The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-20
WORK OF CONGRESS.
The House Passes the Bill Amending
the Interstate Law.

The House Passes the Bill Amending
the Interstate Law.
WASHINGTON, Jan. l9.--In the Senate in
the morning hour to-day Mr.. PETER con-
cluded his speech ia favor of "a single term
of presidential officers, new McGarrahAn
bill was introduced and referred
to the Judiciary committee, and
MIR. Wolcott gave notice of
an amendment to the bill suspending the
purchase Of silver bullion.
Discussion Of the anti-option bill was cons
tinued In the Senate from o'clock until tho
time OF adjournment. but no action was
taken on the bill itself or Mr.. Georges
amendment to It.
Notice was given by Mr.. Washhurn that
be would ask the Senate 60 remain in ses-
sion tomorrow until a final vote was
reached.
FIL1BUsTERING IN THE HOUSE.
The greater part OF to-day in the House
was consumed In filibustering. Mr. Kilgors
encompassed his object Of defeating action
20 the prison ship martyrs In Brooklyn and
on the measure for the construction of a
revenue cutter foT the Pacific coast.
The floor was then accorded to the COM
mtttee on commerce., and tho first bill called
up was one providing for sundry light
houses aud other aids to navigation. Messrs.
Kilgore and Brickner fllibustered against
this, but 1t passed In spite of them.
Mr. Wise then called up the Senate bill
concerning the testimony IN criminal cases
growing out OF the interstate commerce act,
with substitute providing that no person
shall be excused from attending or testify
ing before the interstate commerce COM
mission on the ground that
the testimony or evidence NAV tend
a.
agreed TO. and the bill as amended was
passed without objection. Mr.. Patterson
then called up the bill amending the inter-
state commerce act. The report accompa-
nyinR the measure says that the
bill Ia intended TO obviate the
construction which the courts have
placed on the words "the same line,n as
they appear In the fourth section of the
act They have held that where several
railroads connect constituting one line for
the transaction Of business, or q less
number, forming in part the
same line, may charge without
violation OF the law. greater rate than is
charged over the entire line. Under this
ruling section4 OF the act would be prao-
tioally nugatoTy, and a railroad company
could charge more over its own liue than
over its own and connecting lines for "A
much larger distance, The pooling section
OF the act Is amended by striking out the
word pool" and inserting the words "any
contract, agreement or arrangement" 1t
further provides that railroad companies
may make CONTRACTS. agreements or
arrangementsn for apportioning among
themselves their traffic or their gross
or net earnings under certain conditions TO
be imposed by the interstate commerce
commission. The bill further provides that
a common carrier who is a corporation may
be indicted for violation OF any provisions
, Of the act.
Mr.. Lind moved to strike out section of
the bill, which is the section amending the
pooling" section of the original act. The
motion was agreed 10.
Mr.. Boatner offered an amendment re-
quiring all railway common carriers to ac-
cept from connecting lines loaded cars or
trains to be hauled to point of delivery
at rate not exceeding that they charge for
similar service over their own lines This
was agreed TO by a vote of So to 58.
The bill was then passed.
The next bill called up was one reported
by Mr.. Storer amending the interstate com.
merce law. The object sought to be accom-
plished is TO make the printed and written
documents in the possession of the
committee admissible as legal
evidence with the force OF similar docu-
ments OF the executive and departmental
officers of the government. 10 passed.
No further business was done, and fill
bustsring prevailed until ad dIournment.