Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-02-09
Washington Notes.
Two to nominate.
A. B. EKAS, Buffalo twp.

\ The delegation in Congress from this
state did themselves proud" last Fri
day. Nineteen of them assembled in
some Committee room and resolved to
oppose the Townsend-Esch bill, or at
least to delay action upon it, Mr.. Sib-
ley and others plead for more time, and
our member, Mr.. Huff, is quoted as say
ing that he believed the creation of a
law that placed in the hands of seven
men the right to make railroad rates
would ruin the industries of this
country. He agreed with the President
that rebates were an evil, and he stood
ready to help to do away with them.
"I think it is the duty Of the Pennsyl-
vania delegation to openly oppose this
measure" he said 1T is incendiary.
1t means anarchy I believe that we
should say that it is dangerous and that
we will have none Of it, and they RE
solved, That the caucus of Republican
representatives be informed by Mr..
Bates, chairman of the Pennsylvania
delegation, that it is the unanimous
sense Of the Republican representatives
of Pennsylvania that the meeting to-
day should be q free conference, and
that, if necessary, one or more such con
ferences be held for discussion of the
proposed legislation respecting inter
state commerce"
Then they went into the caucus of
the Republican members from all over
the couptry, and made a kick on putting
the bill through, but found themselves
almost standing alone.
Speaker Cannon made a strong plea
for the passage of the bill, declarin g
that the people Of the country are de-
manding legislation upon this subject
and some action must be taken whether
the senate concurs in it or not. He said
that it would be impossible to frame a
bill that would suit everybody, but he
thought this was bill that every Re-
publican could afford to support.
When MIR. Mahon of Penn'a announc-
cd that he would not support it, the
speaker challenged him to frame a
better one. The debate between him
and Mr.. Mahon became very interest
ing and the latter left the chamber, but
not as bolter. He had stated his posi-
ton and did not care to vote, as he de-
clined to be bound by the action taken.
Representative Wagner of Penusyl-
vania moved that the caucus adjourn
till Tuesday night, but this motion was
defeated by vote of A to 107, and on
motion of Mr.. Hepburn a rule was
adopted for the presentation of the bill
in the House, Monday, with final action
on Thursday.
On Monday the bill was taken up and
was made the continuing order until
p. m. of to-day; excepting yesterday,
when the House canvassed the electoral
vote. Mr.. HUFF was in his seat but re-
fused to answer when his name was
called, but Mr.. Mahon and nearly all
the others fell into line.
In discussing the bill Mr.. Townsend
of MICHIGAN, one of its authors, said
that it had the two-fold object of giving
to the interstate commerce commission
power to fix rate and to hasten and
expediate the work of determining
whether the rates would stand or not
through the special court created for
the purpose of expedition.
There will never be day, he said,
in the history of this country, when the
people would ask less. Tomorrow they
may demand more" because they had
suffered long and now were demanding
a fair deal. ''Let the railroads comply
with this law" he said in conclusion.
''and voluntarily correct any evils not
covered by this bill, and it will be well
with them. Let theln oppose its just
provisions and they will but accumu-
late troubles against the day of judg-
ment."
During the debate on the Rebate bill
in the House, Tuesday, speeches in fav-
or of it were made by number of
Congressman, and against it by Sibley
Of Penn'a and Mccall of Mass.
This Senate that day passed the state
hood bill after amending it so as to
unite Oklahoma and Indian Territory
into one state and admit New Mexico.
D. B. Heiner, collector of internal
revenue at Pittsburg was in Washing
ton Monday and conferred with Senator
Penrose in regard to the question of his
reappointment. Mr. Heiner's term does
not expire until year from next spring
but be has been laying plans looking to
a re-appointment.