Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-02-11
DAVENPORT OPPOSES.
Organization Formed, Hs Says, To
 Attack the Rate Bill.
CFrom Our Special Correspondent

VT IoM OuI SpeClal OOTIcSpOlueul.l Washington, Feb 11.-Attorney Dan iel Davenport of Bridgeport to-day ap-
 peared before the senate committee on , interstate commerce in opposition to
 the various bills proposing federal reg
 Glation of railroad rates. Mir Daven-
 port in commencing his argument,
 stated: T appear not as the agent of
 any railroad magnates, but as the rep
 rescntative of that innume:able host
 of those whose money built the rail-
 roads-those who hold securities ill nearly all the railroads of the coull try Mr Davenport intimated that all
 organization had been formed by hold,
 CTS of railrOad securities to oppose these bills, and that he appeared in their behalf.
 Mir Davenport made q very strong
 argument, and was listened to with
 close attention. At one stage of the proceedings he eXclaimed: "The real
 owners of the railroads of this coun,
 try are the plain people. Whoever
 seeks to array the government against
 the owners of those properties is really
 seeking to array the government
 against the people of the United
 States" Several of the senators pres. ent asked questions as to the govern
 ment ownership of the railroads. and
 to this Mir Davenport replied: That
 entire argument is absurd. If congress should float bonds and buy the stock of railroads it could not operate them. It could not carry freight or passengers
 from one point to another in the same
 state.' This he declared to be wholly the power of the states to regulate, in
 government in the matters of interstate
 commerce.
 Mir Davenport proved that one-sixth of all the money invested in railroads
 belongs to the depositors in savings banks, life insurance companies and to | educational institutions. He also spoke
 at length on the limitations of the con.
 stitution regarding all legislation af- fectiDg property rights. Later he stated that B per cent of the savings of the people of Connecticut was in. vested in railroad securities, and rate legislation would put these savings in jeopardy, as it would shake the sta | bility of the companies which own railroad securities. Mir Davenport also
 explained that water freight rates from
 northern Atlantic ports to south At lantic ports made, it necessary for the railroads to charge less freight rate than is charged for a shorter distance between Chicago and eastern ports. He declared the only solution would be the regulation of both water rates and railroad rates.
 Mir Davenport did not finish his ar.
 glment, and will appear before the committee again. aqa
 Connecticut Pensions.
 The house yesterday afternoon
 cleaned up the private calendar and
 passed large number of pension bills. Five Connecticut bills were among the lucky number. as follows: In behalf of Thomas Pickford of Wallingford. SIP per month; stephen Girard Nich- ols of New Haven. at S24 per mouth:
 Isaac Slater of Hartford, at 500 per
 month; Abby l.. Burritt of Bridgeport. widow of Charles Burritt, at SS per
 month, and John Clougherty of Nor
 wolk, at $24 per month. The first | three have already passed the senate,
 while the last two were presented by Congressman Hill.
 A Large Petition.
 Senator Lodge has presented in the senate q monster petition from 1.63.
 Christian Endeayor societies. repre- | senting fOrty-tivc states and the terri
 tories, petitioning the senate to author. | ize the president to invite the govern.
 ments of the world 10 join in establish. l ing an international congress to meet
 at stated periods to deliberate upon l questions of common interest to the 1 nations. and tO make recommendations thereon 10 the governments. These ! societies represent q membership of
 100000. There were forty-onc memori- ! als from Connecticut alone.
 Tobacco Investigation.
 The senate yesterday afternoon passed the resolution introduced by , Senator Daniel of Virginia calling upon the secretary of the treasury for in formation as to his rulings on leaf to. ! 'baccO. The resolution asks whether | or not the proviso of section 69. act of
 August 2S. 1894. to wit: That farmers and growers of tobacco who sell leaf
 tobacco of their own growth and rais. 1 ing shall be regarded as manufacturers
 of tobacco. etc. has been construed by the treasury department or any officer
 thereof to apply only and as q personal
 privilege to such farmers and growers
 of tobacco who sell in person. and not
 by an agent or employe. leaf tobacco
 ot their own growth or raising: or tO those who deliver the same by thcir
 own hand and not by an agent ar cnl.
 ploye: and also to furnish the senate
 with copies of the opinions. if any. that i have been rcndcred on this subject by
 any officer of the treasury depart meni."
 ! The inquiry by Senator Daniel is foI the purpose of regulating this pucs.
 ton. which of late has agitatcd the to
 bacco growers of the country.