Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-11-24
RATE MAKING
LEGISLATION
The Subject is Considered in Inform
al Way by Senate Committee on
Interstate Commerce.
MEASURE is TO BE REPORTED
Sentiment is in Favor Of a Conserva.
tive 6iil-Foraker Gives His
Views.

Washington, Nov. 23.-Railroad rate
making was again considered by the
senate committee on interstate COM
nerce today, but in an informal way.
as no measure as yet have been pre-
sented to the committee upon which
it can base it's action. Views were
expressed by several members which
indicated a sharp division as far as
the situation has developed. There
is the further indication that a ma
jority of the committee will favor q
measure giving the interstate commits
sion more power, which means in
some form control over rates. 1t seems
to be quite well understood that three
Republicans and enough Democrats
favor such legislation to insure a rate
making bill being reported.
For Conservative Bill.
Informal discussions among Repub-
lican members of the committee show
that apprehension is felt that IL bill
should be reported by Republicans
majority of the Republican members,
1t would create a division in the par
ty that will work destruction in the
future. The Republicans who favor
rate making legislation assert that the
way to avoid a rupture is to support
conservative measure in line with
the recommendations of the presi-
dent. Some of the exponents of
bill giving the commission power ov-
er rates expressed the hope after the
adjournment of the meeting today
that when the views of the president
have been set forth, an agreement can
be reached by the Republicans upon
bill which can be reported and pass
ed without much friction.
Foraker Gives His Views.
At future meetings, beginning to-
morrow, each member of the commit
tee will be given an opportunity to
state his views in regular order Dur
in6 the discussion Senator Foraker
expressed the opinion that it would
be sufficient to meet the present sit
uation il the interstate commerce COM
mission should be authorized to take
cognizance of complaints, bring suits
TO enforce the laws in the United
States courts, and that all district at
torneys be empowered to prosecute
sucn cases. Senator Dolliver said he
believed that the movement for con-
troll of rates had progressed to the
extent that legislation short of giving
some tribunal of the government such
power would not be satisfactory. Sem
ator Newlands, after the committee
adjourned today, said:
II Will be Passed,
Il have no doubt that a measure
for railroad regulation will be pass
ed the coming session. But look for
prolonged consideration by the COM
mittee and the senate, and the pub
lie will probably grow impatient Ov.
er the delay.
individually, l believe in compre-
hensive action on the whole question
of transportation by means of a ma
tional incorporation act, covering the
incorporation of new companies, as
well as the re-incorporation of old,
guarding strictly against over-capital-
ization, rebates and determinations,
and compelling an automatic but grad
ual reduction in rates as the total bus
mess of the country increases, by a
limitation of dividends.
I'VE should do away with the alb
surdity of permitting the state to char
ter carriers for interstate commerce.
Three-fourths of the transportation Of
the country in interstate, and as in
terstate commerce is clearly intrusted
by our constitution to the national
government it is illogical that As less
er sovereignties should create the ma
chimes that are to do the business of
the greater sovereignty"