The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-12
Of the American House of epresenta-

some legislation COnferr1ng upon some
agency the power to declare what Is a
Just and reasonable rate, practice or
regulation. The necessity for such
Legislation is admitted of all men
since the decision of the Supreme
Court of the United States In the max
iInum rate case. Within the last few
years there has been Ito use the words
of the Interstate Commerce Commits
s:on) "a rapid disappearance of rail-
way competition, and we ARE ted
upon fairly good authority that a con-
trolling interest in nearly all OF the
great trunk lines has found its way
into the hands of a few men. We are
therefore confronted by a great trust
which must either be ruled or else viii
itself demand and obtain whatever it
chooses from the people. In dealing
with this question the Re-
publican party is in dilem-
MED that the great railroad corpora
items did their full share In the recent
campaign to continue the rule of that
party for four years longer. In his
passionate denial that any promise
had been made in return for campaign
funds furnished by the trusts dnring
the recent campaign, the President
himself Gid not deny that the trusts
and corporations had contributed 10
the campaign fund which his chair
man was using. The Republican par
ty is forced to do something to Stife
the cry of the people for relief The
gentleman who framed the report OF
the Committee admitted the wide-
spread demand for some Kind OF legis-
lation when he used these words on
page four of his report: las showing
the widespread interest in this iegls-
iation there has been filed with the
IA
resolutions and kilograms from pri-
vate individuals, corporations and
civic bodies demanding that legisla-
ton along the lines suggested by the
Presidents message and the above re-
port of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission be enacted. Resolutions and
memorials adopted by several OF the
States have also been presented.
Therefore something must be done.
How can the people be satisfied with
out injury to corporate interests? That
is the question which confronts the
Republican party today.
/ do not wish to be misunderstood.
do not question the sincerity of the
President l do aot question the sim
cerity of the gentlemen on this floor.
But the President belongs to a party
which belongs body and soul to the
trusts. and gentlemen on this floor
belong to the same party. and mark
the prediction. Mr.. Chairman: Any
legislation which popular clamor forces
will be the mildest, the least hurtful
to the railroads that Republican
ingenuity can evolve. And / predict
that tho final effect of whatever legiS-
lation is enacted Is neither q remedy
of present admitted evils or substan-
tally detrimental TO the interests of
the great corporations affected. /
will go even further and hazard the
prediction that no legislation VIII be
enacted which is seriously opposed BY
these great corporations. No doubt IN
contemplation of some legislation of
this kind the Republican convention
last year gave forth a deliverance.
That convention announced the I'M
mortal doctrine of stand Pat" There
is not one line IN that platform indicat-
ing any necessity for legislation of
this kind. According TO that great
document. everything needed to be
dcne had already been done and noth-
ing remained but for the American
people to stand pat md enjoy the
bountiful fruits of Republican rule.
Prices We're high. The country was
supremacy prosperous, and would con-
tinue SO as long as that party remain
ed in power. Everybody was congrat-
ulated on the Astounding and wide
spread prosperity, which the country
was then enjoying. Among a long
list of 1--WE have DONE" we find this
announcement: Laws enacted by the
Republican party which the Demo
cratic party failed to enforce. and
which, we intended for the protection
Of the public against the unjust dis
elimination of the illegal encroach-
ment OF vast aggregations OF capital.
have been ,fearlessly enforced by a
Republican President, and nov laws
insuripg reasonable publicity as to the
operations Of great corporations ana
providing additional remedies for the
prevention of discrimination in freight
rates have been passed by Kcpub-
lican Congress
| So you see, Mr.. Chairman, accord
| ing TO the platform of the Republican
party. 70 evil exists. Notwithstanding
the statement of the President ana the
report of the committee.
1 In his message the President was
forced 10 ignore this statement in the
very platform on which he was elected,
but he was probably reminded of the
necessity Of, this legislation by another
platform OF another party which is
constantly abused and ridiculed by
those in sympathy with the trusts, but
which declared in 1900 that I'VE favor
such an enlargement of the scope OF
the Interstate Commerce laws as Will
enable the Commission TO protect indi-
viduals and committees from discrim-
nations and the public from unjust
and unfair transportation rates" And
again in 1904, I'VE demand an enlarge
lnent of the powers Of the interstate
Commerce Commission To the end tina;
the travelling public and shippers OF
this government may have prompt
and adequate relief frera abuses to
which they are subjected in the mat
ter of transportation" Therefore
when the President recommended III
his message that Congress confer on
the Interstate Commerce Commission
the power TO revise rates and regula'
tons" he repudiated one of your Re
publican has dones' and adopted q
demand contained in two Democratic
platforms. For one I honor tho Pres
ideut for repudiating the hypocrisy Of
his own party aud for admitting tho
existence Of this vicious evil.
But, Mr.. Chairman. cannot believe
for one moment that the Dill reported
by the committee is satisfactory to tbt
President. | am suspicious oC this bill
for several reasons. You know and
: know that the one thing above al