The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-07
BILLS BY SENATOR FAIRBANKS
MEASURES INTRODUCED IN BEHALF
OF RESIDENTS OF INDIANA.
War Claims Resolution I'm which This
state Is Interested-BiII To Retire
j. n. Frederick.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-The real fght
against the merging of the Northwestern
railroads was begun in the city to-day.
The attorney general OF the state OF Min
nesota. accompanied by the assistant attor-
ney general and special counsel, arrived
here this afternoon. and viii attempt TO
bring suits in the United States Supreme
Court against the Northern Securities Com
pany. As soon possible they viii file
a motion seeking permission TO bring this
suit II this prayer is granted. the State
of Minnesota will file its claim and bring
suit against the Northern Securities Com
pany, existing under the laws Of New
Jersey. a commissioner will be appointed
to hear testimony. and after this is taken
the evidence will be laid before the Supreme
Court and the trial take place.
While the attorneys will not discuss the
details of the suit. it is understood they
will claim that the State OF New Jersey
has granted the Northern Securities Com
pany power to violate the laws Of Mime
sofa, which forbid the consolidation OF
parallel lines of roads. 1t is also inti-
mated that they may claim that the state
OF New Jersey has granted a corporation
power to interfere with the free commerce
between the States of the Northwest. The
legal proceedings in Washington are con-
temporaneous with litigation which viii
be begun in the Minnesota State courts.
XXX
The Supreme court to-day handed down
two very important decisions. which go
long way towards sustaining the power
of the States to fix transportation rates.
They were Kentucky cases. and are printed
elsewhere.
An important phase OF railroad lesisla-
tion and litigation is a bin which is to
be introduced i'm "A few days. following the
suggestions made by President Roosevelt
in his annual message. The proposed meas
ure met the approval OF the Interstate law
convention held in st. Louis in November.
1900. and has had the Endorsement OF various
shipping and commercial bodies throughout
the country. The real Importance OF the
coming measure is that ii will make one
/ concession 10 the railroads. That is that
/ all penal clauses are eliminated and the
/ Interstate-commerce Commission would be
/ given power to fine railroad officials who
/ Disseminated in rates.
The first provision will be that all trans
/ DOTldtlOl
for carrying goods or persons without first
publishing a schedule OF rates, and IL the
/ officials of such companies deviate from
/ the rates by rebate or otherwise they may
/ be punished by a fine or not less than 800
or more than $500 for each ofense. The
granted the authority 10 alter these rates
when il appears 10 that body, after full
I hearings. that they unjust The find
/ ings OF the commission shall continue in
/ force but two years. United States courts
are empowered TO enforce the rulings or
/ the commission, and refusal by the trans
portation companies 10 obey may be pun
/ ished by fines of $4,000 for each case. False
representation by shippers as 20 weight
/ or classification may be punished by fine
! OF from 81 900 TO $500 in each case.
/ Senator Elkins, chairman OF the inter-
state-commerce committee, stated to-day
/ that Congress unquestonably would be
/ forced 10 pass laws permitting the govern
ment 10 enforce equalized rates He says
his committee will report such law and
| endeavor TO secure its passage
XXX
Representative Steele. in discussing the
changed sentiment I'm favor of lower tariffs
for Cuban sugar and tobacco. said this
evening that he had not finally made up
his mind as to the position he would take
| in the ways and means committee and
later when the measures comes up in the
/ House but for the present he was disposed
10 think that il too early 10 do any
/ concessions He said he thought ~ was
I high time TO consider such relief measures
when the Cuban government had organized
/ and some OF the people OF the island had
/ shown "A little gratitude for the things
which the United States had made so many
/ sacrifices u do for them Mr. Steele ad-
! mitted that "a tremendous pressure was be-
ing brought 10 bear on the members Of the
/ House in favor OF concessions on the tariffs
/ OF sugar and tobacco, but he thought this
pressure did not emanate 50 much from
the Cubans as from other interested per-
I sons.
| Representative Kyle OF Ohio. to-day
made a favorable report from the commit
tee on claims OF a resolution instructing
the secretary OF the treasury 20 adjust the
war claims OF Indiana, Ohio. Illinois and
I Michigan or refer them 20 the Court Of
+ Claims. The Ohio claim Is about $500 ooo and
/ interest Indiana's claim is for over 10000.
t IL is very evident that strong effort VIII
be made 70 have all OF these claims ad-
justed during this session OF Congress. and
those interested are very much pleased
/ over the early start.
Representative McCleary. who has bgif
pending granting 10 national banks the
power 70 loan money on first mortgages on
real estate. Is receiving a great many let
/ tiers from Ohio. Indiana. Illinois and Michi-
gan approving the measure. From the
/ States Of New England and the East the
letters strongly oppose the N easure.
Xxx
Rural free delivery has been ordered es-
tabnshed in Indiana. TO begin Feb. 1. as
follows:
Clinton Vermilion county-length Of
route. 26 miles: population served. 500; num-
ID. Wellman. Postoffice az Voorhees, 10 be
discontinued. Mail 10 Clinton. Ind.
Lafontaine. Wabash county-Length OF
route . miles population served. 62S. num-
Der OF houses on route, Us. Carrier. II. Il