The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-23
RATE HEARING TO
END DURING WEEK
Representative Sims Talks of
Tariff Legislation
SUBJECT SURE TO COME UP
Presidents Hand Has Been Greatly
Strengthened In Congress and
Members Will Probably
Fall Into Line.

Washington, May 2.-(Speeial) )-Sena-
tor Carmack of Tennessee expressed the
opinion this morning that the committee
on Interstate and foreign commerce, of
which he is a member, would conclude
it's hearing on the railroad rate question
this week and adjourn until the call of
the chairman, Senator Elkins. 1t is ex-
pected this call will be for a week or
two before the next session begins In
order that the committee may have time
to prepare a bill, II 1t Is the intention to
formulate measure before the full re-
publican membership is consulted.
Representative Sims of Tennessee. who
has remained in Washington since the
adjournment of Congress, has spent most
of his time in following the testimony
before the Senate committee. He be-
lieves legislation of some character on
the railroad rate proposition will be en-
acted next winter. With 1t. Mr.. Sims
thinks, will come tariff revision.
President Is Strengthened.
1.-THE result of the election last Novem-
ber." said Mr.. Sims today was un-
doubtedly to strengthen the President
numerically in both the Senate and
House. Especially In the latter body
dozens of members were pulled through
on the personal popularity of the Presi-
dent. They owe their elections to him
and 1t is safe to say that they will do
about everything he desires of them. On
small scale the same is true of the
Senate The President is much stronger
In,
was at the last session of Congress. He
is going to insist upon railroad rate leg
islation and l believe he will get 1t. I
have no idea that he will get a measure
on the statute books as drastic as he is
believed to want but ] am inclined to
believe he will get something. However,
/ make bold to predict that the railroads
will see to it that the men appointed on
the interstate commerce commission or
other body having more or less supervis-
ion will not be very inimicable to the
interests of the railroads. dare say a
bill will be passed with a great hurrah
and that will practically end the mat
ter
AS for the tariff" said Mr.. Sims "The
Presidents announcement to the effect
that we are to go In the open market for
canal supplies places the subject in a.
position where It can hardly be ignored.
| expect both railroad and tariff legis-
lation Of a kind this winter
Tawney Is Cheerful.
Representative Tawney Of Minnesota,
a leading member of the ways and means
committee, is also here and has little
Ineligible to say of the administration 9
canal policy. After profoundly thinking
over the matter for a while Mr. Tawney
cautiously said:
''If the difference between the domestic
price of material to be used in the con-
struction of the canal and the price of
foreign material is materially greater, as
claimed than the duty on such foreign
material the policy Of purchasing foreign
material Is justifable
"In other words. II the government can
buy steel rails or any other material In
a foreign market at a price. with the
duty added. less than the domestic price
or cost. the policy is not only justifiable
but 1t is the duty of the commission TO
purchase foreign material under these
circumstances.
ION the other hand the governments
should be bound by - Dolicy of proteo-
ton as the domestic consumers are and
pay the price in excess of the foreign
price TO the extent of the difference in
the labor cost Of producing the material
here and abroad"