Morning journal and courier., 1892-12-16
WASHINGTON NEWS.

Senator Peffer Severely Criticizes the
 Amendment to the Interstate Com.
 merce Act-Restrictfon of Immigra.
 tiOn-Peru Adopts a Gold Standard.
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-The populists in congress have taken alarm at certain measures aimed at the interstate commerce act, and are fearful that determined effort is to be made to devitalize that most benefcient piece of legislation, as they re- gard 1t. .--
 Senator Peffsr of Kansas is the first to see the workings of the plan. This morn ing he said that he wished to call attention to some significant facts in connection with the pending Cullom bill to amend the act. The bill, he said, was marked ''In- troduced by Request" and he intimated that it was done at the request of the rail road people. It was introduced the day before yesterday, and was not printed until yesterday morning; yet meeting of the committee was held to hear the railroad people almost before that bill was off the press. Looking at the bill itself. Senator Peffer said 1t was framed to achieve the very thing that the interstate act was in- tended to prevent, which was pooling. Under it's terms the people would surren- der the control they now held over the roads and the latter would once more be authorized to make and maintain any rates they choose to impose. Then the amend ments to section 10 of the act would remove the penalty clause, so that there would be practically no punishment for violation of the very essence Of the act.
 Altogether Senator Peffsr regards the bill as most dangerous measure and an- nounces his purpose to fight it at all points.
 la the house to-day MT. Brosius of Penn sylvania introduced for reference & bill to provide for the Improvements of the federal quarantine service and for the temporary suspension of immigration It empowers the secretary of treasury to establish fed eral quarantinesstations at Portland, Me 7, Boston. New York, Philadelphia and Bal timore, and to put them in condition to prevent the introduction of contagious or infectious diseases. The stations shall be under the control of the marine hospital service. The secretary of the treasury is authorized to select plans for the ereo- tion of quarantine buildings. It is further provided, "rhat for the security of the people of the United States against the introduction of Asiatic cholera, all immigration from European and Asiatic countries should be suspended for one year from the passage of this act"
 Seven hundred thousand dollars is ap- propriated to carry out the provisions of the meesnre.
 Ex-Governor Cheney of New Hampshire called on the president to day and formally accepted the office aa minister to Switzer- land. He was commissioned, took the oath of office and made ready to start for his post of duty in few days.
 Mr. Anthony of Texas introduced in the house bill repeating the act of June 27, 1890, granting pensions to soldiers and sailors and to widows, minor children and dependent parents of soldiers and sailors. The bill also provides that all pensions granted under the act shall be discontin- ued.
 The bureau of American republics is in formed that the Peruvian government has decreed a gold standard and limited the coinage of silver to 4,000,00 solos. The maximum legal tender in silver has been 6vad ooloo