth-In the alb
sence OF the Speaker the House was called
to order by the Clerk, and a note from
Speaker Carlisle read, designating Springer
as Speaker pro TEN. for the day.
Under the call of States a number of
bills and resolutions were introduced and
referred.
At the conclusion of the call, during
which 500 bills were introduced, the House
adjourned.
Interstate Railroad Transportation.
WASHINGTON, January 1Sth.-Following
Is brief synopsis of the bill to regulate
commerce, reported from the Senate select
committee on interstate railroad transpor-
tation to-day by Cuilom. After specifying
the classes OF carriers, or rather the kinds
OF traffic to which the regulations prescribed
are to apply, and declaring that all charges
made by such carriers shall be reasonable,
the preliminary section aims to prohibit
every variety of unjust discrimination, to
prescribe adequate penalties therefor, and
to provide for their enforcement in
the Courts of the United States. The
sections include requirement that
all carriers shall afford reasonable facilities
for the interchange of traffic with connect
ing lines, and the prohibition of a greater
charge for a shorter than for a longer dis
lance, except when 1t can be affira!ativelv
established by the carrier that such charge
does not constitute unjust discrimination.
Another section requires all carriers sub
ject to the provisions of the proposed Act
to file their tariffs and classifications with
the interstate Commerce Commission, and
provides that they shall be posted or other
wise published, but leaves to be determined
by the commission the manner of publ
cation, and places at and between which
the rates shall be published. Provision is
made for enforcing the requirements of the
Commission, IL these respects, through the
Courts, and for the maintenance of the
rates that may be thus published Pro-
vision is also made for the appointment by
the President of five Commissioners, to be
confirmed by the Senate, and several sec
tons are devoted to prescribing the duties
OF the Commissioners, and the manner in
which complaints are to be investigated
and prosecution instituted, under its direc-
ton, when found to be necessary.
REPORT ACCOMPANYING THE BILL.
WASHINGTON, January 1Sth.-The report
of the select committee of the Senate upon
interstate railroad transportation, to accom-
pany the Cullom interrtate commerce bill
introduced to-day, forms printed volume
of PIG pages. 1t says the outlook is not
good for the United States to ship bread
stutts in unlimited quantities throughout
the civilized world, and the principal mar
kets, both for bread and meats, must hence
forth be at home. In its discussion of the
power of Congress to regulate commerce
the committee reviews exhaustively the
declarations of the United States Supreme
Court on the subject. " From the judicial
construction ofthe word commerce, it saws.
by the Court of last resort, it is apparent
that 1t has very wide meaning as en-
ployed in the Constitution, and that it in
cludes not only intercourse and traffic, but
as well the subject matter of intercourse
and traffic, and also the channels through
which, and the agencies by which. such
intercourse and traffic may be carried on
Railroads, the committee declares, are
everywhere recognized as common carriers
and as such are held by the Courts to the
performance of such duties as de
volye upon common carriers under the
law. No common carrier has q right I'M
der the common law, to discriminate be-
tween persons or places, or to give
preferences in any manner The
theory of the common law is that
all who are situated alike must be treated
alike. Unjust discrimination is the chief
cause of complaint against the manage
ment OF railroads in the conduct of their
business, and gives rise to much pressure
upon Congress for regulative limitation.
Railroad companies did not recognize. as
they should, the fact that they sustain
different relation to the public from per-
sons engaged in ordinary business enter
prises. Railroad companies are not dis
posed to regard themselves as holding pub
lie office, bound to the public, as expressed
i'll the ancient law. They do not deal with
each citizen alike. They discriminate
between persons and between places
and States, and Congress is consequently
called on to in some way enforce the plain
principles of the common law for the pro-
lection of the people against the unlawful
conduct OF common carriers, In CARRYING
on the commerce of the country, the rail-
road corporations necessarily rest under
some obligations to deal as fairly and
equitably with all its citizens, without
favoritism or discrimination, as the State
itself. The report also says that there is
no occasion to consider the necessity of
constitutional amendment for the reguia-
ton of Transportation until it has been
demonstrated by actual trial that the
powers now possessed by Congress cannot
be exercised effectively.