The Portland daily press., 1890-06-10
IN NEED OF RULES.
How the Senate Does Its Work-Mr.
Vests Cattle Bill.

WASHINGTON, June 9.--In the Senate to-
day, during discussion of the silver bill, Mr..
Vest asked that the Senate consider the bill
reported by him from the select committee
on the transportation and sale of meat
products "to prohibit monopoly in the trans
portation of cattle to foreign countries"
Mr., Platt thought the Senate should dis
pose of the silver bill and gave notice that
henceforth the silver bill could not be laid
aside except on yea and nay vote
Mr.. Vest intimated that the meat business
of the country was in very depressed con-
dition and legislative action to provide a
remedy should not be postponed.
Mr.. Platt remarked upon the waste of time
in allowing Senators to prepare elaborate
speeches and consume hours in reading them
He said that evidently the Senate was drift
ing to point where the rules would have to
be revised and the, previous question pro
vided. He hoped tnat time would not
soon come. He thought the Senate could act
on all important measures and transact all
important business within the ordinary
limits of the session if it would give contin-
uous consideration to particular measure
before it.
Mr.. Stewart said he did not wish to have
the previous question established in the
Senate. There ought to be at least one de-
Lucrative body in Congress. Otherwise a
bill could be passed without any discussion
& ALL He saran that en-
on the silver bill and all the amendments
proposed.
The presiding officer fMr. Ingalls, sug-
gested that there should be at least quorum
present wheu unanimous consent was asked
Mr.. Teller-"The Senator from Missouri
[Mr. Cockrelll made speech today and did
not get through till A. Then no other Sena-
tor would care to go on and make a speech
with ralo in 1oa of q
Leen the case every day while this discus
sion has been going on. 1t is not peculiar to
this bill. This is the most important ques-
tion that has been before the American peo-
pie for hundred years, yet. Senators who
have studied the subject and given atten-
tion to it have not been able to get quorum
when they addressed the Senate. Let the
Senators understand that the bill Is to be
proceeded with until finally disposed Of"
Mr.. Vests bill was then taken up and dis
Mr.. Vest in its defence and Messrs Hoar
and Hale in attacks on it. The bill provides
that no clearance shall be granted to any
vessel plying as common carrier from the
United States to foreign couH-
try, the owners, agents or officers
offered, said vessel having storage room for
the same, any cattle for transportation to
foreign country, said cattle being in sound
condition, suitable for transportation and
Tile shipper L6Uu6TlDS TtdSUudUlo lIolBut
therefor; or who shall make any contract or
agreement, creating a monopoly OF the ca
pacity of said vessel for carrying cattle in
violation of the law governing and regulat-
ing the duties and obligations Of common
carrier of cattle to the public.
Mr.. Hoar asked whether Mr.. Vest meant
to assert that it was not to be right to con-
tract in advance for the transportation of
cattle by land, river or ocean.
Mr.. Vest replied that wherever contract
was made legitimately and not for monopoly,
when it was made in the course of ordinary
commercial trade, the bill would not apply,
but when the contract was made for the
whole capacity of a ship, or line of ships,
that was monopoly, against which the bill
was aimed
Mr.. Hale moved to amend the bill by in
serting the words mot already contracted
for in good faith by persons or parties hay
ing cattle for expectation at the date of such
contract, sufficient to occupy such storage
ROOM"
Mr.. Vest opposed the amendment as one
that would entirely neutralize the bill. 1t
was we'll known, he said, that one man con-
trolled every foot of storage room in every
cattle ship to Great Britain, and the amend
ment would simply say to that man: go on
and make your contract"
Mr.. Hale argued in support of his amend
ment Without 1.-THE said, the bill struck at all
precedent and thoughtful business. 1t would
not allow a shipper in the Senator's own
| state to make contract for transportation
| in vessel at New York or Boston that
would justify him in sending cattle to the
| seaboard. If the Senate was prepared to re.
| ject so limited an amendment as that offered
| by him, then it proposed to take TIE
| whole business in its own hands and injurt
| the class of men who ought to be protected
| This bill would PROSTATE and annihilatt
business by taking away from the business
| man the first necessary ingredient in bust
| ness, forethought and provision.
A vote on Mr.. Hale's amendment was
| yeas, 10; nays %.
| No quorum having voted, the Senate ad
| journed.