Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-02-02
.RA1E LEGISLATION
BY THE CONGRESS
Pardon Clerk Garrett Explains
Two Principal Things De
manded by the People
BASIS OF THE BILL REPORTED
is Stated to be the Cooper and Eacfn
Together With Townsend Bills -
Carrot Points Out Defect in Hep
burn Bill, Regarding Continuance of
Rates.
.ial to Times-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican
Des Moines, Feb. 2.-Hon. B. w.
Garrett, pardon clerk in the office of
Governor Cummins has been following
closely the rate legislation in congress.
In speaking of the various bills before
congress now as compared with what
the people Of Iowa would like to have
Mr.. Garrett said today:
From the discussion in the press,
and the statements Of individuals,
take it that there are two things the
people demand at the hands of con-
gress in its dealing with the question
of government control Of rates: The
comforting upon the interstate COM
merce commission, or some other tri-
bunal, of authority to fix rutes
under certain equitable conditions, and
that the ruling of the commission
shall, in the language of the president,
take effect Immediately, and to obtain
unless and until it is reversed by the
court of review
"It is true that the late judge Cooley,
commerce commission for two or
three years after its creation, contend
ed that the confering of power upon
the commission to fix rates was un-
constitutional. 1t is also true that.
after he resigned from the commission
and up to the decision Of the supreme
court in 1897, the commission did eX-
ercise this authority.
"The Cooper and Esch bills are very
much alike in their provisions. Both
provide for the going into effect of the
rate fixed by the commission, within
thirty days after notice. The Cooper
bill provides further, that, in case OF
proceedings for review then within
sixty days after notice. The Esch bill
provides that proceedings for review OF
the finding Of the commission may be
instituted within sixty days from the
date of notice. Both bills provide pen
alties of $4,000 a day for failure or
neglect to obey the order of the COM
mission. These bills, it is reported, to-
gether with the Townsend bill nave
been made the basis of the bill which
the committee has reported.
The Davey bill, which the minority
approved, contains only twenty-eight
lines. besides the penalty clause. which
does rot appear in the bill as printed
ard sent out from Washington. 1t con-
fers upon the commission the power to
fix rates. with the provision that 1t can
not raise a rate fixed and published by
carrier 1t also provides that the
rate fixed by the commission shall
continue during the tendency Of liti-
CATION and until the same is deter
mined.
"rhe Hepburn bill contains prstctfc-
ally the same provision relative to the
fixing of rates by the commission as
the others. 1t is defective, however,
in that it also permits the rate COM
planned of to continue until the matter
is determined by the court. The objec-
ton has been urged against the bill
that it contains so much verbiage' that
no one can fully understand its real
meaning. A careful perusal of 1T will
convince any one that this charge is
not without foundation. The bill con-
tains twenty-five sections and 294
lines. It provides for the appointment
of an additional circuit Judge in each
district Of the United States, only five
of whom are or could be required I'M
der the provisions of the bill. Any ne
cesstty for these additional judges does
not appear
'sThe Hearst bill provides for a
court Of interstate commerce. to con-
sist of three justices at salary OF
$4,000 year. This court to have ex-
elusive jurisdiction to review all or
ders Of the interstate commerce COM
mission.
1.-THE people want law which will
protect them against the unreasonable
rates charged. They do not demand
anything that will hamper or cripple
the common carriers of this country.
AS President Roosevelt said at Phfla-
delphia, The men In public life and
the men who direct the great business
interests, should work not in antagon-
ism, but in harmony, toward this CIV
en- end II is in the interest Of the
conscientious and public-spirited rail-
way man that there should be such
governmental supervision of the rail-
way traffic of the country as to require
from his less scrupulous competitors,
and from INSCRIPTIONS big shippers as
we'll, that heed to the public welfare
which he himself would willingly give,
and which is of vital consequence to
the small shipper
'sThis supervision will surely come.
If not now, then when the people have
an opportunity to indicate their wishes
to those who should be their servants"
Mr.. N. S. Ketchum has taken up the
papers in the matter of the Marshal!-
town viaduct at the railroad commits
sioner's office. There is a vast amount
of work to be gone over. The mat
ter is not yet in any condition where
action will be arrived at soon. Mr..
Ketchum has taken it up in the hope
of getting the tangles Strengthened out
soon so that something tangible can
bedone. The railroad commits sioners
have published new edition of the
classification list the old edition hav-
ing been exhausted. There is no change
in the list over the old one.
1t Is quite likely that the appoint
ment of the new assistant adjutant
general will be made and announced
this week. Gen. Thrift has taken
charge of affairs and has familiarized
himself with the affairs Of his new
office in way that would indicate that
he intended to be adjutant general in
fact as well as in name. 1t is possible
that the announcement might have