Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-01-16
From Washington.

Washington, ID. c., Jan. l6.
Railroad legislation, along the lines
proposed by the President, is embodied
in tSo bills introduced in the House TO-
dav, one by Representative Townsend,
of Michigan, the other by Representa-
tive Esch, of Wisconsin, who have con-
ierred on the subject with the President
and with Attorney General Moody, and
who express their views in The matter.
Representative Townsend's measure Gre
ates transportation court to have ex'
elusive jurisdiction over all decisions Of
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
The Esch bill authorizes the commits
sion TO fix rates where rates are the sub
iect of complaint. The Esch bill enlarges.
The power of Interstate Commerce Com
mission, so that it may upon com plant fix
g reasonable rate. This rate stan DIS un-
less reversed by a transpOrtlon court.
The democrats of the House commit
tee on interstate and foreign commerce,
also introduced bill in the House today
representing their views. 1t also
follows along the lines Of the Presidents
recommendations to Congress. 1t gives
the Interstate Commerce Commission the
right to fix rate, where the same is
subject of complaint, appeal is to the
District Federal Court, where the COM
plant originates, and the rate fixed stands
unit passed upon by the court. Chair
man Heyburn, of the same committee,
has nearly completed his bill on the
same subject, and expects to have it
ready for submission Wednesday or
Thursday.
Judge James A. Miner, who was on
the stand Saturday, resumed his testi-
mony this morning in the Reed Smoot
Investigation before the Senate commit
tee. He testified to the general good
character of Senator Smoot and TO his
prominence politically even at the time
when witness first went to Utah in 1890.
He said that polygamy was so rapidly
dying out that in ten years Utah would
be better State morally than many Of
the others. Elias A. Smith, of Salt
Lake, cashier of the Deseret Savings
Bank and democrat, testified as to the
early political conditions in Utah at the
time it became State and was positive
that the Mormon Church had not inter
fered in politics.
President Roosevelt received a call
this morning from a committee repre-
senting the Boston Chamber of Com
merce who presented him with set of
resolutions indorsing the arbitration
treaties now pending in the Senate
Swift and Company, the Chicago pack
ing house firm, wish to convince Congress
that their corporation is not trust. To
prove their contention, letters have been
written to the lawmakers assuring them
of the small profits of the butcher bust
ness and the fierce competition that pre-
walls.
At the thirty-fifth annual meeting of
the National Board of Trade, which
meets here tomorrow, many resolutions !
will be discussed bearing on the state of
trade of the nation and the world.
Secretary Hay who has been confined
to his residence for the past three days |
is said to be away from his desk because
he is feeling slightly indisposed and be-
cause be has some work he wishes to do !
without interruption. Butitisg generally |
that his particular reason for !
avoiding callers is the preparations of q
Dote 10 answer to Russia's protestagainst
violation of the neutrality, real
Or merely alleged.
Secretary Metcalf of the Department
Of Commerce and Labor granted hear
ing this morning to representatives OF
The National Board of Steam Navigation
who wish certain changes made in the
new regulations that the Beard of Super
vising Inspectors have submitted. The
rules that the supervisors wish promul-
gated do not please the Board of Steam
Navigation because they say these rules
were framed twenty-five years ago when
the steamboat owners were men without
experience, whose vessels were built by
and whose business was con-
Quoted without any regard for the pub
lies welfare. Henry L Joyce, OF the
Manhattan Lighterage and Trsnsporta-
ton Company of New York, heads the
executive committee of the Board of
Steam Navigation which includes many
prominent steamboat men of the east.
In communication addressed to Secre-
AIRY Metcalf the board calls attention
% the fact that most Of the great disas.