Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-09-20
ALLISON ON WORK
OF NEXT CONGRESS
Says There Will Be Long Con
test, But Rate Measure Will
Be Passed
LIKELY TO BE a COMPROMISE
Thinks a Bill That Will Embody the
Presidents Views to Large Extent
Will Finally Be Made Law-Thinks
Some Changes in the Tariff Are Ad.
visabIe.
srecial to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Dubuque. Sept. 20.-In an interview
here for the local press Senator Allison
expressed the opinion that congress
will pass a compromise rate bill at the
coming session and stated his belief
that some tariff exchanges We're advis-
able. He said
There can be no doubt that in
form, to the interstate commerce COM
mission by way of amendments to ex-
listing law and that that question will
be considered fully in all it's phases by
the senate at an early date. At the
end of the last session of congress the
committee on interstate commerce was
instructed to sit during the recess with
a view to making full examination OF
the whole question, to take testimony
employ experts, send for persons and
papers, etc, and it was instructed to
report a measure within ten days after
the meeting of the present congress-
The committee was in session two
months during the early part of the
summer, has employed distinguished
professional experts to aid in the work,
and is to meet again on the 18th of
November, and l have no doubt that 1t
will report on a bill on the subject, as
instructed by the senate, on or before
the 18th of December. l understand
that they have not yet discussed the
tor r,f hn thavafnrn ~
is not possible to predict what the
bill will be. have no doubt there are
variety of opinions in the committee
as to what should be done. These diff
ferences are likely to be so composed
as to bring forward an effective meas
ure on the lines of the general policy
outlined by the president in his last
annual message, but whatever the re-
port may be, the senate will take up the
question at an early day and fully con-
slider it. and pass some measure on the
lines of the presidents expressed
views.
"The house at it's last session passed
a bill on this subject which was a COM
promise between conflicting views as
to it's details in the committee, but
which finally received the almost unan-
imous support of the house. The new
house has not yet been organized and
the committees have not been appoint
ed. but it is likely that the house at
this session will favor a bill having the
general features of the bill passed at
the last session, altho think some
twenty amendments were offered to 1T
nv it's friends during the short session
Io,,f chn111d 1iffncnncQS
arise between the two houses they will
undoubtedly be so composed as that an
effective measure will become law at
the present session, and proRabiy
early in the session. The task of franz
inf effective amendments to the exist
ing law is difficult one, but the SEN
ate committee having the subject IN
charge is a strong committee and has
piven faithful attention to the sub
iect and 1 hope will be able to frame
a n,ea sure that will meet with approv-
al
"The questions involved are not po-
'1itical so it is not probable that there
will be party divisions in it's consider
alton. The bill which passed the house
at the last session was not discussed at
any length, and under their rules no
opportunity was given for amendments
to the bill, as it came from the com
mittee Under the rules of the senare
there is unlimited debate and uni1m1t-
6 81 mower of amendment so that IT'S
consideration by that body will require
time. but that time will be given.
81 ONLY mention this to show the inn
possibility of considering the subject In
the senate during the last short ses-
sion of congress. It must be borne in
mind that during the campaign of 1904
This question of interstate commerce
was not discussed and public attention
had not been specially directed to 1T
until after the election. with the short
session of three months intervening
between the election and the final ad-
iournment of the last congress. So
that, 1t was not possible to have the
subject considered in that brief space
of time, and this was we'll understood
at Washington by the friends of legis-
lation as we'll as by those opposed to
it.
impossible at Last Session.
"The senate was criticised for not
passing the bill or some BILL at the
last session, but this was Impossible
for want of time. The Importance OF
the general question cannot be over
estimated. Congress has dealt with it
since 1887 when the first legislation on
the subject was passed. AT that time
IT was generally believed that the
measure passed would be an effective
one. 1t was most carefully considered
bv the ablest men in the senate, but
it was found necessary in 1889 to make
important amendments to it and again
in 1891 and 1895. and most important
amendments were made in 1903,
whereby the powers and duties of the
commission We're largely increased.
"The bill of 1903 originated in the
senate. These important amendments
have not, in their application, been
fully tested; will not say by reason
.,,liSxositiar, the mart of the