The Topeka state journal., 1905-09-13
Killed Senatorial Action ON
Rate Question Last Spring.
NOW BELIEVES IN. 1T.
Has Called Meeting of His Com.
mittee to Fix Up a Bill.
Gossip and Matters OF Interest
in RailrOad Circles.

United States Senator Stephen B.
Elkins of West Virginia. chairman of
| the senate committee on interstate
commerce, has announced that he has
issued a call to the members of his
committee to meet in Washington on
November Is. for the purpose of franz
ing bill providing for railroad rate
supervision and regulation by the gov
ernment, which will be introduced by
him at the coming session of con-
gress.
Mr.. Elkins has received the credit
for having blocked legislation on the
rate question at the last session of con-
gress. He publicly announced that he
was opposed to the presidents plans,
and by a systematic programme OF
to prevent action on the Esch-Town-
send bill which was passed by the
| house of representatives.
| Senator EIkins now makes the an
nouncement that he is convinced that
action on the rate question at the COM
| ing session is inevitable and he says
! that he will cooperate in passing a
| bill that will be satisfactory to the
president.
'My idea says Senator Elkins, ''is
| a measure for the reference of all rate
| disputes, passenger and freight, to
court of interstate commerce, to be
composed of nine judges-one for each
judicial circuit of the United States
or for such disputes to be referred to
the circuit court judges without the
creation of q new court. Congress at
all times is opposed to the creation of
new courts or commissions. and for
that reason the new court plan would,
no doubt meet with serious opposition.
"I do not believe that the interstate
commerce commission should be al
lowed to deal with the question. L
we that hn6V intact tn dis
charge its duties as at present and
would not give it the additional work
of regulating rates. My idea for the
reference of disputed rate matters to
the circuit judges meets with general
approval in Washington, and hope to
convert the president to my view.
'I would have each circuit judge try
cases which were brought tO-his atten-
ton as having originated in his circuit
and would have an appeal court. consist
ing of the other circuit judges, who
could convene at certain periods OF the
year to dispose of appeals, their appeal
decree to be reviewed only by the su-
preme court of the United States. That
idea has appealed to senators and repre-
sentatives conversant with practical
railroad affairs as a most sensible, feasi-
BILE and comprehensive plan.
ct want to lay emphasis on the fact,
however, Senator Elkins concluded,
that although we may be quick in act
ing this winter, such action will have
represented careful thought, investiga-
ton and understanding. 1 am practi-
cal railroad man and know whereof l
speak when I say that this question af-
fects every man, woman and child in
the country and is the most important
legislative problem congress has dealt
with in 40 years. When one stops to
consider the fact that some $4,000, ,000, 900
in railroad property is involved an idea
of the magnitude of the case may be
obtained But that is the smallest part
of it. Whether we are indoors or in the
street there is not single object met
by the eye which does not figure in the
transaction. What we eat, wear, live
in: in fact, practically every factor en-
tering human life is subject to railroad
transporta ton, and therefore enters into
considera ton. It is momentous ques-