Omaha daily bee., 1890-06-10
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
The House Silver Bill Laid on the Table
in the Senate,
VESTS TRANSPORTATION MEASURE.
a Bill to Prohibit the Monopoly of
Vessel Room i'm the Cattle Carry
ing Tradc-L2dge After the
Cunard Company.

WAsHtNGToN, June On the senate today
Mr. Call offered resolution Creferred to the
committee on foreign relations) requesting
the president to institute negotiations with
Spain for such notifications Of the treaty
with that government as will enable Ameri-
can cattle to be shipped from the United
States TO Cuba
The senate silver bill was then taken up.
MIR. COcltrell addressed the senate. He
said that all the benefit that could be claimed
for the proposed bill was that the secretary
be compelled to purchase $jOO,OOO worth of
silver every month more than he had nOw the
right TO purchase and that the currency be
increased to that extent. He asked
whether there was any valid rea-
son justifying the continuance OF the
existing discrimination in favor Of the free
and untimcly coinage of gold and the issue of
gold certificates for gold bullion, and against
the free and unlimited coinage of silver bull.
ion into standard dollars and the issue Of GER
tificatcs for silver bullion. He was opposed
TO discrimination either for or against gold or
silver. They should be put on perfect equal
ity as coin and bullion.
After the close of Mr.. CoCkrelrs speech the
house silver bill was laid before the senate.
MIR. Teller moved that the bill be printed
and laid on the table. After brief argument
1t was so ordered
Mr.. Vest asked the senate TO take up and
consider the bill "tO prohibit monopoly in the
transportation of cattle TO foreign countries"
Mr.. Platt thought the senate should go on
and dispose of the silver bill. He had been
waiting to bring forward two bills which
seemed to MIN not only of high importance
but of highest privilege, bills for the ad
mission of two territories as states. He gave
notice that henceforth the silver bill could
not be laid aside except on yea and nay
vote.
Mr.. Stewart asked unanimous consent that
on Friday next at o'clock the senate vote on
the silver bill and amendments.
The presiding officer (lngallS) suggested
that there should be at least a quorum pres
Cnt when unanimous consent was asked.
MIR. Stewart gave notice that when the bill
was taken up tomorrow he would ask unan-
imous consent that Mr. Vests bill be taken
up and that the discussion of its provisions
be carried on between Mr. Vest in defense of
them, and Mcssrs. Hoar and Hale in oppo-
Btton
The bill provides that no clearance shall be
granted to any vessel plying as common
carrier from the United States to foreign
country the owners, agents or officers Of
which shall refuse to receive, in the order
they may be offered said vessel, cattle for
transportation to Il foreign country, said cattle
being in sound condition and suitable for
transportation, and shipper rendering "a rea-
sonaDlC freight charge, or who shall make any
contract or agreement creating monopoly of
the capacity of said vessel for carrying cattle
in violation Of the law governing and regulat-
ing the duties and obligations of common car
riers to the public and providing unjust dis
crimnation between shippers.
Mr.. Reagan also defended the bill and
argued in favor of its passage.
MIR Hale moved to amend the bill by in
scrting the words, mot already contracted
for in good faith by persous or parties having
cattle for transportation at such date such
contracts being sufficient to occupy such
storage ROOM
Mr.. Vest opposed the amendment as one
that would entirely neutraliZe the bill.
Mr.. Hoar said that where all the storage
capacity of a ship was contracted for that
ship ceased to be "A common carrier and be-
came private carrier.
Mr.. Vest denied that statement, but said
If that were decided to be the law no harm
could result from the passage of the bill. A
whole steamship line had been taken by one
shipper (Gastman) and it had been done to
control the English market and shut out all
other cattle dealers in the United States
The result was that the prices of cattle were
put up and put down when this monopoly
chose, because it controlled transportation.
The vote on Mr.. Hale's amendment was
yeas l0 nays, %, No quorum having voted
the senate without further action on the bill
or the amendment adjourned,