St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-15
EXERCISING A new POWER.
WILL CONGRESS- DICTATE WHERE
RAILROAD TRAINS MUST ST0Ps
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION rs UP.
A Bill Before the Senate to Com
pei the Rock Island Road to
Stop Its Trains at New Towns
is the Proposed Exercise of
Power a Usurpation OF
Rights?

WASHINGTON, Feb. lathe entire
time OF the senate today was consumed
IN the discussion of the house bill COM
pelllng the Rock Island Railroad COM
pany to stop its trains at the new towns
or Enid and Round Pond, in the Indian
territory. The measure is especially
championed by Senator Berry, of Ar
kansas. and is proving a subject of
great attention, as some Democratic
senators see in the proposed exercise of
congressional power usurpation of
rights. No action was reached on the
bill. but vote will, probably be taken
tomorrow.
The whisky tax and the position of
the w. G. L. U. on the question was
brought up by Senator Frye this morn
ing. The senator stated that he had
observed in the Associated Press dis
patches recently a statement that the
w. g. L. U. had petitioned congress for
an increase of the tax on whisky. On
examination it had been found that such
petitions had really been presented to
the house committee OH ways and means.
These purported to be signed by officers
OF the union in remote Western towns.
Letters had been sent to those towns,
and 1t had been found that no persons
lived in the locality bearing the names
signed to the petitions.
IL have the pleasure now" said he.
"of presenting remonstrance from the
National w. G. T. U. against a tax on
whisky. This remonstrance is signed
by officers Of the w. G. II. u. in forty
four states and three territories, and
those excellent women do not believe
that the United States ought to enter
into copartnership in either the manu-
facture OR sale of
INTOXICATING LIQUORS."
Senator Lodge (Mass.) presented
resolution, which was adopted. calling
upon the secretary of the treasury for
the record of the testimony in the in
vestigation of the Boston custom house.
The house bill to compel the Rock
Island road to stop its trains at Enid
and Round Pond. in Oklahoma, came
up as the unfinished business, and Sem
ator Palmer, of Illinois, took the floor
In favor of the bill. He argued that the
people of these towns were suffering a
wrong and injustice, and that it being
within the power of congress to afford
relief, this bill should be passed with
out delay. The bill was opposed by
Senator Carey, of Wyoming, and Sena-
tor Martin, of Kansas. --,---
Senator Martin. in opposing the bill,
declared that it was violation of Dem
ocratic doctrines. that the legislature of
Oklahoma had ample power to deal
with the subject, and congress should
not interfere. He was not a friend of
the railroads, in fact they had ALWAYS
opposed him when he was candidate
for office. but he did not believe in yio-
lating che tenets of his faith because a
railroad would thereby be compelled to
do thing which the territorial legis-
lature had the full power to compel it
to perform. Senator Allen followed
Senator Martin, and favored the bill.
1t is proper that the people of the
country should know that the agents
and attorneys of that corporation are
invading the capitol trying to influence
Legislation. They are in the committee
rooms. in the senate lobby and in the
senate galleries. 1t is costing the rail-
road company more money to fight this
bill than it would to establish depots
and stations at all these towns.
Senator PETER, (Kan.) thought tha
congress should exercise the power of
compelling the railroad company to es-
tablish these depots, as it would be
nearly year before the territorial leg
islature would be In session. He be.
lieved. however, the bill should be
amended. Senator Call (Fla.) favored
the Dill and made long speech de-
nouncing railroad corporations in gen
eral.
Pending the discussion of the bill. the
senate at 4:20. on motion of Senator
Blackburn, went into executive session.
AT sos the senate adjourned.