Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-28
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
THE BIOLOGICAL PARK.
The House Agrees to an Appropriation.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT
Taken Up in the Senate Again.
The Senate.

Deen presented TO the Senate, Mr.. Edmunds
suggested that the amendment raised such q
very important and difficult question that he
felt bound to move its reference to the COM
mittee on foreign relations.
After remarks by Senators Hoar and Morgan
the bill and amendment were so referred.
The Senate then proceeded to the considera-
ton OF bills authorizing the construction Of
railroad and other bridges. After spending
about ten minutes on that order of business
during which four bills were passed, the Senate
proceeded to the consideration of executive
business on the motion of Mr.. Sherman, who
said that only few minutes would be required
to dispose of the matter which he wished and
which was important to have attended to at
once.
In about ten minutes the doors were re-
opened and the consideration of bridge bills
continued, and several were passed, including
the following:
The Senate bill appropriating s25,OOO for the
construction of an iron bridge from the military
reservation at Fortress Monroe to Elizabeth
City county, Va.
THE EASTERN BRANCH BRIDGE BILL PASSED.
The Senate bill for survey, plan and esti-
mate for bridge across the Eastern branch of
the Potomac river from the foot of South
Capitol street.
THE BILL TO AMEND THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE
ACT.
The Senate then resumed consideration of the
two House amendments to the bill to amend the
interstate commerce act-the pending question
being Mr.. Sherman's motion to agree to the
amendment in relation to the transportation of
petroleum.
Mr.. Platt said that as a member of the inter-
state commerce committee, and of the confer
ence committee, he desired to give the reasons
for his opposition to the amendment. He be-
heved that the interstate commerce act Gas it
was being administered by the commission) was
of great value to the country. and he desired
that it should not be imperiled. 1t seemed to
him that such legislation as was proposed in the
amendment could have no other effect than to
imperil the law and its successful administration
in the future.
SPECIAL LEGISLATION.
The principle of the interstate commerce law
was not legislation, but the principle of the pend
ing amendment was special legislation. 1t was
best for the interests of the country of the rail-
roads, and of the patrons of railroads to leave
the law as it stood, and therefore he was op-
posed to any such amendment. As to the Stand
ard oil company, he was willing to assume that
it was
VERY WICKED MONOPOLY,
but he did not, on that account propose to in
dulge in what seemed to him vicious legisla-
tion-legislationt that could only have far-reach-
ing and lasting deleterious results. The fact
that the Standard Oil company was a wicked
monopoly was no excuse for taking the matter
out of the hands of the interstate commerce
commission. Ii 1t were not for the appeal
made to prejudice against the Standard Oil
company the amendment would not, in his
judgment, have three votes in its favor in the
Senate.
Mr.. Sherman defended and advocated the
House amendment, and spoke of Mr.. Platt as
having discovered a mares nest. and as having
put on the amendment a construction which
no mortal man had ever put upon it before.
House of Representatives.
The Speaker having laid before the House the
Senate bill for the protection of the salmon
fisheries in Alaska, MIR. Dunn of Arkansas Of
fered an amendment directing the President to
cause one or more United States vessels to
cruise in Behring's sea and other Alaskan
waters, and seize all vessels found to be unlaw-
fully engaged in seal hunting.
Mr. Dunn explained that the sole object of
the amendment was to enforce existing law
Heretofore the enforcement of the law had been
relaxed so that a numberof persons had concluded
that the government did not propose to enforce
the law, and to-day no less than 15O vessels were
being fitted up to go to Behring's sea, and
would cover the waters with unlawful seal
hunters.
The amendment was adopted and the bill was
passed.
Mr.. Burrows mich. moved the passage of
the Senate bill for the erection OF a public
building at Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Mr.. Bland (Mo.) said that until the Sullivan
contested election case was considered it was
not only an unseemly proceeding, but it was
an absolute disgrace for the House to consider
public building measures.
The Kalamazoo bill was then passed. TIT ap-
propriates S75,000
THE INAUGURAL CEREMONIES AT THE CAPITOL
On motion of Mr.. Ermentrout Pa.) the
Speaker was authorized to appoint a committee
of three members to cooperate with a similar
committee on the part of the Senate to take
charge of the arrangements for the inaugural
proceedings at the capitol.
TIE BIOLOGICAL PARK AMENDMENT.
The House then proceeded to the considera-
tion Of motion submitted by Mr.. Dibble Is.
CO. directing the House conferees ON the Dis
trict of Columbia appropriation bill to recede
from their disagreement to the Senate amend
ment providing for "zoo" in the District
of Columbia. Mr.. Dibble explained that if the
S20O, 900, which it was proposed to be expended,
would not cost more than ~ cents a foot-a
very reasonable figure.
FOR NATIONAL PARK.
Mr.. Hemphill q. CO. offered an amendment
to Mr.. Dibble's motion, so as to direct the
Alouoo COulCAcce w NCSSuc iIOlu tueI OlbdBIet-
ment to the amendment and to agree to the
same, with an amendment appropriating
$1,0O0,000 for the purchase of not less than
1000 acres for a national park.
THE 400" AMENDMENT ADOPTED.
Mr.. Hemphills amendment was lost-yeas,
So; nays, 131, and Mr.. Dibble's motion instruct
ing the House conferees to recede was agreed
to-yeas, 131; nays &c.
ruRTHER CONFERENCE ON THE DISTRICT BILL.
further conference ON the bill was then
ordered.
THE AGRICULTURAL APPROPRIATION BILL PASSED.
Mr.. Hatch Cdo.) presented the conference
report on the agricultural appropriation bill,
and explained how the differences between the
two Houses (mainly relating to sugar ex-
perimentation) had been adjusted.
The report was agreed to.
Mr.. Culberson (Tex.) submitted the confer
ence report on the bin to change the eastern
and northern judicial districts Of Texas and it
was agreed to.
THR NAVAL. APPROPRIATION BILL.
Mr.. Herbert, Of Alabama, from the commit
tee on naval affairs, reported the naval appro-
priation bill, with Senate amendments thereto,
recommending concurrence in some and nom
concurrence In others of those amendments.
Mr. Boutelle (Me.) said that it was not true
that the administration, which was now about
coming 10 . close, had succeeded in placing the
navy OF the United States on an equality with
those Of other nations enthusiastic statements