The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-27
SCOTT ON RATES.
Kansas Congressman Endorses the
Hepburn Bill.

Washington. Jan. 27.-The agricul-
turaI appropriation bill was consider
ed in the house yesterday but the de-
bate turned principally on the topic of
restricting railroads in the matter of
freight rates. the Hepburn bill form
ing the basis of the discussion. Mr.
Williams, of Mississippi, said that the
Democratic party was committed to
views such as were expressed by the
president in his message to congress.
Mr.. Scott. of Kansas, discussed the
question of discriminating rates by
railroads and said that there had been
a general demand from the agricul-
rural section of Kansas for relief.
He called attention to the Hepburn
bill regulating rates charged by rail-
roads, which with the exception OF a
few details, he said, fully met the de-
mand for remedial legislation.
Mr.. Williams inquired if the present
interstate commission had
done anything which justified their
being legislated out of Office
Mr.. Scott replied that he was rely
ing On the good sense and discretion
of the president in the matter. whose
hands should be united in order that
he might have absolute freedom to Sc
cure men whom he thought best suit
ed to the work.
Mr. Williams said that the Demo-
cratic party was committed without
addition or subtraction to the recon-
mendations of President Roosevelt in
his recent message The Democrats,
he said, We're glad to have the presi-
dents views because it was Demo-
cratic doctrine" and ought to be
American doctrine. w Will toe
mark the presidents tracks on this
subject" declared Mr.. Williams amid
general applause. And" he added.
facing the Republican side, 1--WE all
on you as American citizens to help US
to toe-mark them"
Tho nnTnnria+fr fO- f. f~o- =s-
tributiOn of seeds by the agricultural
department furnished the text for hui
morOus appeals by Messrs. Sheppard,
of Texas, and Chandler. of Mississippi.
its continuance. Each ~convulsed
the house with quotations from scrip
ture to show that la divine
and authority to make the dis
tribution.
MI. Bell, of California, made a Wig
orous speech in favor OF railroad rate
revision.
He directed attention to the alleged
condition of the Incorporation laws of
New Jersey, which he said had
brought to that state the fame of be-
the breeding place of mosquitoes,
corporations and trusts and were so
framed as to protect New Jersey only,
leaving them free to pre- upon the
rest OF the He charged that
the impression had gone abroad that
congress had become subject to cor
porate influence a said that if there
were such influence in the halls of
congress it should be promptly ex-
Mr. Bell ascribed sinister motives to
the use of certain language in the pre-
of the law creating the inter
state commerce commission which pro-
voked a spirited discussion between
himself, Mr.. Mann. of Illinois, and Mr..
Williams, of Mississippi. the last named
it as his belief that railroad
influence was felt in the senate at the
i'm rhz- Guile IN -
fishing the interstate M COM
mission was substituted by the senate
conferees for the so-called Reagan bill.
The latter bill, he declared, would have
the requirements.
The present so-called Hepburn bill.
Mr.. Mann said, was the product of the
brain OF Mr.. Hepburn himself.
Mr. Bell expressed the hope that Mr..
Hepburn when he came to explain the
bill would prove that there was moth
ing sinister in its language. At present,
however. he asserted, the bill was so
Worded as to what hould constitute a
reasonable rate that it was susceptible
of a double meaning. Every hint of
va~gueness and indefiniteness, he con-
ugh to be removed. He de-
Tended the interstate commerce COM
which he said had been held
to public scorn and ridicule. For
past eight years, since the decision
of the supreme court that the COM
mission had not the right to fix rates,
the commission had been the special
object of attack of certain men repre-
senting railroad interests in order to
belittle the commissioner in the eyes
of the people, and to break down the
confidence that and the peo-
pie ought to have in anybody appoint
ed by the executive.
If. he said in closing. an opportunity
be afforded to amend the Hep
burn bill in some particulars. it would
receive the support of the house with
out regard to political division and
thereby render effective the views of
the president on the subject.
After Mr.. Douglass, of New York, had
spoken in favor of ship subsidies the
agricultural bill was read for amend
Burial of Mrs. w. A johnson.