Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-16
LIVE NATIONAL NEWS.

WASHINGTON, Dec 15.-Ihe Fopullsts
in Congress have taken alarm ut certain
measures aimed at the interstate commerce
act, and are fearful that a determined enorS
is to be made to devitalize the most oenen-
cient piece of legislation, rs they regard 1t.
Senator PETER. of Kansas, is the first to see
the workings OF the plan. This morning he
said he wished to call attention to some sig
nifcant facts in connection with the pend
ing Cullom bill to amend the act. This OIL,
he said, was marked introduced Dy re-
quest" and he intimated that IL
was done at the request OF the rail-
road people. 1t was introduced DAY
before yesterday, and was not prlnteo
until yesterday morning; yet meeting OF
the committee was neld to hear the ralIroau
people almost before the bill was ON the
press. Looking ut the bill itself, senator
PETER said 1t was framed TO achieve the
very thing that the Interstate act was IN IN
tended to prevent, which was pooling. Un-
der its terms the people would surrender
the control they now held over the ROADS,
and the latter would once more De as au.hor- ,I,o-
lied to make and maintain any rates they
choose to fix. Then the amendments TO sec
tion 10 of the act would remove the penalty
clause so that there would be prnctlcaly no
punishment for violation OF the VerV es-
sence of tho act. Altogether. Senator FeHer
regards the bill as most dangerous meas
ure, and announces his purpose to night IL at
all points.
A COMMITTEE composed of Walter
Gresham, of Texas; Charles NJ. Shelley, of
Alabama: Mr.. Maybury, OF Michigan; Ed
ward F. Cragin, of Illinois; F. j. Odendahl.
of Louisiana, and Richard L. Edwards, OF
New York, made its appearance in the city
this morning to promote the Nicaragua
Canal project in Congress. This committee
was appointed by the National Nicaragua
Convention to present to Congress the me-
mortal adopted by the body, and to request
Congress to take such steps rs will insure the
early completion of the Nicaragua Canal
and place it under the control OF the Govern
ment.
REPRESENTATIVE DEARMoND, of Mis-
souri,. to-day introduced in the House reso-
luton providing 1or the election of the Pres
identa and Vice President by the direct votes
of the people and distribution OF the elec.
toral votes in proportion to the number of
votes cast for each candidate. A novel fea-
ture OF the resolution provides that if either
House certifles thatthe result OF the election
depends upon the vote OF any speclned
State, and that it ought to be judic1aliy de-
termined for whom the votes should be
counted, there shall be convened at wash
ington on the fourth Wednesday in January
n Court OF Chief Justices, consisting OF the
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the
Chief Justice OF the highest court in each
State to hear and determine all questions
raised by either House. The Judgment OF
this court snail De nnal.
The Secretary of the Treasury to-day
authoriz ed the delivery OF $50, COO in souvenir
5O-cent pieces to the Worlds Fair directory.
that being the amount of expense vouchers
so far approved by the department. These
coins will be shipped from the Mint at Phil
adelphia tomorrow. 5000 worth going to
New York and $2S, 900 worth going direct to
Chicago, The formers will reach New York
Ia INN "A latter their
destination Saturday afternoon, but Will
serve only partly to meet the present heavy
demand from all points f3r these Sn CONS Sn ior
issued for the coinage of these pieces as
RAPIDLY as possible and it is estimated that
several hundred thousand of them will bear
the date or 1892.
SENATOR SAWYER evidently has in mind
the recent attempt to hold up railway pas
sengers in West Virginia by highwaymen,
and proposes to inflict severe punishment
upon any future ambitious person who ut.
tempts to either wreck, hold up OF Interfere
with the progress of trains. To-day he In
troduced bill which imposes henvy penal
ties upon persons who either attempt to
wreck train or rob its passengers.
REPRESENTATIVE ANTONY, of Texas,
introduced in the House to-day a bill repeal
ing the act of June 81, $780, granting PEN
sions 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 discontinued,
COMBINATIONS by the Senate to-day:
James W. McDill, of Iowa. interstate Com
merce Commissioner. Also the entire list OF
army and navy promotions made during the
recess of Congress.
Fr- L. - ~
Congress, approved May IL. 1892, to be estab
lished at or near the city of Helena, in Lewis
and Clarke county, Montana, will be known
and designated as Fort Harrison, in compli-
ment to the President of the United States
A VERY strong presentation in favor ot
the claimant in the famous McGarrahan
case was made in the Senate to-day by Mr..
Hunton, of Virginia. The chief point made
was that after hearing before President
Lincoln, in which both sides were repre-.
sented by counsel, Mr.. Lincoln had decided
in support OF the claim, and had directed
the issuance of patent; that the patent
was actually filled out and signed, and that
| it was afterward (before McGarrahan knew
OF its existence) mutilated in the Land office
of the Interior Department. The morning
hour expired before the argument was con-
| cluded, and the bill went over, without
| action, till Monday next In the morning
hour.
THE Senate and House to-day adjourned,
the former till Monday and the latter till to
morrow.
SENATOR GEORGE to-day brought to 3
| close his three-day speech in favor OF the
| anti-option bill: and Mr.. Washburn made q
| determined but fruitless effort to have day
next week fixed for a vote upon it. He had,
| early in the days session, fought against a
| 81 ,r1rYr
which fight he was defeated only by the
| casting vote of Vice President Morton. which
| vote was greeted with laughter and applause
by the opponents OF the anei+iopti9in ion ,i biii
dny next. There will be but four days left
until the holidays begin, and as four Sena'
| tors have given notice of their intention to
| discuss the measure there is little proha-
| bility that q vote can be reached until after
| the recess.
THE President to-day sent the name Of
John B. Tobias to the Senate for postmaster
| at Everett, IA.
CONGRESSMAN SPRINGER, Chairman Of
| the Committee on Ways and Means, reported
| in the House to-day a concurrent resolution
| for q holiday recess from December p 1892
to January 4, 1888 Agreed to.
THE House has passed the bill making il
unlawful for any common carrier to in sert
in any bill of lading or shipping document
| any clause, covenant or agreement whereby
it shall be relieved from liability for loss oil
| damage arising from negligence, fault OF
| failure in proper loading, storage custody
| care in transportation, or proper delivery
of any merchandise committed TO its care.
The Senate Commerce Committee has or
dered favorable reply on the Frye bill tC
| protect our coasting trade by prohibiting
| foraign Yessels to transport merchan dise