The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-02-22
FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
RAILROAD LEGISLATION OCCUPIED THE
DAY IN THE SENATE.
Bill to Compel Railroads to Establish Dspots
I at Enid and Round Pend Still Pend
highland ssignisrags Coin
age Holding the House
SENATE.

Lime of the senate today was consumed
in discussion of the bill compelling the
Rock Island railroad to stop it's trains
at the new towns of Enid and Round
Pond in the Indian Territory. The
measure is especially championed by
Senator Berry of Arkansas and is
( proving subject of great attention,
.. as some Democratic members see in
the proposed exercise of congressional
power an usurpation OF rights. No
action was reached on the ill but a
vote will probably be taken tomorrow.
The whisky tax and position of the
Women's Christian Temperance union
on the question was brought up By
Senator Frye this morning. The SEN
ator stated that he had observed in
the Associated Press dispatches a
statement that the Womens Christian
J Temperance union had petitioned
! congress for an increase of the tax on
whisky. On investigation it had been
found that such petitions had really
been presented to the house committee
!, on ways and means. These pur-
ported to be signed by Off
GERS of the Union in remote
, Western towns. Letters had been sent
to these towns and it had been found
: that there were no persons in the To-
cality bearing the names signed to the
petitions. | have the pleasure now,
said he, ''of presenting remonstrance
from the National Woman's Christian
Temperance union against the tax on
whisky. This remonStrance Is signed
by the officers of the Woman's Chris
'Jian Temperance union in "A states
and three territories, and these excel
lent women do not believe that the
United States ought to 60 into CO.
partnership in either the manufacture
or sale ofintoxicating liquors.
Senator Lodge presented resolu-
ton which was adopted, calling on the
secretary of the treasury for the re-
cord in the case of the investigation of
the Boston custom house.
House bill to compel the Rock Island
Railroad company to stop its trains at
Enid and Round POND in Oklahoma
came up as unfinished business and
Senator Palmer took the floor in favor
of the bill. He argued that the peo-
pie of these towns were suffering a
wrong and injustice, and that it being
within the power OF congress to afford
relief the bill should be passed without
delay.
The bill was opposed by Senator
Carey IVY. and Martin (Kan).
Senator Martin in opposing the Till
declared that it was violation of
Democratic doctrines; hat the legls-
lature of Oklahoma had ample power
to deal with the subject and congress
should not interfere. He was not a
friend of railroads; in fact, they had
always opposed him when he was
! candidate for office, but he did not be.
lieve in violating the tenets of his
faith, because railroad would there
by be compelled to do a thing which
the territorial legislature bad full
power to compel it to perform,
Senator Allison followed Senator
Martin and favored the bill. 1t is
proper that the people of the country
should know that the agents and at
torneys of that corporation are invad-
ing the capitol, trying to influence
legislation. They are in committee
rooms, in the senate lobby and in the
senate galleries. 1t is costing the rail.
4 road company more to fight the bill
than it would to establish depots and
stations in all these towns.
Senator PETER (Kan,) thought that
congress should exercise the power OF
compelling the railroad companies to
establish these depots, as it would be
nearly year before the territorial leg
islature would be in session. He be-
ha hill 6hnI1lH hn
amended.
Senator Call of Florida favored the
bill and made long speech denounc-
ing railroad corporations in general
Pending discussion of the bill the
senate at 4:2O went into executive ses,
sion, and at sos adjourned.
HOUSE.
All efforts to agree upon the time for
close of debate upon the Bland bill
have so far failed, and debate is still
proceeding without limit. Bland will
probably permit them to go on until
tomorrow night, as there are quite a
number of gentlemen who insist upon
the right to be heard. Opponents of
: the measure have decided that they
will insist upon a quorum OF advocates
of the measure being present at every
stage of the parliamentary proceed
ings hereafter, so that a motion to
close debate will require quorum of
those who are in favor of it. There
are many of the house who are absent
at this time, and it will probably re.
: ouire two days at least to secure the
T attendance necessary to bring the bill
u to vote.
Tomorrow it is Mr. BANDS intention
, TO make a motion to close debate, and
as this motion will probably develop
the lack of quorum, the opponents
of the bill refusing to vote, he will
then offer resolution to bring in the
absentees. probably Friday and part
of Saturday and possibly still another
day will be required to produce the
requisite quorum. A quorum favoring
the bill being here, if necessary, a
special order will be brought in to
bring the measure to a final vote. Mr..
Rayner and some other Democrats
4 who are leading the opposition still
\ insist that the bill can be beaten, but
Mr.. Tracey, who is floor leader. OF the