West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-05-04
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
The Senate Committee Holding Daily
Sessions On
RAILWAY RATE LEGISLATION.
New Foundland is Now Trying to
Attract Attention and Mix
Up With Uncle Sam,
RAILWAY RATE LEGISLATION
From Our Regular Correspondent,


Commerce has gotten to work and
is holding daily hearings on the sub.
Ject OF railway rate legislation. As
a starter Senator Elkius, chairman
of the committee, invited nearly
nifty railway men to appear before
the committee and testify as TO why
the Government should not attempt
to FIX railway rates. When the rail
road men have concluded their tes-
timony "such others as may desire"
Will be at atliberty to testify. To the
unprecedented observer it viii
appear as if the committee was more
anxious to hear the railroad men
than The opposition. OF course the
railway men who come to Washing
ton will have all of their expenses
paid by their companies and their
salaries will go on just the same,
while the shipper or other opponent
of the present system must come
here at his own expense, often leav-
ing his business to suffer in the
meantime.
Senator Elkins has also appealed
to the Department of Justice for
opinions on two questions as fol-
lows: First, can Congress delegate
TO commission the power TO fix
railway rates2 Second, can fed
eral commission allow dinercntial
rates between ports without conflict
ing with the ninth section OF the
constitution, which prohibits dis
elimination between the ports of the
several States2 The answers to
these questions are not likely to
meet with the approval Of some of
the members Of Mr.. Elkins com.
miltee or with that of the railway
men. Both questions have already
been answered by high authorities
on the subject. Senator Knox, for
mer Attorney General has assured
your correspondent that Congress
has the right to delegate its authority
to fix railway rates to a commission
and Senator Spooner, has informed
your correspondent that there is
nothing in the practice Of allowing
railway diherenlials which conflicts
with the section Of the constitution
referred to
There is, unfortunately, an
obvious disposition on the part of
the Interstate Commerce commit
tee to regard the current hearings as
little short Of farce. While they
are unwilling to be quoted on the
subject they admit their belief that
it is the intention Of the chairman
OF the committee TO conduct the
hearings with the purpose Of be
clouding the issue rather than with
the hopes Of elucidating it. More
over, they are convinced that the
Chairman, with the assistance Of
several members OF the committee
are determined 10 report to the Sen
ate at the earliest opportunity, a
measure which will furnish just as
little remedy for existing evils as the
necessities Of the situation compel,
rather than q measure which will
remedy existing evils to the full ex.
tent Of the power Of Congress.
There arc some members Of the
committee who hope to defeat what
they believe to be the purpose Of
the chairman These include all
The members and Senators Cullom
and Dollivcr. lfthey hold together
they may be able to accomplish
their aim but The chaaccs are against
them. It is asserted that Mr..
/ Elkins believes that ifhis committee
can report TO the Senate "mild"
railway measure before the next
/ House can effect its organization
and pass railway measure along
the lines Of The Townsend. Esch bill.
for instance, be can hold the Senate
20 the program reported by its com
mittce and thus prevent the enact
mcnt OF drastic legislation. In this
/ regard however, there are some
indications that Mr. Elkins is
counting without his host There
arc a number OF Republican Sen.
ators, not memcrs Of his committee
who declare their intention Of so a.
mending any railway rate bill which
may be reported as to make il
adequate and effective in dealing
with those grave evils TO which the
| President called attention in his last
message and on which he will dwell
] even more extensively in his FIRST