Evening star., 1905-10-08

Copyright, 1904, by j. E. Purdy, Boston-)
of Wisconsin of the rate bill that was
passed by the House of Representatives
and then taken under consideration in the
Senace, suddenly jumped into fame. What
ever may be the outcome of the contention
over railroad rate legislation Mr.. Town
send has set the railroads on the defensive
and has helped along one of the most ac-
tive debates the subject of railroad man.
agement that has ever been known in this
country.
Mr.. Townsend is personally a man OF
straightforward thinking. He has turned
fifty years of age but one would think
that he was over forty If 1t were not for the
record he has placed in the Congressional
Directory He is clean-shaven and his face
shows the lines of work. He is a lawyer
of standing whose attention has been TO
cused on railway management not only
from the point of view of a representative
in Congress, but also as one of the counsel
of the state Of Michigan In the conduct OF
railroad cases. He has been personally
connected with such matters for three
years.
Mr. Townsend defended the state of Mich
igan in the suit of the Michigan Central
railroad and others against the auditor
general of the state. In this case the rail-
roads sought to enjoin the state from the
collection Of taxes levied in 1902 in the state
dous amount of work, the railroads
claimed the law under which the taxes
were levied was unconstitutional. 1t was
the duty of Mr.. Townsend as one of counsel
for the state to take an inventory of the
railroad property in the state to determine
whether the roads were properly assessed.
The case was tried in the federal court for
the western district of the state before
Judge VANITY, and the state won 1t in
volved an inquiry into the manner in which
the railroads were doing their business.
That case was the school in which Mr..
Townsend learned the practical side of rail-
road affairs, and the intimate acquaintance
in which 1t brought him with the railroads
has added greatly to his force of argument
whenever he discusses railroad matters.
Authority on Railroads.
1t was only ten years ago that Mr.
Townsend was admitted to the bar and be-
gan to practice law in his home. Jackson.
Mich. He had been born farm in
Jackson county. and attended the public
schools there, having year in the literary
department of Michigan University when
he had about reached his majority. He has
the hardy constitution that allows him to
oyerwork himself whenever long hours and
concentration of effort are necessary in
congressional situation or In legal case.
His sudden appearance In the limelight OF
publicity was in his first term Of Congress,
when his attitude on the subject of rate
legislation brought him into close relation
spicuous place in the House of Representa-
tives and gave him a national reputation
greater than that for which many of the
older members have worked for lifetime.
The story of how the President secured
the assistance of Mr. Townsend, although
one of the youngest members on the COM
mittee on interstate and foreign commerce.
to bring in a bill that would meet his ap-
proval has been told Older members on
the committee both In respect to years and
service In the House and on the commit
tee. did not believe that such a bill as that
which Mr. Townsend eventually introduced
would be wise, and they declined to be-
come enthusiastic over any such PROPOSE
tion But when the bill was framed jointly
by Messrs. Esch and Townsend, and 1t be-
came known that 1t was what the Presf-
dent desired to have passed. the machinery
of the House was set In motion and the
bill went through with a rush. In the
House 1t was not discussed to any extent
and 1t was late in the session when it was
passed.
Before the Senate.
Then 1t went over to the Senate and was
guided into the committee on interstate
commerce, where it received such consid-
Grafton that the testimony makes five big