Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-11-21
CONSIDER RAILROAD RATES.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTER.
STATE COMMERCE
Meet In Washington In Compliance
With a Call Issued By
Senator Elkins,
Chairman.

Washington, ID. O.. Nov. 81. The
Senate Committee on Interstate Com.
meree met here today in compliance
with call issued by Senator Elkins
| the chairman of the committee. 60
consider the question of railroad rates
legislation. which viii come up in the
coming session of Congress.
Ever since the hearing on the sub
ject closed, the committee has had
two experts and number of clerks
employed. compiling information for
the use Of the COMMITTEES and the Sen.
ate. They have collected a large mass
Of data and will have it in shape avail
able for the committees benefit. The
committee viii take mp the entire
subject as if no bill had been consider
ed heretofore. but il is expected the
chairman will bo prepared 60 present
q measure of his own as basis for
discussion.
Senator Foraker also has bill which
Will receive consideration. 1t is ak
pected that the committee Will con.
time its work until the opening of
Congress on December 4. and il is 10y
no means probable that it will have
finished its work by that stime The
committee is divided in two factions
Senators Cullom, Dolliver and Clapp
are strongly advocating the passage
of a meaure Incorporating the views of
President Roosevelt on the subject of
railroad rates legislation, while the
opposition includes Senators Aldrich,
Foraker, Kean, Milliard and Chairman
Elkins.
There is practically no hope that the
two factions will be able to agree on
any measure. and it is almost certain
that at least two reports will be sub
mitted, a majority and minority re.
port, with possibly individual reports
by one or two members, who hold par
ticular views on the subject and can
not agree with their other colleagues.
What the Senate is going to do in the
matter is a matter of speculation
among the members. Ii is understood
that some Of the Eastern and Southern
railroads have in some way signified
their intention to support President
Roosevelt's policy and the opposition
is considerably worked up over the
rumor that other important lines are
about to give up the fight and line mp
with the supporters of the Pesident' S
policy.
Chairman Elkins has been counting
senatorial noses just as anxiously as
the President and his friends have been
doing. The Southern tour Of the
President. it is claimed. won over two
votes, those of theL ouisiana senators.
1t is also reckoned that. as the Senate
stands today. there is a majority for
some kind of conservative ibill such as
Elkins, Aldrioh. Foraker and Millard
can agree upon. The fight is exceed
ingy bitter, although entirely under
the surface. 1t may soon develop into
an open struggle between big trunk
lines, arrayed in opposition to each
other. 1t is charged that the SeaboaTd
lines, between Norfolk and New
York, are, in the main, more concern
ed about their community of interest
than in laws that will reach tariffs
for long freight hauls. The men lined
up with the Elkins contingent say that
any community Of interests between
the roa is will not be disturbed by ad :
ministration forced, if the kind Of
rate measure which the administration
approves has plain sailing.
However much or little there may
be in such charges they are being
driven home with all emphasis pos
sible. Nothing has disturbed the
Elkins people so much lately as the
speech of Senator Knox in Pittsburg.
They had hoped till the last moment
that the Senator was on their side,
but now they fear that his attitude is
the attitude of more Senators who
have not yet come into the Upen..