The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-12-07
WASHINGTON NEWS.
The Railroad Pooling Bill Considered
in the House.
MIR, REED ON THE INTERSTATE
COMMERCE COMMISSION.

MIR. Morse Says the Only Thing About the
Bill That Keeps 1t Alive is the Clause
Regarding the Salaries and Expen-
ses of Commissioners-ALis List of Appoint
ments and Chang es Made in the House
Items of National Interest-The
Japanese Treaty Sent to the Senate.
Washington, Dec mber 6-Today Speaker
Crisp announced the following committee
changes and assignments: Mr.. Hicks, he
publican of Pennsylvania. is taken OH the
levees and improvements of the mississippi
river committee. Mr. Tate. Democrat OF
Georgia, off Indian affairs. Mr.. PaynteT,
Democrat of Kentucky. off committee on
elections. Mr.. Sibley. Democrat OF fenh-
sylvania. off expenditures of the treasury
Department. Mr.. Wheeler. Democrat OF
Alabama, off the military affairs.
These changes were requested by MEM
bers named:. - - "a
ASSIGNMENTS.
Mr.. Wheeler, Democrat of Alaoa-
ma. on ways and means. Mr. nsioiey'
Democrat of Pennsylvania. on appropr1a-
tions. Mr.. Harrison, Democrat of Ala bama,
on Judiciary. Mr.. Tate, Democrat OF
Georgia, on naval affairs. Mr.. Little, DEM
ocrat of Arkansas. on Indian affairs. Mr..
Hicks, Republican of Pennsylvania. on
public buildings and grounds. Mr.. tracey
Democrat of New York, on merchant marine
and fisheries. Mr.. BIomwell, republican OF
Ohio, on railways and canals, estimates an
expenditures and state department. MT.
Harter, Democrat of Ohio. on private lano
claims. Mr.. Robertson, Democrat OF
louisiana on library. Mr.. Sorg, Democrat
of Ohio, on military affairs.sM Mr.. Grimm he-
publican of Wisconsin, on militia ana lrrlga-
tion of arid lands. Mr.. Ogden. Democrat
of Louisiana, on leyees and improvements
of the Mississippi river and expenditures OF
most office department. Mr.. Moore, De1ho-
c,at of Kansas, on militia and expenditures
for nublic buildings. MI. Beckner. Demo-
crat of Kentucky, on expenditures for the
treasury departments and on commlttee
elections. Mr.. Coffin, Republican of Mary
land. on mileage and private land claims.
Mr. Henry. Democrat of Louisiana. on
nensions and expenditures ot.post ofiae de-
partment.
BILLS REPORTED.
Nj, Livingston, Democrat of Georgia, re-
norted the Notifications appI opriatIon Dill
for the year ending June, 30, 1896.
Mr.. o'Neil. Democrat of Massachusetts,,
renorted the pension appropriation Dill Tor
the same year.
bill to amend the interstate commerce
law to permit the railroads to pool business
was taken up.
Mr.. Cooper Democrat of Florida. said he
vou1d offer substitute for the committee
hill a measure which placed pooling con-
tracts absolutely under the control of the
interstate commerce commission. which
should be empower ed to modify or suspend
| them, and whose action should oe nnai'
Mr.. Morse, Republican of Massachusetts.
| said he would vote for the bill because II
was step in the direction of total repeal
| of the interstate commerce law, a law that
| was dead letter and had never been en-
| forced except in spots and never would be.
| The only live thing about the law. and all
| that kept it alive was paragraph which
| nrovided for the salaries of the commission.
| eIs and the expenses of the commission
| The committee could not bring in bills te
reneal the other sections of the law too fast
| to suit him.
| Mr.. Daniels, Republican of New York
/ opnosed the bill as tending to enable the
| railroad companies to manage their proper
| ties to the detrment of the interests of the
public.
| MI. Morse asked Mr.. Daniels what meas
ure he would propose to prevent the
! diversion of traffic from the United States
| to Canadian railroads. which had been the
effect of the Interstate commerce law.
| Mr.. Daniels replied that he would place