The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-03-18
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.

stance OF ingratitude.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
A the beginning Of Cleveland's first
Administration in March, lSs5. at the
extra session of the Senate called by
the President To confirm his Cabinet
and other early appointments, the
movement for the regulation OF in
t,.r~tatr commerce was originated by
the Republicans Of that body. appar-
emily for the purpose OF forestaliing
the prospective action OF the Demo
cratic House ON the same subject
when IL should come together in reg
ular session in December following
Accordingly. on motion Of Mr.. Gull
lon. ~ Illinois. a committee consist
ing 81 Senators Cullum. Pratt. Miller
. N. NJ. German and Harris was APP
poiutrd with authority 10 sit during
the recess. TO summon witnesses and
10 do whatever was necessary for a
fun investigation upon the subject
OF the regulation 81 the transporta-
ton by railroad OF frcightS and pas
Srnrrrs between she several States.
with instructions 80 report 20 the
senate az the commencement Of tho
regular srS~snu ~ Congress in De
rcmbcr following
Mr. German being thus placed at
the head Of the Democratic minority
Of the special committee, devoted
himself diligently 20 its sessions dur
ing the summer. in which a vast
amount Of testimony bearing on the
snhf-rt OF interstate transportation
was taken by the committee He took
( a conspicuous part in the ipvrSilga-
tinu. and. when the report came be
E fnvr, the Senate. accompanied 10y the
hin reported hy the committee
(which. with important amendments
became a lAyyl. took an equally con
. suiruouS part ON the floor ln Us con-
s.4cration aud anne udmrnt- HIS grac-
fi~al knowledge - business affairs.
reinforced by the special Information
as.gu5rr.i through the t5Eatlon,
served him 20 good purpose, anH ne
did much io make the work thorough
md effective. ana not nAlt way
measure a. some 81 It's projectors
prohably desired The chief corirn-
iion over the bin aros" over the
fourth section which as originally re-
ported read as toiiows-
S~-tian g. That il shall b. unlaw ful
T for any common carrier 20 charge or
receive any greater compensation IN
I the aggregate for the traEsP or'at'on
Z II fsas-~urvTz or property subject To
the pro, isiops of this article Tor
shorter than longer distance. over
the same line. ra tie $685. direction and
T from ~ asu.y a-lgsssysi p1gH5 n arpart"rs.
Mr.. German had opposed the in~eT-
I tlnr ~ the clause in italics. IN which
. he was supported by Mr. Harris, his
+ democratic sulfraE que on the commit
tee but they were oyvrrulvd 10y the
Republican ma iority 81 thv commit
tee. and the biH reported - gwen
above. The question arose on an
amendment tu strike out the cbJrc-
ff,nahls clauses. and Mr.. German
made q furribis sPcrch in support OF
th,. amendment. lie carried his point
enough Republicans joining the s"i'd
vote az th. Democrats 10 adopt the
amendment. aud thus we're the iln-
Bsrtapt provisions in relation 20 the
long and short haul made effective
through which she greatest relief 20
the people carried hy that Important
. rura sure. was secured, Mr.. 1orman :
SERVER iu THIS capacity won high
Z Communications Cor him Al the time
from the opponents throughout thc
country OF the rapact'y OF the trans
portation corporations
BE has ever since remained a rank
ing member 81 the Committee on In
terStatr Commerce, which has become
on-. of the standing committees 81 the
senate. and could have had its chair
usgushiu when the Democrats con
troilcd the senate, had he not pre-
ferrrd the Committee on Printing
A FRIEND OF The NEW NAVY.
Although some preliminary steps
had been taken in the previous Ad-
uliUiStrat5on. tbs. movement for the
,tpsuiIfinr OF the New Navy practi-
c.,Uy took systematic shape during
the first Cleveland Administrator
under the direction of Secretary
Whitney. Mr.. Gorman was then an
influential member OF the Committee
on Appropriations. and in committee
and on the door was the trusted
friend and adviser of Mr.. Whitney IN
his enterprise The result was hoeTai
appropriations for the Navy ana the
{ inauguration of that system OF an
uual accessions To our fleet OF modern
steel battIeships, cruisers ana other
accessories of an up-to-date Navy
which has brought the United states
TO her present standing among INC
naval powers OF the world.
When the Harrison Administration
came in, and MIR. Tracy succeeded 10
I the Navy portfolios Mr.. German con
tinued his attitude IF friendly cooper
alton with the new Secretary, ana ms
T services in that behalf were reheu
upon and fully appreciated. On the
occasion of banquet given 10 MN III
+ Baltimore, during his term OF once
+ Secretary Tracy took occasion IN
public speech to acknowledge, in very
complimentary terms, the VaIuapie
services of Senator German in behall
Of the Navy. The Senator continued
I his good Offices in that behalf down 10
7 the end of his public service, and al
ways exercised a large and command
/ ing influence in the matter.
CHAIRMAN MINORITY CONFERENCE.
/ The position of chairman of the MI
nority Conference in the Senate is one
of high honor and responsibility. 1t
/ is recognized in the organization OF
4 the Senate. and the chairman has as
/ signed to him one of the most ca
I pacious and handsomely furnished
committee rooms in the Capitol, where
/ the minority, from time to time, con-
4 gregate and confer in regard to mat
| ters of policy. The chairman presides
over the party conference and is the
! recognized leader of the minority.