St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-14
TIGHTENING THE COILS.
The House Passes the Bill Amend
ing the Interstate Commerce

Law.
Special to the Globe
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13.-The event
in the house to-day was the passage,
with amendments, of the senate bill
amending the interstate commerce law.
A Joint resolution was passed extend
ing the existing appropriations for the
sundry civil expenses of the govern
ment until Oct. l. Consideration of the
senate bill amending the interstate
commerce act was resumed. Mr.. Ander-
son, of Iowa, offered the following
amendments:
That in all civil actions and proceedings of
whatever nature arising under an act en-
titled "An act 10 regulate commerce, APP
proved Feb. A, 1887, and under all acts
amendatory thereof, concurrent jurisdiction
with United States courts is hereby conferred
upon the state courts of competent jurisdic-
tion;" and said commission 0he interstate
commerce c0mmiasion) is hereby authorized
and required to prescribe for the use and
guidance of said common carriers in making
their schedule of rates and charges for trans
portation of persons and property on unit
form classification, and shall transmit copies
thereof TO said common carriers on or before
the first Monday III January, 1889, and
thereafter the failure or refusal of any COM
mon carrier to observe said classification in
making schedules of rates shall be an unlaW-
full act and all rates and charges not in con-
formity with said classification shall be
deemed and be unreasonable rates or charges.
In advocating these amendments, Mr..
Anderson said that the railroads re-
turned each year to favOrlte shippers
many millions of dollars in the way of
rebates. This action was sapping the
business integrity in every commercial
circle. Mr.. Anderson, of Kansas, Of
fered amendment requiring tine COM
mission to execute the provisions Of the
interstate commerce laws and declaring
all pooling unlawful. He said the rail-
road companies, through their aSsocia-
ton, of which Mr.. Fink was the high
muck-a-muck, had formed trust. The
president of any company who would
enter such trust ought to be sent to
the penitentiary and kept there. In
reply to suggestion of Mr.. Farquhar,
of New York, Mr.. Anderson said:
There is not railroad president in
the country that is not violating the
law" Mr. Farquhar: "You dare not
risk that over your own signature"
Mr.. Anderson: Eyes, [ dO-over my
own signature" His first amendment
was then adopted. 1t reads:
That the commission is hereby author
lied, empowered and required to execute
anu 0IlIOTCe Tie pTONlslOuS OI IDlS ACT, anu
upon the request of said commission the at
torney general of the United States shall in
stitute and prosecute all necessary proceed
ings in the proper court for the enforcement
of this act and for the punishment of all
violations thereof.
The second amendment in regard to
pools was rejected. Other amendments
were offered and rejected.
Mr.. Grosvener, of Ohio, submitted the
following amendment, which was
adopted
That ii shall be unlawful for any common
carrier subject to the provisions of this act
carry refined oils and other petroleum
products, cotton seed Oil and turpentine for
any shipper. In tank or cylinder cars, who
shall own, lease or control the same in any
manner, except upon condition that the said
carrier shall charge the same rate for the
transportation OF said products in wooden
packages or barrels, in carload lots. as in
said tank or cylinder cars, the said tank and