The record-union., 1894-12-08
snecial to the REcoRn.uN1ox.

the Measure.
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
WASHINGTON, Dec. THE House
spent an hour to-day in the consideration
of the bill to protect forest reservations.
The remainder of the day was occupied
in the further discussion of the railroad
pooling bill. The debate was participated
in by Cochran of New York and Wise of
Virginia in support, and Bryan of Ne
braska and Northway of Ohio in opposl-
ton to the bill. The speech Of Cochran
was especially brilliant, and for almost
an hour he held the House spellbound.
Debate under the five-minute rule begins
tomorrow, and it is expected that final
vote will be reached on Tuesday OF next
week. The bulk of the opposition seems
to be directed at the section of the bill
which gives railroads the right to appeal
to the courts from the decisions OF the
com mission revoking pool orders.
At the opening OF the session of the
House to-day, on motion OF Martin
(Dem.) of Indiana, the order for the night
session this evening to consider private
pension bills was vacated.
The Committee on Banking and Cur
rency was given leave to sit during the
sessions OF the House.
The House went into Committee of the
Whole TO consider the Presidents mes
sage.
Wilson lDem.) of Virginia moved that
the Committee of the Whole be dis
charged from the consideration of the
message. and its various parts be referred
10 the standing committees having juris-
diction.
Crow (Rep.l of Pennsylvania, in ac-
cordance with notice previously given,
addressed himself TO the banking scheme
promulgated in the Presidents message.
lie said he believed the law should re-
main exactly as 1t was, except the banks
be allowed TO deposit money as well as
bonds Tor circulation, and take out SIl0
on every 500 in money deposited and In
circulation up to the par value OF bonds.
The State banks, he believed, should
have the same rights to issue with the
same liability to the Government, to-
gether with the personal liability OF stock
holders.
The motion of Wilson was then agreed
to.
In the morning hour McRae, from the
Committee on Public Lands, called up
the bill to protect forest reservations.
Wells (Dem.l of Wisconsin opposed the
bill in every feature. The attempt to
drive this bill through under whip and
spur smelled-he would say SaVored ii he
did not have such high respect for the
Chairman of the Public Lands Commit
tee-of DOODLE 1t was said the Forestry
Association was behind this bill. There
was another association behind ii, which
had it's origin in Maine fifty years ago,
and had now extended to the Pacific
Slope 1t was an association of timber
thieves and land sharks. II these tim
Der thieves were allowed to go into the
public forests they would Dribe the
nf l)HnartnlpnE
destroy them. Pine-land thieves in
Michigan and Wisconsin. he declared eX
citedly, had grown rich on the plunder
and then bought seats both in this house
and the other. He challenged any adyo-
cate of the bill to show line IN 1t de-
signed TO protect public forests.
When Wells took his seat Chairman
McRae Indignantly denied there was a
land ring or association behind the bill.
lie had assumed responsibility for the
bill. and if the gentleman from Wisconsin
knew OF any hidden power behind IL he
would yield time for him to make known
its nature.
Il said BEFORE" replied Wells holly,
''that l believe in your honesty, but the
gentleman is green in the lumber busi-
ness, and believe the gentleman is be-
ing deceived and made q fool"
II may be green in the business" re-
turned McRae, but l take pride in the
fact that | represent one OF the largest
timber sections in the country. My State,
however, is not affected by this bill.
There is no interest behind this bill save
such as ought to inspire every patriotic
Amercan-protectio of the forest from
devastating fires and timber thieves"
After some further debate by Wilson
Rep.) of Washington, Picker (Rep.) of
Maryland and Coffin (Dem.) of Wyom-
ing the morning hour expired, and in
accordance with the terms of special
order the railroad pooling bill was taken
up.
Cochran (Dem.) of New York addressed
the House in favor of the measure, argu-
ing in support of legitimate and legal
pooling.
''It is urged" he said, "that the grant
ing Of the pooling privileges would
be an enlargement OF the privileges OF the
railroads. 1t would probably be the re-
storation Of that freedom of contract to
which they are entitled by common law
before the Interstate Commerce Act
robbed them. The railway companies
arei entitled to conduct their properties
at fair profit"
Bryan (Dem.) of Nebraska opposed that
section of the bill which allowed the rail-
roads 10 appeal from the decision of the
commission revolling pooling orders.
The commission should have absolute
control if the pooling privileges were to
be permitted. but he opposed any bill au-
thorizing pooling. Pooling subyerted the
doctrine of competition, and he denied
the right of the Government to Interfere
with free and fair competition. The pro-
lection of society from exbortion rested
on competition. The time has come
when railroads should be reasonable, and
he offered an amendment with which he
wanted TO test the sense of the House.
Unless one principle was to exist Tor other
corporations and one for railroads, rail
road rates should be calculated on the
val nf a
Byran was applauded when he finished.
Northway also antagonized the meas
ure.
Wise, Chairman of the Interstate Com
merce Committee, supported the bill.
AT p. NJ. the House adjourned until TO-