Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-08-15
DEBATE AT
CLARlNDA A
GOVERNOR CUMMINS AND DAN'L
DAVENPORT WILL DISCUSS
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
CHAUTAUQUA FEATURE
Exponent and Opponent Of Govern
ment Railroad Rate Control Will
Present the TWO Sides of the oues-
ton to Audience at Page County
Town--lnterest in Event.

Washington, D. G., Aug. 14.-(Spe-
ciaD.-A most interesting debate over
the question of the regulation of rates
by the government will take place this
week before the Chautauqua at Clar-
india, Iowa, between Governor Cum
MINIS OF that state and Hon. Daniel
Davenport of Bridgeport, Conn. Gov
ernor Cummins will support the affir-
native while Mr.. Davenport will en-
deavor to present the opposition from
the standpoint Of the small investor
whose savings are tied up in railway
stocks and bonds Governor Folk of
Missouri will also speak Both Messrs.
Cummins and Davenport appeared
before the senate committee on
Interstate commerce last winter
and the testimony of the for
mer was so strong in behalf of the pro-
posed legislation that the demand for
printed copies could not be supplied
and they are at a premium He is con.
sidered one of the ablest advocates
of the cause.
Although not politician, Mr.. Daven.
port is scarcely less well known as an
authority on the subject than Governor
Cummins. 1t was he who last winter
first directed public attention to the
bearing which the constitutional pro
vision against discrimination between
ports might have on the question and
he was heard by the committee for
several days on this and other points
1t was his reply to the arguments OF
Judge Cowan of Texas, one Of the
ablest men appearing before the com
mittee and his admirable presentation
of the opposition to the Esch Townsend
! bill that led to his selection to reply tc
Governor Cummins before the Clarinds
Chautauqua. Mr.. Davenport is a grad
uate Of Yale,a leading member of the
Connecticut bar, and the general coun
sci of the Association for Maintaining
the Rights of Private Property, which
is com posed of depositors in savings
banks, holders of life and fire insur
ance policies and small investors
whose aggregate holdings of railway
stocks and bonds run into hundreds o.
millions. An additional feature of in
terest is the fact that Clarinda, where
the debate will be held, is the home
of Representative Hepburn, chairman
of the house committee on interstate
commerce, which reported the Esch
Townsend bill, passed by the house
last session. Mr.. Hepburn will not bt
present, however being now in the
Philippines with Secretary Taft's
party.
Will AnaIyze Iowan's Address.
When Governor Cummins appeared
appeared before the senate com mittet
he addressed himself particularly tt
the railroad situation in Iowa, allegint
that the Iowa farmers were oppressed
by the railroads and greatly handi
capped in marketing their produce b!
excessive freight rates. 1t is under
stood that Mr.. Davenport will analyz'
Governor Cummins' statement and en-
deavor to show that the through rate
from Iowa are distinct advantage tt
the farmers of that state in enabling
them to compete with the eastern
farmers in the eastern markets. Th
debate is expected to prove the mos
interesting of the summer on thi
question. Governor Cummins and Gov
ernor Folk will speak tomorrow ant
Mr.. Davenport Wednesday.