The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-12-22
law Is Sufficient 10 Put q Stop to THIS
Practice
brfef Discussion OF the Railroad Rate
Legislation I'm the Senate-General
Debate I'm the House on Subjects
Connected With the Presidents Mes
sage-Southern Members Defend the
Agricultural Department.

Iy notable feature of the open session
of the Senate today was a brief dis
cussion of the question OF railroad
legislation by Messrs. Foraker and Cu.-
berson. The controversy was preclpi-
tated by some remarks made by Mr..
Foraker in connection with a request
pronounced by him for the printing of
papers connected with a case recently
before the interstate commerce com
mission. : ~..e Ohio Senator reiterated
his position on the question of rate
legislation, saying that he differed
from other Senator's only ON the point
as to the remedies to be applied for
the evils of which complaints have
been made
Mr.. Culberson called attention TO
the recent speech of Mr. Foraker, in
which the latter had said that since
the Elkins law had gone into effect
rebates had practically ceased
Mr.. Culberson said that there had
been recent indictments of railroad CT
dc1a!s at Philadelphia and Chicago for
taking rebates. He understood also
that Mr.. Foraker had opposed all fur
ther legislation.
Mr.. Foraker asserted he had not
said that there were no longer re-
bates. but that he had said that there
was ample law for the punishment of
the taking of rebates and he believed
that If the attorney general would en-
force the law, as he is beginning to
do, the practice would be stopped.
The Senate adjourned until tomcr-
row.
Washington, December 2O.--The
House continued TO shoot clay pigeons
today as one member put it, and the
debate on general topics continued for
five hours. 1t is understood that with
adjournment totay the general debate
on the Presidents message which has
been in progress for seven days has
been concluded and that the session to
morrow is to be brief one, when ad-
journment for tie holidays will be
taken.
A feature of the discussion today
was defense of the agricultural de-
partment by southern members who
endorsed the government cotton sta
tistics.
Asserting that the cotton crop esti-
mates Of the department Of agricu:-
ture had been assailed both by the
cotton growers because the estimates
were 100 large, and by the manufac-
turers because they were too small,
Mr.. Bowie, of Ala bama, expressed sat-
isfaction with the estimates.
For The last six years he said, the
oct TINS of he ,~fp 1,oI
within seven-tenths of one per cent.
poses this was IS satisfactory as pos
sible and vindieated the honesty and
accuracy of the report
He opposed the suggestion to Gis-
continue the December estimate for
one ir January.
Mr.. Wanger, oe Pennsylvania, scg-
gested it was the cotton speculato-s
and not the growers, manufacturers
Or consumers who fixed the price OF
cotton.
Mr.. Bowie adnitted the evil of spec-
ulation and the impossibility of a5ol-
ishing it, contended that the actual
supply and demand also was import
ant
Should the department estimates be
dDOtisuSu, ne Ssttu, reports WOulQ De
made by private associations and firms
In their own interests, all OF which he
alleged would he biased.
With $4,000 r1en On their lists he
contended the government could make
more impartial report.
Mr.. Lowering, of Massachusetts,,
asked for an explanation of what he
said was a discrepancy In the report
of cotton ginned.
The answer Mr. Bowie asserted,
would be found in the variation In the
size nf the bales. He concluded with
praise of the secretary of agriculture.
The debate concluded with a ten
minute speech By Mr.. Garrett, Of Ten
nessee, on the subject Of insurance.
The House agreed to the conference
report on the Panama canal appropria-
ton bill.
The House adjourned until toner
row.
CAROLINA & NORTHERN R'Y