The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-08-11
SENATOR EIKINs' RECORD.

When Senator Elkins undertook
the improvement of the Mononga-
hela river, his colleague, Senator
Faulkner, said that he and Congress
man Wilson had been trying to Sc
cure an appropriation for this Pur-
pose for ten years, and that 1t was
almost hopeless. Within a month
from that time Senator Elkins had
the report of the commerce commit
tee in favor of the appropriation
and the improvement of this river
TO Fairmont followed, and boats are
now running daily to Pittsburg-
Senator Elkins has never mlssed
an opportunity in the Senate ana
elsewhere to promote the interests
of West Virginia and draw attention
10 her vast resources. His position
in the Senate in shaping Legislation
is commanding.
Senator Elkins is now chairman
| of the Interstate Commerce Com
mittee. which has charge of all leg
isIation in the Senate affecting two
hundred and twenty thousand miles
of railroad, all railroad property and
all questions of rates and transpor-
tation bv land. Railroad property
in the United States is valued at
twelve thousand million dollars The
transportation question is the larg,
est Congress has to deal with, and
through Senator Elllins' position as
chairman of the Interstate Com
merce Committee West Virginia
stands at the front in shaping leg
islation on this question.
Senator Elkins introduced and
had passed what is known as the FL
kins anti-rebate law to prevent re
hates and determinations by rail
roads which the Interstate Com
mcrce Commission says has done
more to stop rebates, discriminatloRs
preferences and advantages given by
railroads to shippers than any other
niece of legislation ever enacted ano
he is now at work conducting an
investigation of the question wheth-
or the rate-making power shall be
further conferred upon the Inter
state Commerce Commission, and to
otherwise strengthen the laws about
rebates. At present he is the sec
ond member of the committee on
commerce. which is one of the most
important in the Senate, having
charge of all legislation affecting our
commerce on the ocean, all our ports
and improvements of all our rivers
and harbors. He is also on the COM
mittee on appropriations, rules and
printing. These are all important
committees. and all this gives our
senior Senator most powerful in
| fluence in the Senate. Senator FL
lins has reached these important
places by his ability. experience and
close attention to his duties. Hav-
ing been Secretary of War and a
member of Congress, he was placed
on important committees when ne
entered the Senate. To displace
Senator Elkins at this time, no mat
ter how able his successor might be.
he would have to start at the foot OF
the ladder and work his way up, and
West Virginia would for long per
iod be deprived of the influence anC
control in legislation it has through
the position of Senator Elkins in the
Senate. Are the people ready to do
this? 1t is well known that states
which retain tried. experienced and
able senators and representatives in
Congress always have the most in
fiuence and control in legislation IN
the affairs of the government and
with the administration. New
England. Iowa. Illinois and many
other states have kept their sena-
tors twenty-five or thirty years in
the Senate, and many of their rep
rcsentatives for nearly the same
length of time, and this is largely
the reason why these states shape
legislation and have such large
measure of success in the manage
ment of the affairs of the govern
ment. This is what West Virginia
should do. Having found Senator
Elkins faithful. devoted to the inter
ests of the state. able and full of ex-
perience, he should be kept in the
Senate for the good of the state and