Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-02-07
From Washington.
Correspondence Of the Alexandra Gazette-l
=. NUaah;nnAnn II ~ Eah z


troduced by the Bureau OF Navigation
20 make more efficient tie steamboat
regulation laws, whose iDadequacy was
exposed with horrifying- effect by means
of the Slocum disaster. The two bills
laid aside were those extending the
inspection laws 10 nsphtha, motor and
and steam launches, and creating a
maritime commission to frame rules for
steamboat building. The most i'm.
portant of the bills favOrably considered
is the one exemptiug sailing vessels
from government inspection, except
those that carry passengers for hire.
Upon the request Of Captain james A.
Henderson, of Pittsburg; w. B. Pollock
and Alexander Smith, of New York,
representing the maritime association,
the committee amended the bills by
directing the Secretary of Commerce
aud Labor to give public notice of all
changes in steamboat inspection regu.
Iations. By the terms OF another bill
inspectors are placed in regular salary,
instead OF being paid for each inspec-
ton that they make.
Kelley Miller, Washington negro,
and Others representing civic club OF
this city, were heard today before the
House committee on interstate and
foreign commerce in support Of the Nor
rell bill, to prevent discrimination by
common carriers against passengers trav-
cling between the states, on account oil
race and color. The bill provides line
and imprisonment as penalty. Miller
explained to the committee that the
'sJim Grow" law OF the South, although
aimed at the negroes and designed TO
humiIiate them, operate against the
white man as well.
Argument before the Interstate Com
merce Commission was begun this morn
ing in the anthracite coal roads case.
Counsel representing the accused coal
and transportation companies and Will
liam r. Hearst, the appellant, were
prepared for the three or four days which
will be consumed in presenting to the
commission the various aspects Of this
any-sided controversy. Clarence j.
Sheara, Mr.. Hearsts counsel, was the
first to take the floor. There were about
two dozen lawyers on hand to hear his
exposition OF the evidence adduced in
the hearings which the commission has
been holding for more than a year.
Three paramount propositions were laid
down by Mr.. Shearn as the issues which
make the complainants case. They
were as follows: "First-That six of
the respondent railroad companies are
/ arties to an illegal polling con
tract, or arrangement, whereby in
terstate freight traffic and consequently
the earnings thereof, are divided
among them in agreed proportions in
violation of Section 8 of the act TO regu-
late commerce. Second-That these
six companies, together with three others,
by means Of device embodied in the
operation of certain contracts in effect
fixing the transportation rate on anthra-
cite coal from the mines to tidewater
and other interstate points claimed to be
and commonly referred to in this case, as
coal purchase contracts, departed from the
published tariff charges and unjustly
and uDlawfully Disseminated against
non.contract shippers Of coal. Third
That the published tariff rates of these
eight companies from the anthracite coal
fields to tidewater are unreasonably high
inherently, and do not bear fair and
reasonable relation to the sntecedent cost
of the traffic, as delivered for transporta-
ton, or in other words to the commercial
value Of the freight.
The President today sent to the Senate
the following nominations: To be Con-
sui General, David +. WILDER, of New
York, at Singapore, Straits Settlement;
to be United States Marshal, George g.
Perry, of Alaska, for Division No. 3,
district Of Alaska.
Senator Cullom, who is member OF
the Senate committee on interstate
commerce, and who was formerly its
chairman, believes that the Senate ought
to pass the Housed sch- Townsend railroad
rate bill, as soon as it comes over from that
body. He thinks that because of the
popular demand for legislation Oil this
subject the Senate ought to adopt such
bill as can be made law now and put it
on trial, leaving 10 the next Con-
gress the duty of amending it should
there appear to be necessity there
for. Others leaders, however, be-
lieve that further investigation by
the committee of the House and Senate
will result in better legislation than is
possible now and that the subject ought
to be postponed until the extra session
the President proposes to call in the fall
1t. is said that the President himself
since his recent interviews with high
railroad officials has been made to see
that the railroad rate question in
wolves so many diverse questions that
further investigation might be desirable
With the passage Of the bill in the
House, he will have accomplished the
purpose of making this a paramount
question and of committing bis party to
the amelioration of existing conditions.
1t is said that now the President will not
oppose the Senate if it decides to appoint
a commission TO receive testimony during
the summer with the object Of adopting
legislation next fall.
Postmaster Wilcox, of New York, isin
Washington comforting with the depart
ment officials and members of Congress.
Mr.. Wilcox needs about 500, 600 more
than the postoffice appropriation bill
calls for. 1--WE should have at least four
nan Oh, atinnn - aid D,rfrnnrtor VIII