The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-11-15
THE SIXTEENTH CONGRESS.

THE SIXTEENTH CONGRESS.
1t is entertaining and instructive to
consider the various congresses. In a
great many instances the questions
have been abortively taken up and dis
cussed in congress. At other times the
House has passed the legislation de-
manded by the public, and the Senate
has rejected it, or so radically modified
the bills coming from the House as to
cause that body to discard them in
their amended and changed form
The House of course responds more
readily to the popular desires than the
Senate, and this fact often precipitates
upon the latter the denunciation and
criticism of the press and OF the people.
1t is in the repression Of hasty and ILL
advised measures that the longer term
of the senator mas its justification and
advantage.
The two measures which are now
prominently before the public for con-
sideration at the next session OF con-
gress are railroad rate. legislation and
tariff revision. The latter, it is said
by many public men, will not pass bel
You'd the stage of discussion. The
former question it is confidently ex-
pected will meet with greater favor at
the hands of Congress.
1t is needless to say that Iowa is
numbered with the states which firmly
demand rate legislation OF tangible
and effective nature. 1t does not favor
any confscatory course, nor has 1T any
patience with that evasive kind of leg
islation which seems to be the aim of
certain members of Congress whose
railroad holdings seem to impair their
vision or corrupt their judgment,
This state knows what rate discrimina-
tions mean, and it is not willing to be
deceived by the intimated integrity
and craftsmanship of certain political
leaders of eastern states who want to
defeat any bill which has for its object
the protection of the people at the ex
pense of exorbitant profits to large cor
porations. A square deal for all ship
pers is the watchword of Iowa at this
time, and she purposes to aid in its &C
complishment during the next session
of Congress. There is no hostility
manifest in or entertained by this state
in general toward wealth az such,
whether in the form ofrailroad stock
or bank interests. But it IL disposed
to frown on every attempt on the part of
organized capital to influence and de-
termine legislation.
The principal involved in the regula-
tion of railroads by the government is
quite generally recognized as sound,
and the right of these corporations to
condemn private property for its use
implies the right of the government to
regulate its operation. The man who
has been deprived of portion of his
land for the use of railroad feels that
he has just as good a right to have the
government appraise the value of haul
ing his produce as the railroad had to
the appraisemento of his property.
In view of previous results of popular
agitation of questions which have ap-
pealad to the people it is difficult to
forecast the outcome of the present dis
cussion of the rate question; but it is
safe to predict that men who are now
in public life will have occasion to
readjust themselves to the habits of
private life soon after the election of
next fallif this matter is not treated
with justice and determination, Not
all perhaps, who deserve that fate will
experience it, in such event, but some
at least will realize that ''Vox populi,