The news & observer., 1905-11-19
Declares His Position in
UnmistakabIe Words.
STANDS ON PLATFORM
Is With the President in His Fight to
Give the Interstate Commerce
Commission Power to Regulate
Rates and Prevent Unjust
Determinations.

The News and Observer was in re-
ceipt yesterday of a communication
from one of it's correspondents which
seemed to cast a doubt upon the
question of Senator Lee S. Overman's
attitude in the next Congress with re-
gard to the Esch-Townsend bill and
the fight impending in Congress for
government control of railroad freight
rates.
AS every voice so far heard from
Salisbury and Spencer, known as
Southern Railway towns, had been
opposed to any rate regulation, the
correspondent came to the hasty con-
clusion that Senator Overman was
likewise opposed thereto or lukewarm
in his support.
Knowing the character of the Sen
ator's utteranceS on the question and
remembering his attitude when as a
member of the legislature he showed
himself a sincere champion of the
principle involved through his consist7
ent support of the railroad commits
sion, the News and Observer ques-
toned the correctness of its CORE
spondent's differences. but to make the
matter certain yesterday sent to Sen
atOr Overman himself the following
telegram:
Raleigh. NC, Nov. IS, 1905.
Hon. Lee a. Uverman, SALISBURY,
North Carolina.
Question has been raised as to
your position on Esch- Townsend bill.
Please wire whether you will support
it with amendments putting private
car lines under government control.
"NEWS AND OBSERVER
In reply Senator Overman last night
sent the following, which is declara-
tory of his attitude and shows that
he is in perfect accord with the wishes
of the other members of the North
Carolina delegation in Congress in
their effort to secure reform of un-
just freight rates and determinations
through the Interstate Commerce
Commission:
Salisbury. y. c.. Nov 49, 1905.
News and Observer, Raleigh. n. G.
Replying 20 your telegram, L favor
regulation of Interstate Commerce
SO as to prevent injustice and impo-
sition by the carrier upon the pro-
ducer, the consumer and the shipper,
giving power to the commission upon
complaint made, if rate is found un-
reasonable, to fix reasonable rate
with right of appeal giving all neces
sary power to stop and prevent re-
bates, secret rates and unjust dis
ordinations and control over private
car lines and terminals sufficient to
prevent injustice to the small shippers
from the special privileges and mo-
nopoly to big shippers. Equal rights
to all, no special privileges.
II stand upon the Democratic plat
form. and in this matter favor sthe
policy of the President. The Wash
ington Post and other papers have
stated my position. From my past
record, you have had the right to as
sumo what my position would be- and
you have stated it several times
For me to take any other position
would be inconsistent. | am surprised
that my position should be questioned.
Have not declared myself in favor of
any particular bill, and will not do so
until it has been introduced and
pending before the Congress. In all
things l hope to be conservative. My
position now is just what it was in
1888 when ! introduced in the House
of Representative the first railroad
bill ever introduced in the
House, and which, under my leader
ship, passed that body. The law was
enacted, and has been a
good one alike for the people and the
railroads
81 do not believe that such legisla-
tion as / favor will lower the wages
of a single working man I'm the United
States
LEE S. OVERMAN."