Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-07
LOOKS MORE HOPEFUL
Senators See Compromise on
Railroad Legislation.
RESULTOF THEMESSAGE
STATESMEN THINK PRESIDENT
WILL MAKE CONCESSIONS.
Senator Elkins Discussed Probable Ac-
ton by Congress-Many Remedies
Have Been Offered.

There is a much more hopeful feeling for a
satisfactory compromise of all interests on
the subject of rate legislation today than has
existed at any time for many months past
The Presidents message. as read by many
senator's is not exactly In line with what
the Presidents policy has been declared to
be in the past. In a word. a debate has
been going on on the assumption that the
President desired to have power given a
commission for the regulation of railroad
rates that would make such commission
largely independent of review by the court,
and would give 1t enormous power over the
railroads of the country.
AS senators read the Presidents message
they do not believe that lie will favor such
power being given to the commission. In
this view OF the situation they believe that
it will be entirely possible to frame bill
that will meet the suggestions in the Presi-
dents message and at the same time Will
receive a majority of the votes of the Sen
ste.
Many senator's who rather dislike the pub
lie criticism that gives the President credit
for a victory over the Senate have sug-
gested that they have not changed their
policy at all. From the beginning they
have favored such legislation would eff
fectuaIly remedy the evils in relation to dis
ordinations between individuals, the danger
of any extortionate rates and general equal
fty of citizens in their dealings with rail-
road corporations. But they have demanded
that this result be accomplished by meth
DDS that appear to them to be not only just
and reasonable, but within such conStitu-
tional limits will cause the law they may
enact to stand If 1t Is tested before the
court as to its constitutionaltty.
Senator Elkins' Comment.
Senator Elkins, chairman of the commit
tee on interstate commerce, did not today
way rates. but he will do so in few days.
He has definite ideas on that subject, and
now that the Presidents message has been
published he believes among others, that it
will be possible to frame a bill that will
accomplish every purpose of the President,
and at the same time will meet the views
of legal authorities in the Senate who will
be called upon to comment and vote upon it.
Speaking today on this subject Senator Ell
kins said:
Outside of abuses on the railroads. such
as private car lines and amendments that
may be offered for the general regulation of
such corporations. and coming directly to
the rate question, l favor as the best solu-
ton of this question the passage Of a bill
that will accomplish the results indicated
in the Presidents message. In fact, 1 have
always favored that policy, as l believe the
committee has favored it. / desire such
limitations placed upon the commission that
Will permit everything material 1t may do
to be reviewed by court. Under some of
the plans that have been suggested the
only question that could be considered by
an appeal to the court by railroad COM
pany would be whether the rate prescribed
by the commission is consistatory and the
only question that could be considered in an
appeal by shipper would be whether a
rate was distortionate or discriminate tory. If
a locality is aggrieved it would have no re-
dress. Such legislation would bring into
politics the adjustment of railway rates as
between different sections of the country
% NJ To iv,f I.a
commission autocratfc and uncontrolled
power to fix rates. AS stated in his mes
sage, he only desires to give to the COM
mission power to a fair earring in each
case to determine what Is the maximum
reasonable rate. this decision to go into eff
feet within a reasonable time, and to OBJ
tain from thenceforward subject to review
by the court.