The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-02-10

Washington, February 6.-Foilow-
ing weeks OF hearings and c~onsidera-
ten by the committee on Interstate
and foreign commerce. as well a.
urgent recommendations OF the Presi-
dent on the subject. the House OF
Representatives today began debating
the proposed legislation looking to the
regulation of railway freight rates.
This action was taken only after de-
termined opposition by the Demo-
Gratis, led by John Sharp Williams. OF
Mississippi. the minority leader. to
the adoption % a rule which would
shut out opportunity TO amend the
bill. Two Republicans, Messrs. South
wick and Ereeland, OF New York,
voted against the rule. and one Demo-
crat, Gaines, OF Tennessee. voted for
it. Otherwise party lines were tight
ly drawn.
In criticising the committee on
rules for shutting of all opportunity
for amendment, MI. Williams con-
tended that II that opportunity were
given, the Democrats had with
them a sufficient number OF Republi-
cans 10 pass a bill embodying I'm all
its particulars the views OF the Presi-
dent. He offered to surrender all the
time allotted to his side for debate. as
we'll as to forego n vote on the n
ity substitute, il amendments would
be allowed to be offered, but the ap-
peal was refused by the majority. Mr..
Dearmond. of Missouri, charged tina
the right to amend had been denied
Tin the of shallow partf-
sanship."
In ~denouncing the rude Mr.. VIII
liams declared that the object OF the
Democratic party had been ccom-
p!ished. That object, he said, was to-
let the President of the United States
and the minority men OF the majority
party know that there would be no
mere partisan and factional opposi-
tion to a great public measure. The
three amendments Mr.. Williams de-
manded WERE, he said. to give the
commission power to substitute n
rate for the n declared of: to make
that rate operative until set aside by
final judgment Of a court: and to base
appeal or review to o court room. evil
dence adduced before the Interstate
commerce commission.
The fairness of the rule to all men,
hers was declared by Mr.. Dalzell to
be apparent, since IT afforded full op-
portunity 10 vote on both bills Of
fered by the two parties. The rule
also was defended by Mr.. C~rosvenor.
of Ohio.
Mr.. Grosvenor in answer to Mr..
rnrhr0n af nffzoanrf
the original Interstate leg
islation. when Mr.. Gaines. OF Tonnes
see, cried out: "Oh. pshaw." When
the laughter which followed had SUBJ
sided. Mr.. Grosvenor Indignantly re-
torted. That is in keeping with the
character OF the position he (Gaines)
OCCUPIES" Mr.. Gaines sought TO ex-
plain tina he did not intend to be Of
fensive, but Mr.. Grosvenor would not
he interrupted.
Nessrs. Townsend. OF Michigan. one
of the authors of the bill under con-
sideration, and Richardson. of Ala
hama. occupied the remainder OF the
day discussing 1t. both sounding q note
OF warning 10 the railroads that n
less they Joined hands with Congress
in the matter the people would de-
mand more drastic legislation.
let h railroads comply with this
law" said Mr.. Townsend. and vol
unfairly correct any evils not covered
by this bill. and IL will be well with
them. Let them oppose its just pro-
visions and they will but accumulate
troubles against the day OF judy
ment."
Mr.. Richardson. of Alabama. said
the demand for legislation to regulate
freight rates had come In such an
earnest way that Congress could not
for a momen disregard It but he
counselled against engaging / n hasty
or hostile legislation. He was par
ticularly antagonistic TO the feature OF
the bill under consideration provid-
ing for q special court to pass upon
rates, maintaining that II was a de-
parture from the judicial system Of
the government.
The Ho.1a adfourua1 until founnr-