Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-18
A BATTLE OF GIANTS
About to Be Waged Over Rail-
way Rates.
THE FIELD MARSH AIS
NEN WHO WILL BE CONSPICUOUS
IN THE STRUGGLE.
Ghe Railway Lines of the United States
if Combined Would More Than
Reach to the Moon
THE FIELD MARSHALS

Copyright 1905 by John Elfreth watklns)
The battle of giants over the railway rate
question is soon TO begin. The lineup will
show the Presden; and practically the en-
tire House of Represen tatives upon the one
side; a large but uncertain fraction of the
Senate, together with the Herculean rail-
road lobby, upon the side opposing. The
issue will be whether the federal govern
,ment may reduce railroad rates complained
of as unjust or unlawful by our shippers.
A new bill vesting this power In the gov
eminent has already been drawn, save for
some minor details. 1t will be introduced In
the House soon after that body's conven-
tion. The plan of battle worked out by its
champions IS that the friendly House shall
pass It in the opening days of the coming
long session and that It shall be thrown
early into the Senate, to obviate any
excuse from that uncertain body that in
sufficient time for elaboration has been
given. 1t Is hoped that public attention,
focused upon the Senate, like the fierce
light which beats upon throne will then
force majority Of its members to bow to
the popular Will.
According to the new bill. the Interstate
commerce commission will have the power
10 decide whether any railway rate is I'M
Just or unlawful II will look into such a
matter whenever a complaint has been re-
Ceived from John Doe or Richard Roe and
will render a decision only after full
hearing of both sides of the question. If
deciding that the rate is excessive the COM
mission will substitute lower one and this
will become Immediately effective. The
railway company may then appeal to
higher tribunal, either a special interstate
commerce court, or to the regular circuit
court. Another important section of the
bin VIII give the commission power to look
into all books and records of any railway
company and to prescribe the manner in
which they are to be kept.
Presidents Field Marshals.
The Presidents field marshals In his fight
are two representatives practically unknown
in Congress until the rate problem doomed
mp above the legislative horizon. Last win
ter there came to the attention of the
House first the so-called Hepburn BILL"
named for Representative Hepburn of
Iowa. chairman of the House committee on
Interstate and foreign commerce. but really
drawn by the Attorney General. After its
provisions became known a certain new
man. in the House-one serving his first
term-commenced to burn the midnight oil.
For a freshman in the House to jump
into the limelight is generally regarded by
the House as impertinent. to say the least.
For his pains he usually receives a snub
fIom the powers that be. But this new
conner. Charles F. Townsend OF Michigan
continued TO burn the midnight oil and one
day submitted TO the House a substitute
for the Hepburn bill The Speaker referred
d the measure TO the committee assembled to
consider the Hepburn bill.'' and where
every member upon the floor supposed 1t
would be duly smothered. Great was the
surprise, therefore. when Chairman Hep
burn allowed his own bin to be rejected by
the committee, which accepted that of Mr.
Townsend after adding to II some of the
features of a third republican measure in
troduced by Representative John Jacob
Esch of Wisconsin. Thus came into being
the now famous 'Esch-Townsend BILL or
igiually two separate measures, each dis
/ missed at first without more than passing
glance. but later accepted after the coun-
try had made I'D its mind that Col. Hep
burn was to be the author OF the most
famous piece of legislation passed by the
last House. The Esch-Townsend bill re-
ceived the votes OF the entire House. both
republican and democratic, except those of
seventeen scattered members The Senate
adjourned before taking II up.
The main author, Charles r. Townsend
was born In Jackson county Mich forty
nine years ago. He is a smoothly shayen
man. with rather a priestlv aspect IN
hrmly set jaw and determined mouth. He
had held no other political office excent that
of recorder OF deeds, which he filled for
eleven years. Representative Escb. his
partner IN the designing OF the famous
rate bill. is five years Younger having
been born in Norwalk. Wis in 1861 He
also Is smoothly shaver and has a vary
strong, pleasing face. He Is a UNIVERSITY
and law school graduate and has been
Judge advocate general of the Wiscon
SIN National Guard. He has been a mem
Der of Congress since 1899
The Battle in the Senate.
The new bill must run the gauntlet of
the House and Senate committees on In
terstate commerce. there to be thoroughly
dgested before being reported back to
the respective houses Col. pete" Hep
burn ~ Iowa. who. as chairman of the
House committee. will report II from that
body. Is again depended upon as friend
of the measure He has sat in the House
twice since he served as solicitor of the
Treasury under Harrison. Although born