Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1890 — WASHINGTON. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON.

, Senator Paddook, Monday, introduced a bill to amend the interstate commerce act The amendment is intended to provide re lief for the farmers in the west who are Unable, at present, to market their crops On account of the high freight rates pre vailing on the long haul, which tue railtoads claim can not be reduced without demoralizing all short haul rates under the interstate- act. The bill provides that the long and short haul clause shall be amended so that in case of an investigation for an infraction of that section the commis Aion shall be obliged to consider the cost Of transportation and facts and ciroum stances bearing upon the market value of the product, and that, if it appears that the product is one of the necessaries o* life, such as grain or the products of graih, and that upon it a justly lower rate is indispensable in order td enable such product to bo transported to the market, that such transportation rate, so far as tie long and Short haul clause is concerned, shall he considered an exception to the genera rule indicated in Sec. 4 of the interstate commerce act, and that the commission shall make an order accordingly.

* The silver bill to be reported by the Senate Committee on Finance as a substitute for the several bills on that subject re Iferred to it, is understood to be in shape jfor action. It has been, drawn up after [consultation with the Senatorial advocates jof i free Coinage, and they have jagreed to accept and support it. The SeeIretary of the Treasury is authorized to inepwse the purchase of silver bullion from

two to four and a half millions a month The requirement in the present law, that the coinage of silver shall be at the rate of not less than two millions a month, is. stricken out. The Secretary is also authorized to purchase gold bullion in unrestricted quantities. Upon this gold [and silver bullion the Secretary shall issue treasury notes in such denomination as he shall see "Dtp tlTbe redeemable in lawful money.' "~ r ~ The urgent deficiency bill is completed. It makes a total appropriation of . $23,650,213, of which $711,629 is made up of appropriations to pay two and three years’ vol unteers bounty to volunteers, commutations of rations and horse and property claims. Other items of importance are: For public buildings, $26,000; internal revenue, $110,0Q0; house and, establishments, $14,799; Collecting 'custonjs revenues, $185,000; for soldiers’ homes, $70,609; Patent Office, $30,000; Land Office clerks, $28,000; surveys, $10,000; Indian supplies, $5,000; for survivors and widows of soldiers of the Mexican war and war of 1812, $21,595,834; artificial limbs, $60,000; United States courts witness fees, S2OO - 000. Senator Paddock on the 28th, introduced a bill for the establishment of a Bureau of Animal Industry, to prevent the exportation of diseased cattle, and to provide for the suppression and extirpation of pleuropneumonia and other contagious diseases among domestic animals. This bill, which isinteadeel as a substitute for various measures on the same topic that have been before the Senate, provides that a Bureau of Animal Industry shall be established. The Secretary of Agriculture shall prepare and enforce rules for the suppression and extirpation of all diseases of cattle, es pecially of pleuro-pneumonia. Cattle so affected shall not be transported from one State to another. The bill further provides that in order to promote the exportation of live stock the Secretary shall make special.investigation as to the existence of pleuro-pneumonia along the dividing lines between the United States and Canada, and along the lines of transportation from all parts of the country to ports from which live stock are expected, and shall establish regulations concerning the exportation of such stock. No railroad company or steamship line shall receive for transportation, nor shall any person drive in a private conveyance any infeoted cattle. Fx President Cleveland has made a very handsome thing out of the sale of his counmiles out of Washington. He made the purchase in 1886, for $33,000, or about S9OO an acre, and sold it on the 28th for $140,000.* This will be a clear gain of SIOO,OOO, after paying for all the improvements.