The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-01-26

+ is doubtful if aay0ne who has
not paid visit 10 The oapital at I'll
session CT congress appreciates the
intense interest which attaches IN
Washington 70 ia. raiIrrai rate agi
tation. Tie press has published as
iaagtA reports Of tic many hear,ngs
in he houga committee al iatrs 4t
and foreign col8mcsce, but il Is liz
cult 70 picture the activity IN the
hotel corridors and in places where
men do ctngregat 10 have a VOID
over the coffee cups.
The national capital hos been tho
mecca Of pronineat railroad mon this
/ win er Wlthin The past week pr 81.
Dent Cassatt IL the great PennsylYa
MIA system, President Spencer of tie
Southern railway President j J..
Hill % The Northern Pacific. Presi-
dent Stuyyesant Fish Of the Illinois
Central President A. b. iclney If
the Great Western, President Irwin
Of the Atlantic coast line, were
among the railroad men here.
On the other side Of the question,
within the same week. were repre-
sen atives of various shipping inter
ests. of commercial organizations
which are interested in rate regula-
tons, and committee of nine mem
bers of the National Association Of
State Railroad Commissioners.
II cannon be assumed that the rail.
road men arc all on one side Of the
question. for in fac, their views are
widely divergent Some Of them are
inclined 10 favor the legislation rec
commended by the president, probably
on the theory that it is better to
choose the lesser of the two evils
others propose this remedy and that
a lew openly oppose any kind Of leg
islation.
President Cassatt has intimated
that he is willing to accept tho ideas
of President Roosevelt and has bee
at the White House for a conference
He is now very quiet, however, ana
there is reason TO believe that his
influence viii be cast against any
bill that will carry the powers o.
re interstate commerce commission
0 the length given by the Esch.Town
send BILL
President Spencer Of the Southern
consumed two days time in present
ing his views to the committee. bu
summed mp. his argument is that
there is no necessity for increase o.
powers Of the commission. His only
admission Of importance was that re
ba es should be prohibited by law
AS thoy are now.
j. j. Hin The Northern Pacific wig
I'd, admits virtually, the need q
new legislation AS to The suggcstioa
Of Secretary of Navy Morton that
pooling be localized he says that an,
attempt to pass such law woula
end Blu in disaster for the party that
attempts it,
Secretary Morton, who was for
merly general manager of the SAINT
Fe syetcm. thinks thar relief fror
present ahuses and Inequalities lies
n the legalZation of pooling, 50 that
the roads may have an enforcibe
means OF dividing money aiken for
ireight-carryng ON an equitable ba
sis If this Is not done 10 has two
other remedies; one the neutralza
ton of railroad ownership into few
hands 50 that there will be no need
for throat cutting competition, and
he other which he terms the worse
If the three evils, government own
ership.
Railroad men are not together ir
their views, but they arc together
for some purpose if their presence In
washington means anything, and that
IS that they will watch every move
rent Of congress and endoGycr 10 re
strict legislation aimed at present
abroad METHODS as much as possible
1t is not possible that some rate
bill will pass at this session. A
prominent Republican senator. in
DISCUSSING the question said that he
did not believe there could be found
any considerable numb or ~ men IN
either house who will have the face
~ fiE Li lNt iuFbouft. ne popular
will is so manifest, the insistence Of
The president so marked, and the op-
position so restricted to one class
that il would be worth an official
head 10 appear In opposition.
Whatever is done against the
movement will he done in commit .ee.
Delay will be sought on the ground
that the relative merits of the vari.
Gus bills may be weighed and deter
mined, and there is good sense in
making haste slowly in 50 important
1 matter. bur when the BIN comes
from he committee there will he III
tie open fighting
Mr.. Roosevelt stin insists whence
er he talks with members Of either
house that this legislation must be
pnanfp1 and a word from n IT,, ha- f.