Morning journal and courier., 1888-01-26
Fiftieth Congress--First Session.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.

1 WASHINGTON, Jan. 25. SENATH.-The resolutions offered by MT. I Chandler some days ago calling on the Navy | department for information as to the pur | chase of plans and specifications in foreign countries; as to the changes from the origi- I nal plans in the construction of ships of war, | and as to contracts made for ships and ord- nance since March 4, 1885, were taken up. The first of them was adopted and the second was referred to the committee on naval affairs. As to the third, MT. Butler moved to amend it so as to substitute 1850 for 1Ss5. MT. Chandler had no objection to the amendment proposed, nor to the reference of the resolution to the committee on naval af- fairs. He preferred. however, to have Mir. Buffers proposition embodied in distinct resolution, because all the contracts and four-ffths of the documents between 1880 and 1885 had already been transmitted to Congress and now were in print while the information called for by his resolution was net in print and had not been transmitted to Congress.
 Mir. Gorman favored the amendment say ing that no intelligent view of the whole transaction could be obtained unless the statement covered the whole period. Fir. Chandler said that he had not the slightest objection to extending tke call as desired and having all the contracts made since 1880 printed in one book. But all the contracts between 1880 and 1885 had been once printed already, as well as all the other documents that would be called for, and be- sides the amendment would cause delay in the answer. Still, he withdrew all opposition to the amendment.
 The amendment was agreed to and the resolution adopted.
 The Senate then resumed consideration of the deficiency bill, the question being on the amendment offered yesterday by MT. Hawley to pay certain amounts for the manufacture of postage stamps, stamped envelopes, etc. MT. Hawley related the circumstances under which the contractor for supplying postage stamps and stamped envelopes had supplied the postofhce to an amount beyond that ap- propriated for. The department, he said, was not at fault, but his constituent was out of his money and was paying per cent. in terest to the banks, while the proceeds of the sale of the stamps and envelopes were in the
 hands of the government. Finally the
 amendment was agreed to.
 MT. Hale (from the committee on appro- pristions) offered an amendment appropriat- ing $261 ,161 to complete the construction of the three steel cruisers Chicago, Boston and Atlanta. 4 long discussion ensued, many senators arguing against the propriety of put ting into the bill amendments that would
 have the effect of delaying it's passage. Finally MT. Beck said that since the debate began he had taken pains to inquire and had aseertained that deficiency bill contain ing all these important items of appropria- tion would be before the Senate within
 week from this tine MT. Hale then with drew the amendment.
 MT. Evarts moved to strike out of the $500, 900 for repayment of duties improperly collected a proviso limiting the rate of interest thereon to three per cent. After long discussion the question was
 taken on MT. Evarts' motion and it was re-
 jected; yeas 24, nays 25. MT. Evarts then
 moved to add to the proviso the words, ''but ., Io1I
 or demands" and it was agreed to. The
 proviso now stands as follows:
 Provided, that section 3,O11 of the Revised Stat
 utes be amended by inserting after the word paid,
 the costs or suit and interest at the rate of per
 cent. per annum. But this amendment shall not at-
 feet existing suits or demands" :"
 Without further amendment the bill was
 passed.
 MT. Blair gave notice that he would to-
 morrow, after the morning business, ask the
 Senate to proceed with the consideration of
 the educational bill.
 The Senate at 5 p. m. proceeded to con-
 sider executive business and soon after ad
 journed.
 HoUsE.-After preliminary business Mr.
 Bacon of New York asked unanimous consent
 for the present consideration of the resolu-
 tion reported from the committee on manu
 factures directing that committee to inquire
 into the names, number and extent of the
 corporations engaged in manufacturing or
 mining or dealing in any of the necessities
 of life and known as trusts or pools, their
 methods of doing business and the effect of their combination upon the prices of neces- saries.
 Mr. Brumm, of Pennsylvania, wanted to have the inquiry extended so as tu apply to anthracite combinations.
 MT. Scott of Pennsylvania, inquired what power Congress would have to redress evils
 which the committee might find to arise from a combination between corporation incor-
 porated in one State and private citizens of
 another State. What had Congress to do
 with this question at all? Were not the States
 amply able to take care of themselves and
 protect thefrpeople against all combinations
 and all conspifseiesa There was no authority
 delegated to Congyess by the constitution to
 interfere.
 MT. Mason of nlitois, the author of the
 resolution, stated thatyk was not his object
 to authorize smelling committee to invade
 States and investigate the business or per-
 sons doing business under the State law.
 The object of his resolution was the ascer
 tainment of the effect which combinations
 had on the price of necessaries and further
 to ascertain whether or not by reason of the
 tariff these com mbinations were able to raise
 the prices of necessaries. There were some
 industrious men in our country who would
 like to have a corner on the sunshine and |
 ject was to prevent the tariff laws (which he believed in) being perverted and turned
 against the people.
 Mr. Rayner, of Maryland, criticised the
 resolution as not being broad enough. It
 would not include the Western Union Tele-
 graph company, which had swallowed up
 every other telegraph company for the pur
 pose of controlling the business. It would
 not affect the Standard Oil company. That was not combination of individuals, it was combination of different corporations, each
 one of which was created by the sovereignty
 of particular State. The resolution would not apply to that. The Reading coal strike was a great question which was agitating the public mind The Reading com pany was incorporated by Pennsylvania. but it shipped it's commerce all over the country. That company, which had chs tered into conspiracy to strike down labor in the Lehigh and Schuylk1l regions in or der to reduce the price of coal, would not be affected by the investigation. In order to extend the scope of the inquiry he moved to strike out the clause which confines the in quiry to trusts not incorporated under the
 laws of any State The motion was agreed to.
 On motion of MT. Randall several amend ments tending to broaden the scope of the inquiry were also agreed to. The resolution was then adopted as follows:
 Whereas, it is alleged that certain individuals and corporations in the United States engaged in manufac turing, producing, mining in some of the necessares of life and other productions have combined for the purpose of controlling or curta ing the production supply of the same and
 thereby increasing their price to the people of the country, which combinations are known as associa tions, trusts, pools and like names and, Whereas, such combinations not only iniuriously affect commerce between the States, but impair the revenue of the Unite1 States derived from it's duties imports; therefore
 Resolved That the committee on manufactures
 and the same hereby directed to inquire into the names and number and extent of such alleged com binations under whatever name known their effect
 of all productions of the people of the country upon it's internal or foreign commerce and it's revenues
 from import duties together with any and all other matters relating to the same which may call for