Evening star., 1905-10-01
TO ASK FURTHER.T|ME
Senate Committee on Inter
state Commerce.

/ The resolution of the Senate under which
the Senate committee on interstate COM
merce was instructed to sit during the re-
cess and investigate railway rates required
the committee to report to the Senate 4'by
bill or otherwise" within ten days after the
meeting of the next Congress. 1t has been
unofficially stated that the subcommittee
would resume it's sessions some time in
November, in order to comply with the re-
auirements of early report.
1t is not thought likely that the sub
committee will be ready to report by a bill
within the stipulated time. but will prob
ably have to take advantage of the 'other-
| wise" and as often is the case, report
progress and ask for further time The
supposition is strengthened by the fact that
the committee has a very large scope of
investigation under the resolution. 1t must
investigate violations or evaslons Of the
anti-rebate law and the devices and meth
DDS by which evasions are accomplished;
look into the system of refrigerator cars
and other private car privileges; Industrial
railway tracks, switching charges and the
like.
BY an amendment to the original resolu-
ton offered by Senator Martin, and adopt
ed, the committee was directed to ''also
consider what Legislation should be enact
ed in relation to the liability of the rail-
road companies engaged in interstate traf-
fic or operating lines In any territory of the
United States for injuries received by their
employees when in discharge of any duty"
Voluminous Testimony.
1t will be remembered that the subcom-
mittee took voluminous testimony during
its session following the end of the last
session, which has been printed and is sup
uOSad N h., in he ha nd af ha aharc nf
the subcommittee for consideration pre-
paratory to a report. No one conversant
with the situation, however believes that
the subcommittee will be ready to bring in
bill representing its judgment Immediate
ly upon the assembling of Congress.
1t is intimated that members of the SUBJ
committee are watching with considera BILE
interest the effect of the operation of the
raiiway-rate legislation enacted by the Wis
consin legislature at its recent session. The
law Is in force and is beginning to bring
results. The bill was enacted at the in
stance of Gov. La Toilette, who is the head
ana front of the western movement for
strict regulation of the railways. 1t is
claimed that the law already has initiated
against prosperity of the state in several
instances. 1t Is said that for one thing IL
mas impeded immigration The habit of
the railroads in giving free passes to land
agents engaged in furnishing settlers has
been stopped and the agents have gone out
OF business, while settlers are going to
other states Harvest hands no longer are
carried at reduced rates. and as there is al
ways competition among the western
states farm hands go elsewhere
Wisconsin's Rate Regulation Law.
The effect of the new law upon railway
rate regulation has not been determined.
however, and it is this problem which will
most interest the Senate subcommittee. It
is not improbable that the committee may
ask for further time and send a subcommit-