The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-10
YESTERDAY IN CONGRESS.

WASHINGTON, June 9.-Call offered
resolution, which was referred to the COM
mittee 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 Florida and
elsewhere in the United States to Cuba.
The senate silver bill was then taken up,
and Cockrell addressed the senate. At the
close of Cockrells speech the house silver
bill was laid before the senate. Teller
moved that the bill be printed and laid on
the table, which, after a brief argument.
was ordered. Vest asked that the senate
take up and consider the bill to prohibit
monopoly in the transportation of cattle to
foreign countries. Platt thought the SEN
ate should go on and dispose of the silver
bill. He had been waiting to bring forward
two bills which seemed to him, not only of
the highest Importance. but of the highest
privllege-bills for the admission of two
territories as states. He gave notice that
henceforth the silver bill could not be laid
aside except on yea and nay vote. Stew
art asked unanimous consent that on Fri
day next at O'Clock the senate vote on the
silver bill amendments. The presiding Of
ticer (lnRalls) suggested that there should
NOUS consent was asked. Stewart gave no.
tice that when the bill was taken up to-
morrow he would ask unanimous consent
to have Vests bill taken up and discus
sion of its provisions carried on between
Vest in defense of them and Hoar and
vides that no clearance shall be granted
any vessel plying as common carrier from
the United States to foreign countries, the
owners, agents or officers of which shall re-
fuse to receive, in any order in which they
may be offered. said vessel having storage for
the same, any cattle for transportation to
foreign countries. said cattle being in sound
condition, suitable for transportation. and
the shipper rendering reasonable freight
therefor, or who shall make any contract or
agreement creating monopoly of capacity
OF said vessel for carrying cattle, in viola
tion OF the law governing and regulating
the duties of common carriers to the public,
and prohibiting unjust discrimination be-
tween shippers. Reagan also defended the
bill and argued in favor of it's passage.
Hale moved to amend the bill by inserting
the words, mot already contracted for in
good faith by persons or parties having
cattle for transportation at the date of such
contract sufficient to occupy such storage
room." Vest opposed the amendment as one
that would entirely neutralize the bill. Hoar
said that where all the storage capacity of q
ship was contracted for that ship ceased to
be common carrier and became q private
carrier. 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 was taken BY
one shipper (Eastman), and it was done to
control the English market and shut out all
other cattle dealers of the United States.
The result was the prices of cattle were put
up and put down when this monopoly chose,
because it controlled transportation. The
vote on Hale's amendment was yeas 10, nays
q. There being no quorum the senate ad-
journed.
In the house. on motion of Mr.. Comstock,
of Minnesota, the title of. the silver bill
passed Saturday was amended SO as to read:
Direction of the purchase of silver bullion
and the issue of the treasury notes thereon
and for other purposes" Lodge offered a
resolution that the secretary of the treasury
be directed to inform the house whether it
is true that the Cunard Steamship COM
pany refused to obey officers of the United
States to give q return passage to certain
immigrants landed at New York in viola
tion of the contract labor law, and, if SO,
what steps have been taken to refuse entry
to the steamships of that company until
they had complied with the law and made
due reparation for their refusal. The reso-
luton was referred to the committee on
foreign affairs. The floor was then accorded
to the committee on the District of Colum-
bia. Several district bills were passed and
the house took a recess.