The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-03-01
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
The Post office Appropriation Bill
Passed-The Transportation Ques-
tIon.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S. = The House
amendment to the Senate bill In regard to
the salmon fisheries of Alaska Extending its
operation to Behring's Sea- was presented in
the Senate today, and referred to the COM
mittee on foreign relations.
The consideration of bills authorizing the
construction Of railroad and other bridges,
was then proceeded with, after which the
Senate proceeded to the consideration of ex-
ecutive business.
The executive session was devoted to the
reception Of messages from the President,
and their reference to appropriate commit
tees.
After ten minutes the doors were re-opened
The post office appropriation bill was taken
important one of which was provision
that there shall not be allowed for the use Of
any third-class post Office for rent a sum in
excess of S400, nor for fuel and lights in ex-
cess of $50 in any one year.
The Senate resumed the consideration of
the two House amendments to the bill to
amend the Interstate commerce act. the
pending question being Mr.. Sherman's mo-
tiOn to agree to the amendment relating to
transportation Of petroleum.
Mr.. Sherman defended and advocated the
House amendment, and spoke of Mr.. Platt
having discovered a mares nest, and having
put on the amendment construction that
no mortal man ever put on IL before. There
was not word or line In It to prevent rail-
road companies from allowing any shipper
compensation for the use Of his car. The
amendment was not special legislation. Mr..
Sherman remarked that the equipment COM
panies were among the most dangerous, sap
ping and mining the operations of the rail-
road companies. He declared the House
amendment did not AFFECT the right of rail-
q N 70 m md 70
a reasonable sum for their use. All he asked
was a legislative declaration that would
make the same ate for oil carried in barrels
as oil carried in tank cars.
MIR. Cullom desired that Congress do exact
justice by all, whether monop0lists, or the
poor or rich. The question was whether the
House amendment would not legislate in
discrimination as between one set Of people
and another set Of people. He asserted that
the result Of the amendment would be the
inevitable increase OF the price OF oil TO the
people.
Mr.. Call opposed the amendment as one
which disregarded public safety, public con-
venience and public economy.
Discussion having closed, Mr.. Harris
moved to table Mr.. Sherman's motion that
the Senate recede from its disagreement to
the House amendment. The motion was
agreed to; yeas, "a; nays, IL.
On motion Of Mr.. CullOm, the Senate in
sisted on Its disagreement to the two House
amendments. and further conference was
ordered. The Senate then proceeded to the
consideration of executive business.
After the opening of the doors, a confer
ence was ordered on the naval appropriation
bill. Senators Hale, Farwell and Gorman
were appointed conferees ON the part Of the
Senate. The conference reports on the ar
my appropriation bill, fertilization bill and
the bill to withdraw certain public lands
from private entry were presented and
agreed to.
The Senate at $50, took recess until Z. 80.
The Senate met in the evening pursuant to
adjournment, but the absence of a quorum
prevented the transaction of any business,
and the Senate adjourned at $50.