The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-06-01
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.


The national puppet show has
been brought to close. In other
words, the Senate committee on
Interstate Commerce has concluded
its hearings and adjourned, as was
expected, without action. Rarely
has more pitiable spectacle been
presented to the public gaze than
that Of Senator Elkins, Dolliver,
Cullom, Kean, Foraker, Clapp and
Millard pretending to conduct an
investigation into the abvisability
Of railway rate legislation when
every one of these men was, in
reality, determined from the start
to distort the facts and, nolens,
volens, make it appear that there
exists no occasion for remedial
legislation. Had it not been too
pitiable it would have been ridicu-
lous to observe the obsequiousness
of the respective Senators to their
masters. For instance, Senator
Cullom talked very bravely and
almost espoused the cause of the
people-until the president of the
illinois Central Railway appeared
to testify. Then Mr.. Cullom
heard his masters voice." and the
scene was reiterated when the rep
resentatives oe the Armour Private
Car Company appeared before the
committee. Senator Dolliver cringed
before the officials of the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy Railroad,
and Senator Clapp was obsequious
in his Difference to J. J Hill. AS
for Senators Elkins, Foraker and
Kean, they were openly antagonis-
tic to every man who testified
against the railways. Senator FL
kins sat throughout the hearing
with railroad man on either side
of him, and obediently propounded
the questions which they wrote
out for him, while Senator Kean
was barely short of insulting in
his method of interrogating witness.
es who opposed the interests which
he represents.
~
Throughout the hearings daily
reports have been furnished to
every newspaper correspondent in
Washington by two different re-
porters. These reports have been
mailed daily to numerous newspa-
pers throughout tn. country. The
reports were free, but anyone who
experienced any curiosity as to
who paid the expenses of preparing
and distributing them need only
have attended a session of the COM
mittee and then compared the dis
torted character Of the reports,
which in every instance elaborated,
strengthened and supported the
testimony favorable to the railroads
and distorted, weakened and even
altered, the evidence prejudicial to
the contentious of the railroads to
have satisfied his curiosity.
#..H
Now that the hearings are con-
cluded Senator Kean has gore
frankly to the President and urged
him not to call Congress in special
session, assuring him that it will
do no possible good. The Presi-
dent is, however, determined to
convene the Congress on October
10. although it is possible he may
be dissuaded before the time comes.
In any event, it is certain that no
good will come out of the hearings
Just concluded. 1t is barely posi-
bic that there will be found suf1i
cient strength on the floor of the
Senate to pass an effective rate bill
IN spite OF the committee but that
1t can never be done with the as
sistance of, nor without the violent
opposition of, the committee is as
ured.
x**
There is bare possibility that
the committee will report a meas
ure which will be passed without
serious opposition by the Senate.
1t is held by some Senators that,
IN view of the public clamor for
action, 1t might be wisest to pass a
bill which must inevitably be pro-
nounced unconstitutional by the
courts. This view is, at present,
entertained only by minority OF