The Washington times., 1905-05-08
EARLY Termination
Of RATE HEARING
Senators See No Use in Pill
ing Up Testimony.
HAD BACON AND FISH TODAY
Statistical Expert Pleads for Rights of
Shippers-kate-M Making Power
for Unjust Charges Only.
HAD BACON AND FISH TODAY

There is such a thing as lawyer
over-trying his case"
Yes. that Is so. but I think the
hearings will go on for two or three
weeks to come
These We're the comments sexehangea=
to-day at the Capitol BY two Senators
concerning the probable duration of tie
present hearings conducted by the Sen
ate Interstate Commerce Commission.
Interest in the piling up Of testimony
is only perfunctory and most of the
members of the committee do not see
how advantage will accrue to anybody
by dragging along indefinitely It Ger
tainly will not help the dear public. who
have to pay the printing bills. And
then nobody will read all this testi-
mony any way, after it is printed" fur
| ther argued the first Senator
To Conclude Shortly.
There is every indication, therefore,
that the committee viii have an early
announcement TO make about the date
for closing the hearings. 4 number Of
the Senators of the committee haNsa
willingly changed their personal plans
TO give these extra weeks to the public
i business. but they see little to be gained
now by stretching out the session
Chairman EIIdns had to alter his
| plans for a European trip, but now
| that great amount of testimony has
! been taken, hopes to get away early in
June. Senator Dolliver. whose father
died a week ago. has just returned to
/ the city and resumed his attendance at
| the hearings today. taking his usual
| prominent part in the propOunding of
| queries tending to bring out the real
! conditions existing.
/ IyHs-
! in time for the Buckeye State conyen-
| tion, week after next Senator Kean
| Will not be sorry when he can get back
| to New Jersey zephyrs, after the busy
! winter he put in at the Capitol, with
! ali his cOllca gueS seeking him out for
| d slice of the contingent fund for an
/ extra clerk or messenger. Senators
! CullOm, Clapp, and NeWlands wear
| looks OF complacency determined, like
| General Grant, to see the thing
/ through If it takes all summer"
a Tiff With Bacon.
Chairman Elkins has been expedfting
the hearings with all possible speed
and called a railroad attorney at the
| opening of today's session. But E. P.
| Bacon, Of Milwaukee, the statistical
| expert who has testified several times
| before the committee. was already in
the witness chair at the end of the
| committee table, claiming the right to
! proceed. Ar F3Ikins said he had not
| seen Mr.. Bacon ut first, and suggested
/ that ne give ten minutes of his time
| 10 the railroad attorney. The Mil
| waukee man was not disposed to give
! up any o. his time, but after a good
| deal of verbal Sparring the chairman
| was able TO induce Mr.. Bacon to get
down TO business.
Intentions Misunderstood.
There has been a great deal of talk
| on the improbability of the committee
| recommending the comforting of the
rate-maktng power on the Interstate
| Commerce Commission. Mr.. Bacon de
clared today that he is not arguing for
any such broad powers. since he deemed
| it an impracticable task for one body
to make new rates all over the country.
| What he is contending for, he en-
| change a rate shown to be improper,
| discriminating and unjust. This. he
| believes, would affect only very small
| proportion of all the rates, assuming
| that most Of them are proper and that
all are proper until proved to be other
| wise. There was d good deal OF ques-
| tiOning of the witness on this point. as
| well as upon the scope and enforce
ment OF the EIkins anti-rebate law OF
| 1868.
The impression prevails that the ad-
| visibility of delegating making
power Of any kind viii be opposed by
| the committee and that any recon-
| raendations agreed upon Will be very
| mild ia comparison with what the
shippers have been seeking.