The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-21
Railroad Question VIII Be Taken
 Up Today
.cOCKRELL TALKS ON GRAFT
Veteran ex-Senator Says Both the Giver and Receiver of Bribe Should Be Punished to
 Eradicate Evil.

Washington. November 2o.-(Specia1.)-- The great struggle over railroad legsla- tion in the Fifty-ninth Congress begins interstate commerce commission, which is directed to report by bill or otherwise within ten days after Congress convenes. A number of the members are in the city but it will likely be some time be. fore anything is positively decided upon by the committee.
 My idea.' said Senator Elkns. tonight, lis measure for the reference of all rate disputes. passenger and freight, to court of interstate commerce, to be composed of nine judges, one for each judicial cir cult; or for such disputes to be referred to the circuit court judges without the creation of a new court Congress at all times Is opposed to the creation of new courts or commissions and for that req son the new court plan would. no doubt, meet with serious opposition. do not be- lieve that the interstate commission should be allowed to deal with the ques- ton. I would keep that body intact, to discharge it's duties as at present, but would not give 1t the additional work of regulating rates"
 Senator Foraker's Ideas.
 Senator Foraker says: "The question is not a party one, or If 1t is, 1t is a democratic proposition. which has had MT. Bryan for it's chief advocate for num- Der of years. and now 1t has the demo- cratic party of Ohio committed to it by its platform. I do not know what kind of bill the Senate committee will report and If I did 1t would be out of place for me to tell about 1t in advance. have ideas of my own as to what the measure should be and if that committee does not agree upon one I shall feel free to intro- duce a bill on my own account"
 Senator Deliver In Harmony.
 Senator Deliver Is In harmony with the Presidents recommendation, and be- lieves that at least minority report vocing those recommendations will be presented to the Senate.
 "I hope" he said, "the committee will be found unanimous in support of the Presidents policy but whether 1t Is or not bill framed in accordance with the Presidents recommendations will be put before the Senate even if 1t Is necessary for members of the committee to part company with the majority of their col- leagues
 Rumors of Compromise.
 Rumors are rife that a compromise has been arrived at between the President and the large railroad interests, by which the former has practically achieved victory. Senator Knox Is generally cred tied with being the go-between in the al- legged arrangements.
 Today MT Knox was in conference with the President and there were present at the same time Senator Culom of Illinois, who Is known to support the Presidents stand; Representative Hepburn, chair man of the House committee in charge of rate legislation; who first opposed and then voted for the Esch-Townsend bill in committee last session. Attorney Gen. eral Moody and Secretary of State Root. No statement was made by these men after the consultation. but 1t is believed from the varied interests involved that there is a deal of goodly proportions on relative to the rate regulation fight
 CockreII on Graft.
 Former Senator Cockrell of Missouri. a member of the interstate commerce commission thinks that. perhaps the lobbyist is not wholly to blame in the corruption of legislatures.
 ''The evil seems to work both ways, says General Cockreu. "rhe lobby Is an instrument employed to procure undeserv- ed advantage of legislation for some spe- eiaI interest or to prevent proper legis- lation to the public interest which would be unsatisfactory to some special interest. It is also a barnacle attaching itself to corporations to pick blood money from them by a sort of blackmail method. An organization which has an inherent weakness may be especially open to blackmail 1t must have stronger mo- tive for the employment of improper agencies. rather for It's protection or to promote it's interests where merit is de- fcent.
 oTo strike down the evil you will have to begin the clubbing at both ends. Strike al the corruption in the legislature as well as at the corrupting of legislature. al the men who seeks bribes and at those who offer them. The corruption may be with either the tempter or the victim. The legislator may be tempted or he may be a solicitor of graft. Both the giver and the receiver should pc exposed and punished. The honest can not be compelled to either give or 10 receive graft"
 Russian Refugees Arrive.