The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-12
RAILROAD TRUST
Government Must Regu-
late Railroads Or Rail-
roads Will Run the
Government.
Representative Pou Says Republicans
Are Forced to Do Something
to Stifle the Cry For
Relief.

Especial to News and Observer
Washington, Feb. 11.-One of the
best speeches made in the House this
week on the ratc bill was made by
Hon. E. w Pou, Representative from
the Fourth district of North Carolina.
Mr.. Pou said:
Mr.. Speaker:
During the few minutes which /
have been fortunate enough to secure,
IT. win be impossible TO do more than
submit a few general observations re-
speeding the measure under considera-
ton. 1t Is said that there was time
when great measures were fully de-
batad in this chamber. and that some
of the great debates of the world took
place here. That day has passed.
You know, Mr.. Chairman. we all know
the House Of Representatives OF the
United States Is merely a. machine con-
trolled by the Speaker and rev OF
his lieutenants. | am not cr1ticlslng
the Speaker or his lieutenants for
exercising the power vested in them
l am not finding fault with them be-
cause they have accepted what has
been given them. But j do find fault
with every member of this BODY,
whether he be Democrat or Repub-
hcan, vino has voted to surrender 10
two or three of our colleagues the
power which our constituents expect
MS to exercise ourselves. 1t is not
going too far to say that this House
is merely 4 committee to frame and
Introduce measures to be thereafter
considered by the Senate. Great mea-
sures arc never properly discussed
here. our leaders tell us we must
hurry along, that the Senate will de-
bate the measure in n parliamentary
81 Il, n T..
feet 1t. We haven't the time to con-
slider measures correctly. All we are
expected to do is to give the Senate
an idea what we want and that BODY
will send the bill back in proper shape
One OF the Republican members OF
the Committee on Rules has actually
told us tina: We OF this side or the
chamber should be thanKfui. Mark
the word Thankful for the poor prl-
yileyp of offering as n substitute to
the pending bill measure prepared
by the minority members of the Com
mittee on Interstate Commerce, ana
afterwar dS endorsed by the caucus Oh
the Democratic members of this BODY.
Mr.. Chairman, have we actually come
to this? No individual member Is
allowed 70 offer an amendment. mo
Individual member is allowed to c1er
q Substitutes. The entire minority cam
not, through it's leader or members
on the committee offer an amendment
10 the pending measure, but we are
graciously, generously allowed TO
offer one, Just one substitute Tor the
bill; and we are told by the gentle
man from Pennsylvania. on the Rules
Committee that we should fec! thank
fui for this privilege. In the name OF
parliamentary docency, l protest.
a9aingt a continuance of this condi-
ton, Wher the Fifty-ninth Congress
meets you Republicans will have Il
greater majority than you have mad
in years. You can afford to be gen
erous. know that very many OF
you at heart datest the machine
methods which for years have ruled
this House, and | do hope that when
your caucus meets to adopt rules for
the government of the Fifty-ninth
Congress there will be enough indie
pendentc in your ranks TO aoolisI
these tyra1Hical rules which are used
TO the eXaltation of the few and humil
iation of nearly all of us.
What is the situation right now, MI
Chairman? We have under consid-
Grafton one of the most important
measures ever before the American
Congress We are proposing TO give to
seven men the power to fix freight
and passenger charges over more thaT
two hundred thousand miles OF rail-
road, with capitalization of more than
twelve billions of dollars. employing
considerably more than million men
and we are allowed fourteen hours tc
discuss this great measure. We are
allowed seven hours on this side. anu
we are permitted to offer just Que sub
stitute and are told we should thank
the Committee. on Rules for that poor
privilege. No man must dare to offel
an amendment. That would be pre-
~ =
c,oach Oh the prcrogativo OF the Sen
ate. Any Senator can offer to amend
when the measure goes over there, but
the gentleman who tries 1t here |,
laughed at and ferided as 4 green
horr.
How humiliatipg all this is! Let US
RENE mber this, Mr.. Chairman. The
people of this country will put us JUS
where we put ourselves. IL we an
ncuuce to the world that the member
shin Of this House cannot be trCSte.
to close debate within reasonable
time that we are so reckless or ire
sponsible that we cannot be trustee
u adopt proper amendments to TN!
and other measures, the country viii
not deny il. II we announce by Oul
rules and by the action Of our Com
mittec on Rules that we cannot b.
trusted TO evolve a complete and Sutb
cicnt measure to be sent to the Sen
ate. the country will not dispute L
When we admit that we rely upon tn
other chamber 10 complete our crude
work. the country will not take Issue
witt, us. When we surrender gu
rights as members to a few men, whei
We admit that VIC need bosses to dirce
US, the country vii! agree with Il
that probably it is true that We hee'
these bosses TO give us orders. Th'
country, our constituents VIII &C.
Giiiesce in whatever estimate Ne on
upon our capacity for legislation. An'
yet, when We remember that unde
the constitution this is the more pow
erful and more important Of the tw'
bodies. even as the House of Common
III England is more powerful ana i'm
rortant than the House OF Lords. rhi
surrender Of our dignity ard on
rights aud our independence is ali I'll
more Illuminating.
Mr.. Chaidman. submit that thes
remarks are not entirely inappropriate
Just at this time. The h..sty inannn
; In which This important legislation /
to be rushed through this House, tn
g., a -