National Republican., 1888-02-09

bilI OF Ieding, Tor valuable consideration,
passed into the hands Of an innocent pur.
chaser, the carrier should, when suit is
brought on the bill, be estopped from
denying the recital In the bill that the
goods were actually delivered.
MIR, Buchanan, Of New York. desired to
offer an amendment providing that the
bill shall not apply in the case OF any bill
OF ladipg given for goods packed in boxes,
barrels, &C., ard so described In the bill;
but Mr.. Oates declined to yield for that
purpose.
Mr.. Buchanan said that the language OF
the bill was very unfortunate, and went
beyond what Its advocates intended. The
common carriers would be compelled to re.
fuse to receive goods inclosed In packages
until those packages were opened for the
inspection Of the agents OF such carriers,
thus interfering very seriously with trade
and commerce.
Mr.. Davis, Of Massachusetts,, contended
that purchaser could have no better guar
aptee than a bill of lading that the goods
had been actually intrusted to the common
carrier.
Mr.. Caswell, of Wisconsin, thought that
there was little weight In Mr.. Buchanan's
objection. The common carrier had only
to note upon his bill OF lading that the con-
tents Of the packages were unknown. That
was the cuetom at present.
Mr.. Culberson, OF Texas, said that the
object Of the bill was to prevent common
carriers from entering into combination
with fraudulent or pretended shippers to
defraud the public.
Mr.. Durham, Of Illinois, hoped that the
bill would pass In It's present shape. Its
purpose was to correct abuses which had
grown up and to make railroad companies
responsible for the action OF their agents.
The bill was then passed. The following
Ia the text:
That whenever any common carrier by land
or water or its agent authorized TO execute and
bill of lading or instrument in the nature
thereof purpoiting to be for goods, wares, or
merchandise received by such carrier for
WbpS tho ndG pp saes Of ao to anS nS ssa
country, such bill of lading or instrument in
the nature thereof, in the hands OF any bona
fde holder for valuable consideration who ac-
quired the same in the usual course OF trade
without any notice OF any defect therein, shall
be conclusive evidence that the goods de-
scribed therein were actually received by sucn
carrier in the manner and for the purpose as
therein stated.
Mr.. Dingley called up the bill authorizing
the investment of the lawful money de-
posted In the treasury In trust by national
banking associations for the retirement Of
their circulating notes. lie moved that the
consideration OF the bill be postponed for
one week, point Of order raised by Mr..
sidered IN committee Of the whole being
held in abtyance until that time.
The Speaker stated that he was ready to
rule upon the point now. lie had been at
first inclined to sustain the point Of order,
but upon examination he had found that
the liability Of the government was fixed
and limited by law. Therefore the fluctua-
tion in the price Of bonds could make no
difference In respect to the liability Of the
government.
Mr.. Weaver suggested that II the gov.
ernment invested the money In an enter
prise which resulted In loss the govern
ment would have squandered the money In
trusted to II, and must make the loss good.
The Speaker replied that the government
might In the future incur some loss In its
financial operations. That was question
Of executive policy. The only question the
chair was called upon to decide was
whether the pending bill created liability.
The chair held that 1t did not, and therefore
overruled the point OF order.
Pending action on Mr.. Dingley's motion
the morning hour expired.
Mr.. Clardy, OF Missouri, from the COM
mittee on commerce, reported bill to pre-
vent frauds upon American manufacturers
House calendar.
Mr.. Tillman, Of South Carolina, from
committee on military affairs, reported the
bill for the purchase OF certain swords from
the widow OF Gen. James Shields. Private
calendar.
The Speaker announced the appointment
Of the following members Of the special
committee to investigate the existing
labor troubles In Pennsylvania: Mr.. Till.
man, of South Carolina; Stone, of Missouri
Chapman, of Michigan; Anderson, Of Kan.
sas, and Parker, of New York.
The House then, at 2:45, adjourned.