The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-30
TAINTED MONEY
AND FREE PASSES
The Former Senator From New
# Hampshire Tells at Length Of
the Troubles Attendant ].
Upon the Passage Of
q Railroad Rate
Z. Bill.
(By Associated d Press.)

CONCORD, N. H., september 0.-ln
a series OF open letters to Edward A..
1tosclcy. OF the Interstate Commerce
Commission, former Senator William e.
Chandler, OF New Hampshire. defines his
attitude toward the Esch-Townsend rate
legislation bill to come before Congress
at its next session. and calls to the at
tention OF the commission some OF he
dangers that bcset the attempts to pass
this bill. as they appeal to him.
mfr. Chandler lays great stress upon
and says the methods OF defeating tho
measure to be put forward next winter
will be by dangerous amendments, or
additions to the Esch-Townsend bill t{"un-
dor the guise OF friendly improvements,
but really as railroad tricks" t 4.3
Extracts from these letters are as as
follows: 3'5Gs IA $3555
e The methods OF defeating the meas
ure are we'll understood by all but nov.
Ices. !:G3iAl q. zlt. T,
q No vote will be allowed on the direct
proposItion.@The question will be con-.
fused by all sorts OF qualifications and
additions: 4: and the proposition Z VIII b be
SO oyerlaid with other propositions that
1T will either pass not at all, /, or VIII
pass In a worthless form, or quite llKe.
Eiy In such a. form that the railroads Will
get more from 1t than the president a! and
the people. ~ -,
such was the case Of the so-called
Elkins bill OF February 10. 1903 Y The
mos important feature OF that bill was
the repeal OF the provision OF the old
law which, punished violations thereof
by Individual officers Of railroads by
imprisonmcnt as we'll as fine.# Tho re-
pealing clause was this: q, 5
s .1ns all convictions occurring a1ter43tne ne
assage OF this act for offenscs under
said act to regulate IL commerce, 9, Wnesner
commIted before or after the passas
OF this act, or for ofrenscs under this
section, no penalty shall be imposed Il on
The convicted party other than the fine
prescribed by law, imprisonment wher-
ever now prescribed as a part OF the
penalty being hereby abolished
For the last twenty years the rail-
read managers have been anxious to se-
cure this repeal OF Imprisonment as
penalty for their misdeeds. At no time
would they have refused to- give far more
In a new law than they conceded IN the ne
ElkIns law in order to get rid OF the
horror held before them BY the old law
the ever present fear that for their re-
bates and other crimes they might at
some time find themselves look
Ing out between prison bars. III
IA MAKE BILL WORTHLESS.
{ SO also again! next winter faithless
Republicans and timid Democrats will
combine to mako any bill which may
pass Congress give more to the rail-
roads than to the people. The simple
proposition OF the President will be so
overlald with qualifications as to be
worthless. or the bill will #be so crowded
with additions Justly Objectionable or Of
doubtful utility as to make Its pas
sege through both houses Impossible.
Extreme amendments will be devised
and secretly pressed by the railroad
managers. 80 that aethe last they will
be sure either that the. bill will not
pass or that 1T will do them more good
than harm. as did the Elkins bill & II
will be we'll for the commission to sc<3-
slider and be prepared for their adroit
Methods. to some Of which i will all,ide.
! DANGEROUS CHANGES. #
" I wish to say that the most dangerous
amendments or additions to the Esch-
Townsend bill, which are III ITO be put
forward next winter under the guise
OF friendly improvements of the bill,
but really as railroad tricks intended to
f5S 5l& fc,ontypued ~ 1rifth9 Do po 4 AZ, 4