The Washington times., 1905-02-07
WILLIAMS SCORES
THE REPUBLICANS
Fiery Speech Against the
House Gag Rule,
MAJORITY WITH PRESIDENT
Declares Managers Are Seeking tc
Protect Railroads in Provisions
of Section ID.
MAJORITY WITH PRESIDENT

y
terday afternoon in opposition to the
rule providing for the consideration of
the Esch-Townsend railroad rate bill,
Mr. Williams of Mississippi, the minor
ity floor leader, voiced the Democratic
opposition with all the force and elo-
quence of past sessions. He commanded
the closest attention, and received loud
and continued applause.
Any IaureIs Mr.. Williams has lost he
Tegained in this speech. and took his old
position unchalle nged-the leader OF the
minority by force of intellect and par
liamentary skill, as well as by virtue of
the votes of his associates. The points
he made were those upon which the
Democrats will insist.
Points III His Speech.
Following are striking extracts from
the speech:
This rule Is. brought here for the
purpose of preventing a majority of this
House-composed of this side solidly,
with enough of that side to make ma
jority-frem formulating and bringing
forth q bill which would accomplish
this purpose Your object in this rule is
tc prevent your own men from amending
your own bill with our assistance. That
is your object.
Now, let each one of you understand
and let the country understand. when
you vote against this rule, precisely
what you are doing. You are voting to
conserve in your majority bill and keep
from being amended three railroad
jokers' in section Ii If you opened this
bill for amendment, the amendments
necessary TO cure the effect of those
.joiers would be offered, and they world
be passed by this House.
Your President has recommended q
R,ea sure where a rate substituted by the
commission for one declared off by it
shall be Immediately operative. and
ghzail remain continuously operative
pending litigation until set aside by final
decision of a court Your bill grants
that. but you. in section II, provide Cor
all sorts OF temporary restraining or
ders.' superseding the operation of the
commissioners rate preparatory to a
hearing upon the merits
t.in another part of this bill you attempt
to make the impression that your court
OF transportation will be purely an 9p-
pellate court, and that all the testimony
they will hear will be the testimony
adduced before the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
But IN section Il, which comes sub
sequent1y, you add a provision that these
interlecutory superseding orders shalt
be preparatory to 4 hearing upon the
merits That makes it necessarily a
trial de nov. so that your court goes
over :til that has been gone over by the
interstate Commerce Commission, or
Can. at any rate, do So In section Il
We propose. if permitted. by amendment
10 MAKE the bill say that these restrain
ing orders should be granted only after
due notice TO all parties Iifigant and
opportunity 10 be heard by both sides
IN restraining order granted the
case should not depend upon mere eX
pafte testimony. bur a restraining order
where IL shall be granted at all should
De issued only in accordance with the
PROVISIONS of the judiciary act of 1883.
provision which then applied to all
inJuncuons and superseding restraining
orders after due notice to all the Iiti-
giants and an opportunity 10 he heard
With MY. Roosevelt.
Ne want 10 re-enact that with regard
TO this special class OF inJunctio4S
issued to override the Interstate Com
merce- Commission. Your President saws
you can do it lie has lately heartily
Endorsed the idea IN connection with an
other class of inJunctions, and a bill has
been introduced by gentleman on that
side of the Hcase in connection with in
functions III labor troubles PROVIDING
that these Injunctions shall not De
granted until after notice and opportu-
nifty to be heard
THAT may be a debatabfe point with
regard 10 In]unctjoaS in labor troubles
because Il is at least conceivable that
s1EIle Gay some red-hauded, bowling
mob, peTsonifying Fury, might have in
lis right hand q torch and q dagger in
she left, destroying and further threat
~sling life and property. when even the
ezertest delay for notice might result
IN IFTepaFabie damage. but j.! these
cases, superseoing Il finding Of the com
mission fixing u rate, there never could
DC Irreparabie damage. but only sacf
sIlHit and temporary injury as would
grow up by reason OF the fact that g
ROAD would fail for a brief interval dur
ing litigation to collect Il small percent
age Of 4 rate which it desired to col