Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-02-28
AT WASHINGTON.
Amendments to the Inter-
State Commerce Law.
BLAND, OF MISSOURI, LETS UP.
Large Acreage Opened to Settlement
by Purchase From the Semi
mole Indians.
Associated Press Dispatches 20 the HERALD

WASHINGTON, February 27.-The con-
ference report on the Agricultural De-
partment Appropriation bill was pre-
sented and agreed to.
The Senate bill to amend the law to
provide better protection ior the salmon
fisheries in Alaska was passed.
Platt, from the Committee on Terri
tories, reported two bills for the forma-
ton and admission of the States OF Idaho
and Wyoming.
Hoar, from the Committee on Privi-
lege and Elections, reported an amend
ment to the Deficiency bill (which was
referred to the Committee ON Appropria-
tions). appropriating $4,000, to enable
the President to offer a reward for the
detection and conviction of the persons
who illegally carried away and destroyed
the ballot-boxes of Plummerville, Ark.
1t was majority report, q minority dis
senting.
On the motion of Cullom, the Senate
proceeded to the consideration of the
Senate bill to amend the Interstate Com
merce Law and act upon the two House
amendments. One or them he said gave
to the State courts jurisdiction in certain
cases of questions arising under the Act.
As to the other, it simply made it unlaw-
| full tor any common carrier to transport
| refined oils, etc., for any shipper owning,
leasing or controlling cars, tanks or CYL
inders, except on condition that the rail-
road comp pany shall charge the same rate
per carload for transportation as it
charges for oil transported in barrels. He
referred to the Standard Oil Company
as a gigantic corporation which was not
only able to buy cars, but also to buy
railroads. He was in favor of the gen.
eral principle embodied in the amend
ment that every railroad company should
be required to furnish the same facilities
and modes of transportation for all alike.
Stewart opposed the amendments and
Reagan supported them. Cullom made
an argument against them. He said the
amendment in relation to cars for the
transportation of petroleum, instead OF
carrying out equal and exact justice to
the people, would enforce unjust dis
elimination. When one shipper re-
quired railroad company to furnish a
certain kind of car and the company de-
clined to do so, and when the shipper
furnished snch cars for himself,
it did not seem to him such a
shipper was required by the common law
or should be required by the statutory
law to supply the same facilities for all
other shippers in the business. AS to the
other House amendment to confer juris-
diction on the State courts, Cullcm be-
lieved the result would be that there
would be different decisions in the con-
struction of the national law. He was
anxious to go just as far as he could con-
sistently with the law, the constitution
and his duty in the protection OF the peo-
pie, but was not willing to 90 SO far as to
take a step of doubtful propriety. AL
ready the railroads Of the country were
suffering under difficulties, which come
not from Interstate legislation, not from
any act of commerce, but from the con-
ditions which prevailed before the pas
sage of the Interstate law. No action
has been on the amendments and, after
the transaction of some other unimp por-
tant business, the Senate adjourned.
| THE HOUSE.
| WASHINGTON, February 27.-In the
House, Bland, of Missouri, to everybody g
astonishment, did not do any tillibuster-
ing when the House opened at 10
O'Clock, and several matters of minor
importance were disposed of during the
hour. The House then went into Com
mittee of the Whole on she Indian appro-
priation bill. The Senate amendment
appropriating 81, 1872, 900 to pay the Sem
mole Indians for lands in Indian Terri
tory ceded to the United States was
agreed to. The lands acquired, 2,037 900
acres, are made open to settlement under
the Homestead law. Taking advantage
OF the five. minute debate, Kennedy,
Of Ohio, replying to the censures
Crisp passed upon his conduct as
presiding officer of the Ohio Senate re-
hearsed the history of the ballot box
frauds in Hamilton county. He defended
his conduct in refusing to allow four
members of the Legislature, whose seats
were contested, to take part in the pro-
ceedings, and said such Democrats as
Thurman and Converse sustained his
action, which was in accordance with
every parliamentary authority. A dis
cuasion followed concerning the merits
of the contested election case, Sullivan
vs.. FELTON,, but no action was taken.
An amendment was adopted authoriz-
ing the President to establish two land
offices upon the lands opened to settle
ment by this act. The committee rose
and the bill passed. 1t is the last of the
General Appropriation bills.
Adjourned. ~"