New-York tribune., 1905-02-07
NO RATE LEGISLATION.
OFF FOR THIS SESSION.
Senate Lacks Time to Pass Railroad
BH-To Come Up IN the Fall.
LFRon TIE rRIsuxE srREAu.l


Washington. Feb Sit will be a physical I'm
possibility for the Senate to consider the quss-
tion Of railroad rate legislation inteIIgently at
this session OF Congress. much less TO pass a
rate BILL and the President has become con-
vinced OF this fact, so that Dostponement OF
action by the Senate until the special session he
proposes to call next October viii be satisfactory
10 him. The education not alone Of public sen
timent. but of railroad sentiment well. since
the publication OF the Presidents annual mes
sage has been so rapid that there is every rea-
son to believe that an even more comprehensive
and satisfactory measure can be secured By a
few months delay.
1t has been practically determined by the Lead
OF the Senate to adopt a resolution which
viii be introduced next Thursday by Senator
Kean. setting forth the impossibillty OF dealing
with the subject at this session and authorizing
the Committee Interstate Commerce to ap-
point Subcommittee with power TO sit in the
summer and report at the beginning Of the fall
session.
SENATE CRITICIsING HOUSE
A considerable majority Of the Senate is pre-
pared and anxious 10 pass railroad legislation
which viii be satisfactory TO the President. a.
well as prove an adequate remedy for existing
evils despite more or less sensational reports
to the contrary. and except for the fact that
the House has imposed on the Senate the trial
Of the Swayne impeachment case. such lests-
Iation would be passed al this session; but IN
der existing circumstances deliberate action Is
impossible. There is strong feeling In the
Senate that the House has taken unfair ad-
vantage Of the upper house by determining TO
pass the Townsend-Esch bill and send 1t 70 the
Senate at a time when action Is impossible. es-
peciaIIy as the inability Of the Senate Is due
solely to the fact that the House has imposed
on it trial which is generally regarded as little
short of farcicaI 1t IS asserted that it has long
/ been the practice OF the House 10 pass meas
ures calculated TO meet popular approval. but
without due consideration, and then trust TO the
/ Senate so TO amend the bills that they may
prove both constitutional and efhcacious- II
: is even asserted that the House not infre9uent-
/ " responds TO a popular, although Unintslli-
gent. demand and passes bills 10 satisfy pub
lie cIaulor. with confidence that the Senate will
suppress or kill them
DEFECTS IN THE PRESENT BILL
In the present instance it is declared TO be ah-
surd TO pass so important a measure IS the
Townsend-Esch bill under a rule which pro-
hibits amendment and permits scarcely two Gays
/ of debate Attention Is also called 70 the grave
/ defects of the Townsend-Esch measure. which
ii is said falls far short of proving an adequats
remedy for existing evils. For instance, that
Dill. Senators say, provides no correction rep
the private car evil, WHICH AIAu1uS OPPO-~.-A-@-
for the zrossest rebate abuses. although with
ont the pale OF the Anti-Rebate law II offers
no remedy for the sO-caIled midnight rat=.
although. as recently pointed out by President
Stickney of the Chicago and Great Western.
that is one of the worst forms OF rebate. 1t at
I ternpts no correction Of the practice, common
among railroads which own producing cornpa-
nIes. OF discriminating against competing pri-
vate producers in the matter OF supplying cars
when needed, and it includes no remedy for the
( extensive rebates granted in the form OF eleva-
I tor charges, also beyond the reach OF the Anti
+ Rebate Law. These are few OF the evils which
/ the Townsend -Esch bin does not even attempt
10 prevent. and which are OF such Importance
/ that a satisfactory measure should eliminate
! them all
I Whatever may may not be accomplished
/ by the subcommittee of the Senate Committee
/ on Interstate Commerce in the coming recess.
| there are enough members OF the upper chamber
who are deeply in earnest in their determination
/ TO cooperate with President Roosevelt In cor
I rectine railroad evils 10 insure the ultimate
preparation and enactment Of a carefully drawn,
adequate and constitutional rate bill ar the next
{ session Of Congress, and those who have studied
the subject most carefully. including. or course
/ the President are convinced that IL IS the part
/ Of wisdom TO make haste slowly and arnpurate
all or at least as many possible, OF the exist
ing evils at one operation. rather than 70 harass
/ tons.