Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-07-20

none Of the artificialities Of the seem
ing demand for railway rate regula-
ton which has Of late occupied 50
much Of space in the public press.
I say artificially demanded because
/ honestly believe, and so do others
who have thoroughly investigated
the matter, that the agents OF the
protected trusts and industries are
really back of what agitation there
may be for railway rate control by
the Government. The connection
between the two may not bespparent
at once. yet they are very intimately
connected.
The President has declared for
both tariff revision and government
control Of railroad rates, believing
both 70 be absolutely necessary.
Seeming the dagger Of the elimination
of a part at least Of their ill-gotten
gains. the protected industries CON-
bined, and by their successful work
believe that they have now Offset
any immediate danger OF an over
hauling Of the tariff.
When Especial session Of Congress
in October was first talked Of, the
idea was that 10 should be devoted
entirely to the question Of placing
railway freight tariffs under govern
ment control. This plan the tariff
barons all the stand pat" represen-
tatives in Congress did not approve
of, because IL carried ous, it would
leave the regular session in Decem-
Der free to a consideration Of tariff
issues. So they united to induce
President to change his mind about
calling an extra session Of Congress,
and gave as an excuse therefor the
near approach OF the NovemberC Con-
gressional elections and the neces-
sity for looking out for political
fences. They wanted no short ses-
sion in November so they found q
good reason for having the Presi-
dent abandon that idea in the fact
that idea in the fact that the Repub-
lican party would have to explain to
the country. after a three weeks ses-
sion in which nothing had been ac-
complished, why Congress had been
called together and allowed to run
up q wholly unnecessary mileage
bill Of $4,000. The also argued
that 1t would be impossible to pro-
cure such railway Legislation as the
President desired in such q short
session.
The possibility of an extra session
being out out OF the way leaves the
anti-tariff revision people in q strong
strategic position. They believe
the President can be induced to
press the question Of control of rail-
way rates at the expense of any
thing else. The consideration of
this Legislation they assert can be.
and will be, drawn out to an inordi-
nate length, because at the Senate
hearings there appeared to be no
public demand for giving TO the In
terstate Commerce Commission the
right to regulate railway rates-only
q demand for such amendment to the
existing law as would. enable them
to better deal with the question OF
determinations against individuals
and localities. With q lively fight
pending on this question, and the
certainty that the Democrats will
take advantage of it to press their
claims for governmental ownership
as the only remedy for railway
abuses, the managers of the cam
paign against tariff revision believe
that any Legislation regarding the
tariff can be STAYED off indefinitely.
Appropriation bills will occupy so
great q portion OF the time as to
help materially in their campaign.
The deficit in the Treasury re-
ceipts must be made good and made
good rapidly. To that end the peo-
pie who are opposed to tariff revision
will urge strongly, persisteutly and
probably effectively, the reinstitu-
ton Of internal taxation on such
necessities as beer, cigars, tobacco,
tea, coffee and other things OF daily
use in the life of the common people.
that they are pleased to term luxu-
ries.
This combination the opponents
of tariff revision believe will enable
them to carry through their pro-
gram, which is ia short to make the
railroads and the common people the
tenders that will keep the law max
ers away from the tariff schedules,
and permit the tariff barons to en-
JOY two years more Of their present
exorbitant profits.
feel certain that there is less OF
real heart interest and more dema-
goguery and artificiality in this talk
about railroad rate Legislation than
in any issue political or semi politi-
cal that has been before the country
in decade.
CHAs. A. EDWARDS.