The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-05
Power Is Delegated to the Rail
road Commissioners of the
State.
LEE PRESENTS SUBSTITUTE.
First Time in Thirty Years That
Such Legislation Has Been Dis
cussed in Assembly Out
side of Committees.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Jefferson City. Mo-, March 4.-For the
first time in thirty years the Senate this
afternoon considered in open session rail-
road freight-rate bill. Until to-day, bills
seeking to regulate freight charges have
been buried in committee. To-day, when
the Bradley freight-rate bill did come up
for consideration, a substitute offered by
Lee of Carter was adopted that will give
the Railroad Commissioners power to fix
rates.
OF course. the bill and substitute precipi-
tated a warm debate. Dickinson of Henry
was the particular champion of the measure
and explained that the committee had
agreed to the rates fixed therein. He asked
TO have one rate changed from 80 cents to
50 cents. but was defeated by standing
vote. Is to IL.
Lee of Carter offered his substitute imme-
oiately after the Dickinson amendment had
been defeated. The substitute provides that
the hahrGao Commissioners snau have
power to fix all railroad freight rates; that
complaints may b. made by shippers, May
ors. Aldermen, trustees and others inter
csted, and that the Commissioners may
modify at any time the rates liked by
them.
The Attorney General is empowered to en-
force the mandates of the Commissioners
by mandamLs or otherwise. Railroad com
pdnies are required to furnish schedules.
bills of iadinS and other records The
Commissioners have the power to admins
ter OathS and examine all officials.
Il understand that this substitute is sat
isfactory to the author of the original bill -
said Lee. For sixteen years l have been
trying TO get some mea which would
satisfy the railroads and the people The
present bill does not help 10 per cent of TIE
shippers. as it only apples to carload lots.
This substitute will put the Commissioners
on their honor ard give them authority to
afford relief
BRADLEY'S REPORT.
Bradley of St. Francois said that he I'M
derstood two of the rates fixed by the COM
mittee would defeat the measure. and that
the bill did not apply to less than carload
lots.
IF the substitute can be passed. he
said, then i am in favor of accepting it.
If the Commissioners do not do their duty,
then We can change the law two years
hence"
But l thought this measure was going
to send you to Congress" put in Heather.
and if you leave there won't be any
one here TO fix the thing"
Il won't take the oath of office until
March l." replied Bradley, "and l can get
the law changed before that time
McNatt said that he was from the back
woods. but that he knew when he was be-
ing bunkoed. Il shall not vote for the sub
stitute.' he declared.
Dickinson OF Henry took occasion to crit
to see vote on the original BILL he said.
If We do not pass 1t. then l am in favor
of the substitute
Walker Of Boone declared himself in favor
Of the original measure.
kineay made one of the strongest
speeches in opposition TO the original bill
and in favor of the substitute
The Supreme Court of the United States
has held that Legislatures should not at
tempt to fix rates. even though they have
the power" he said.
How can We take into consideration the
conditions of the various roads-the road
beds. the capital stock, amount of bonds is
ct st.,r,
and other pertinent matters bearing on the
subject. VIII this body say that the rates
on the prairie roads should be the same as
those IN the mountains? Will conditions
be the same two or four years from now
as they are at present? Let us vest the
power of Investigation in the hands of the
Commissioners. who can take all these
things into consideration and act equitably."
VOTE WAS 20 TO "A.
Heather opposed deiegating authority to
any board. My peope sent me here to ac-
cept responsibility; and | do not propose to
highest regard for Senator Kineaiy. and
he is my friend 1 do not think We should
ask every man who has s. or s. complaint
postponed two or three times, and suffer
other inconveniepces simply TO get a little
relief. No boards for me. There was no
greater scandal two years ago than the
Senate action in this matter. Do not let it
be repeated"
Earris spoke for The Lee substitute.
founded on this theory of delegated author
ity.'' he said. 'No man here can say that
these rates are lower than they should be.
No man can say that they are higher than
they should be. Let the Commissioners set
tie this question. and If they do not do 1t
satisfactorily we can wipe the whole office
OFF the statute books.
Martin of Saline opposed the substitute
Riggs of Audrain recalled the tactics of the
opposition two years ago.
The substitute was adopted by vote Of
n ing
Ayes. @-Buchanan. Clarke, Collins. Cos
tello. lFarris. Jewell. Kinealy. Lee. Media
vid McIndoe. Mckinley. Marshall. Matth-
ews. Morton; Nelson Sartorius, Schoenlaub
Smith. Stubhs. Sullivan.
Noes, 1tBiggs. J. l.. Bradley. Nick NJ.
Bradley. Dickinson Dowell. Fields. Heath
er. McNatt. Martin. Rubey. Worries. Walker,
Young. Zevely.
The Lee substitute was prepared by Far
ris. who consulted several other Sena tors
before presenting il. According to rumor
he IailrnalS not nnnnsnl a hn nj