The San Francisco call., 1905-02-06
Iowa Statesman UnequlvocaAy Supports the President
Hill in WdShinQ-
ton to Direct
the Lobby.
HIS THLh MAKLIhE
Special Dispatch to The Can.

CALL BUREAU. POST BUILDING,
WASHINGTON. Feb. 5.-Senator Will
liam B. Allison of Iowa, one of the
leaders of the Senate, came out in un-
! mistakable terms in favor OF railroad
! legislation in statement to The Call
correspondent to-day.
i am strongly in favor" said he. "of
legislation giving the Government more
specific supervision over the rates of
interstate carriers and the sooner such
legislation can be passed the better.
do not know what can be done in the
Senate at this session, but should be
glad to see the House bill, or a mod
! ification of it, passed before March T.
/ If it could be done, an extra session
of Congress in the fall might be avert
4 ed"
do you favor the Esch-T Townsend
bill as it stands?' was asked
so far as have been able to study
it that seems to be reasonable meas
ure, with all interests carefully safe
| guarded. / cannot say that / would
be in favor of putting all of its fea-
lures into law There are soma
changes. perhaps, necessary. These
could be made in the Senate. There is
no difference of opinion on certain
phases of railroad traffic. as they re-
late to the public The question of
private cars, terminals and all other
discrimination Of this character admits
Of little or no discussion. 1t should
be done away with, and the sooner
the better.
REGULATION Is NEEDED.
Interstate transportation has grown
to such an extent in this country that
it needs some such regulation as the
President has proposed and as is con-
tanned in the Esch- Townsend bill.
The question of time in the Sem
ate is of course, very important. We
cannot tell how long the Swayne trial
will take and there is only a month
more of the sessfUa1. Tite CoInn1itf tee
on Interstate Commerce will, Of course.
call for time to consider the bill after
it comes from the House. Should 1t be
reported to the Senate there must be
considerable discussion"
In case the committee shows no dis
position to report bill, win any Re-
publican move to bring 1t directly be-
fore the Senator"
THAT is a pretty drastic method for
the Senate and an unusual proceeding.
So far as i can learn there is no dis
position in the Senate committee to
unnecessarily delay consideration. For
myself 1 would like to see the ques-
tion settled as early as possible and an
agreement on the details OF the bill
The railroads themselves can help In
this matter If they will. I think they
appreciate the necessity of some leg
islatlon increasing the Government
power of regulation"
HILL ON THE WARPATH.
James ]. Hill. president of the Great
Northern Railroad Company, arrived
in Washington to-day as much op-
posed to rate legislation as ever. Hs
would not discuss the details Of any
pending measure, but he did express
himself as unalterably opposed to Gov
ernment supervision OF any kind
What do you think Of the Esch-
Townsend bill now pending in the
House?" was asked.
II don't think il viii hurt any Of the
railroad properties In which / am in
terested," said he. ''and, believing this.
I have not studied it very carefully.
What I wish to particularly emphasize
in this matter Is the danger to gem
eraI business in attempting to force the
general principle of Government super
vision Of rates and other railroad busi-
ness. When the Federal Government
undertakes to spread It's power over
private business for the purpose Of
regulation or anything else II simply
means the destruction OF individual
enterprise. This is a very critical time
to try experiments with the business
OF the country. 1t means much not
only to the railroad investors them
selves, but to all branches Of COM
merce and industry"
FIGHT TO A FINISH.
DO you see any chance for the pass
age Of House rate bill by the Sen
ate?'
i II am told that the friends OF such
| legislation are expressing the hope that
the Senate will do something after all.
That may be possible From personal
| knowledge / do not know, but let IL
| come. So much sooner viii 1t be found
\ by those attempting to force such a
! bin that Ii is not a safe proceeding
| for the legitimate business interests or
/ the country. Further than this ! do
/ not care to discuss the details OF any
| pending legislation affecting railroads.
HIPS continued attitude Of hos
| tilitv to the Presidents proposition
"a accepted here tonight as indicating
/ that n will not be possible to get any
| of the great railroad presidents to ac-
i qufesce in railroad rate Legislation
| which has for its object increased pow
| er for the Interstate Commerce Com
\ mission. a.
| Hill had brief conference with sew
| eral public men to-day. among them
| Secretary Shaw and Senator Kean OF
| New Jersey. His presence in Wash
| ington on the eve of the passage Of the
| Esch-Townsend bill by the House is
taken to mean that the railroads pro-
pose to keep up the fight tin the end
] Of the session
a