Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-16
WATERWAY TO LAKE ERIE.
Mr.. Cullom Wants a Compulsory Car
Coupler Law Passed.
SHERMAN'SRESPECTFOR THE FLAG
Leads Him to Offer Bill to Protect 1t From
Any Insult.
ANOTHER BIG BILL DAY IN THE SENATE

President, on the opening of the Senate
announced the appointment of Mr. Morrill,
as regent of the Smithsonian Institution, tC
fill vacancy. Among the bills introduced
and referred were the following:
By Mr.. Quay-For a survey for shiI
canal connecting the waters of Lake Erie
and the Ohio river.
By Mr.. Morrill-For the purchase of 8
site for building for the Supreme Court Of
the United States. For bronze statue OF
Christopher Columbus in Washington, and
the removal of the naval monument to q
new site.
By Mr.. Manderson-For the survey and
sale of islands in the Platte river, Ne.
braska.
By Mr.. Proctor-To reorganize the in
fantry of the army and increase its eff
cheney. To repeal the law for the examina-
tion os certain officers of the army, to regu-
late promotions therein, and to extend lin
cal promotions to first Eeutenants.
BY Mr.. Hansbrough-To fix the pay and
allowances of veterans of the army.
Cullom Wants Legal Car CoupIers.
Senator Cullom introduced bill for the
adoption and use of a uniform standard car
coupler and regulating the operation and
control of freight trains used in interstate
commerce and for the greater safety of rail-
road employees 1t provides that all CON-
mon carriers whose duties include the COUP
ling of cars and who are members of estab-
lished organizations of railway employees
may within six months after the passage of
this act vote upon the choice of an auto
matte car coupler Such coupler may be of
the vertical type, but must be so devised
as to couple by impact, and to dispense
with any person going between the
cars to couple or uncouple Every common
carrier is to be entitled to one vote for
every freight car owned, leased or con-
trolled, and the employees entitled in the
aggregate to one-third as many votes as may
be cast by all the common carriers, the
Interstate Commerce Commission to have
the power to decide upon the validity of
the votes cast If not less than 600, 600
votes have been cast, and the entire vote
for any particular coupler is not less than
100000, the commission shall certify these
facts to the President, who shall issue a
proclamation declaring the coupler chosen
TO be the standard safety car coupler for use
in Interstate commerce. In case no choice
Is made the President shall appoint COM
mission Of five competent persons to deter
mine the coupler best to be used
A Driving Wheel Brake to Be Used
The bill further provides that all carriers
are TO equip at least 10 per cent each year
Of the number of freight cars used, and also
to equip every engine with the power brake
known as the driving wheel brake" The
bill provides, further, that a violation of the
act shall be considered misdemeanor, and
punishable by fine of $780, The COM
mission NAV extend the time to any par
L L II. L
qaired 10 comply with the provisions of the
bill: and after the year 1900 any company
may refuse to accept any car not equipped
as required by the bill. The bill also pro-
vides that the commission shall invite bids
from inventors of couplers stating what
they will accept from the United States for
their patents, and upon the purchase of the
patent by the Government the coupler may
be used or manufactured by anybody free.
The salary of the commissioners is fixed at
$1,000 a year, and an appropriation of
$4,000 is made to carry out the proposed
measure.
Interstate Commerce Amendments.
Senator Cullom also introduced a bill
amendatory to the Interstate commerce
act. 1t provides that schedules and tariffs
and agreements between railroads filed with
the commission shall be prima facie evil
dence in investigations by the commission
and in all judicial proceedings. 1t also
makes the statistics, tables, ETC., contained
in the annual reports of railroads to the
commission prima facie evidence. 1t fur
ther provides that the production of testi- |
mony shall he according to the established
rules of evidence obtaining on the chancery
side of the Circuit Courts, with the excep- |
tion that the answers of defendants to COM |
plants shall have no weight as evidence. |
0n lnnt, - IL
written report specifying violations of law |
and containing its findings of facts and rec
concentrations. ON an appeal to the Cir |
cult Courts of the L United States the hear |
ing shall be confined to the record presented |
from the Interstate Commerce Commission. |
except where the party has right to trial |
by jury under the constitution, when the |
case shall be tried de noyo. The right to a |
rehearing by the commission is reserved
An Amendment on Timber Culture.
Senator Villas, of Wisconsin, introduced |
n bill amendatory of the act of the last |
Congress repeating the timber culture laws. |
The first amendment strikes out the REQUIRE |
ment in section l of the act that person |
must be an actual bona fde resident of the |
State or Territory In which the land he |
seeks patent for is located, in order to be |
allowed to make final proof Another
amendment strikes out the provision that |
no person shall be entitled to make entry
of desert land, except he be a resident of |
the State or Territory in which the land |
sought to be entered is located
Senator Sherman introduced bill author
iZing the Quartermaster General of the
Army to sell for cash to G. A. r. posts and
citizens of the United States flags of the
patterns prescribed by the army regulations,
the price to be fixed at the same they cost
fhe Government. tho oh;ect heinr IN ,,ro- |
mote and encourage the display of the flag
The bill further provides that any person
found guilty of printing, painting or affix-
ing to any flag anything tending to bring
the Government into contempt shall be
guilty of misdemeanor and subject to fine
and Imprisonment.
Senator Sanders introduced a bill consti-
tuting two new LAND districts in Montana,
one to be called the Southern Land Dis
trict, with the Office at Dillon, and the other
the Northern Land District, the office to be
at Ft Benton. He also introduced bill
S400.0 900 for the erection of a
public building at Butte, Mon. Also bill
the same amount for build
ing at Helena.
Another Thanksgiving Day Proposed.
Senator Davis, of Minnesota, presented
of the Legislature of Minnesota
in favor of the passage of law declaring
October II, the anniversary of the discovery
of America by Columbus, day of Ma
tional thanksgiving.
Senator Manderson introduced a bill
authorizing the Secretary of War to detail
army officers for special duty in connection
with the Worlds Fair, without loss of
rank
Mr.. Morrill, introduced joint resolution,