Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-12-14
SPIRITED DEBATES.
Railroad Legislation and Canal Ap-
prOpriatiOns Before Senate.
POWER CONGRESS- FIX RATES DENIED
Death of senator Mitchell Not No
ticed-TiIlman Calls Canal sala-
ries Plain Stealing-White-
washing Cabinet OmceFs.

washington, Dec. 12.-With spirited
debates on the subjects Of railroad
rate legislation, arising through tne
introduction Of bill by Mr.. Tiliman
to authorize the interstate commerce
commission to fix maximum rates, and
the Panama canal, due to contro-
versy over the reference OF the emer-
gency appropriation bill to commit
tee, Mondays session Of the senate
continuously proved interesting Tor
more than four hours. An adjourn
ment was taken without mention OF
the late Senator Mitchell, Of oregon,
and SO for the first time the death OF
senator was permitted to pass un.
noticed by the senate. The erasure Oh
Mr.. Mitchell's name from the rolls
followed. Chaplain Hale called the
situation to mind in his prayer by re-
ferring pointedly to corruption ana
death and by praying that members Oh
the senate be given strength to Dear
each others burdens.
The debate on the Tillman bill was
engaged in by number of senators.
Mr.. Foraker took the position that
Mr.. Tillman's bill recognizes the fact
that the present laws are sufficient to
reach rebates and everything but dis.
eliminating charges. Il had supposed
that the law was sufficient to reach
rebates and similar alleged evils" SAID
Mr.. Tillman, "but since the investiga-
ton Of rebates begun by Mr.. Judson
and Mr.. Harmon at the instigation OF
fhe executive came to such miser>
able and pitiable fiasco l am getting
rather shaky as to the suficiency OF
that law. 1t certainly will prove
failure until the president stops pro-
tecting cabinet officers and wnlte-
washing them, and until ne does tnat
there never will be anything accom-
plished under the law"
81 will not be diverted by reference
to a single transaction In which the
senator from South Carolina thinks
the president fell short Of his duty
II any one fell short there the law
certainly cannot be blamed" answered
Mr.. Foraker.
Continuing, Mr.. Foraker declared
that the Tillman bal and many others
offered were unconstitutional because
congress had no right to delegate 70
a commission the right to regula1e
railroad rates.
"Then the supreme court 10 wrong
on that point? asked Mr.. Tiilman
Mr.. Foraker declared that the su-
nreme court had never expressed ~
self on that point He asserted tnas
authorization Of the interstate COM
merce commission to Ak rates amounts
to giving it legislative functions.
Mr. Foraker declared the ROADS,
though public utilities, were privately
owned and they would have had tine
right to fix rates whether 1t were CIV
en- them by congress or not.
Mr.. Knox, the former attorney-gen-
aral asked Mr.. Foraker If the supreme
court in the case Of Fields against
Clark had not decided that congress
can Law down a certain rule and then
authorize a commission to apply TINS
rule to specific cases and whether tniS
would not apply. -.
Mr. Foraker said that in that case
the president was directed to act py
proclamation in an administrative way
whenever he ascertained a certain
state of facts to exist and that 1t olo
not amount to a delegation OF legisla-
tive powers 49,.
The vice-president then laid before
the senate the Panama canal appro-
nriation bill Mr.. Allison asked that IL
he referred to the committee on ap-
nropriations as deficiency bill, but on
request Of Mr.. Kittredge the bill was
read. -,
at ia good old Anglo-Saxon steal
ing and not graft" asserted MI. III
man ito pay such high salaries az
are Maid to canal officials" He men
toned particularly the salary OF Slo'OOV
to the auditor. 49,.
Mr. Hemenway asserted that the
committee on inter oceanic canals
could meet Tuesday If it so desired ano
Ieeislate Just what salaries should Dc
paid canal officials.
Mr.. Tillman said: There should %
legislation and the steals stopped ever
n the president has loaned the pres
tlge of his great name to the existing
condition of affairs"
Mr. Teller took the position the pres
,dent had been authorized to create
the onices and tx their salaries anc
congress should pay them. Tner'
should be a law fixing the salaries. MI
Bacon declared that he did not sex
how congress can tx the salaries un'
lass II undertakes "the Herculean anC
impossible task Of fixing the salaries
of each one composing the vast ARM
of employees on the canal"
Mr. Daniel favored the bill going .
.ppropriations committee and Mr.. MOT
Ran to the canal committee.
AFTER SAYING that be had DO cans So, =
ar .nc rfssS-a. aPPaOPat@e.o
! . -