Arizona republican., 1905-12-12

mines that the existing rate is unjust or unreasonable, the rate so fixed shall be the only legal rate charged. The bill was referred to the committee on interstate commerce.
 MT. Foraker said he believed the bill is the best yet offered if the govern ment is to go into the rate making business at all. as it would do the least possible harm. ''In saying that, however" he added ''I minimize the necessity of any legislation of that character because the bill is directed solely at excessive rates" MT. Fora ker took the position that Tillman's bill recognizes the fact that present laws are sufficient to reach rebates and everything but discriminating charges.
 "I had supposed that the law was sufficient to reach rebates and similar alleged evils,'' said MT. Tillman, ''but since the investigation of rebates be- gun by Judson Harmon at the instiga- tion of the executive came to such miserable and pitiable fiasco I am getting rather shaky as to the suffici- ency of that law. It certainly will prove a failure unless the president stops protecting cabinet officers and whitewasaing them and until he does that there never will be anything ac- cOmplished under the law
 MT. Foraker said he had a bill of his own which he would explain within a few days, and he would convince any unbiased mind of the wisdom of its passage He declared that the Tillman bill and many others offered were un- constitutional because the congress had no right to delegate to the com mission the right to regulate railroad rates.
 "The supreme court is wrong on that point" asked Tillman.
 Mr. Foraker declared that the su- premc court has never expressed itself on that point. He asserted that the authorization of the Interstate com merCe commission to fix rates amounts to giving it executive functions.
 The vice president then laid before the senate the Panama canal apprc- prieltIOn bill. MT. Allison asked that it be referred to the committee on ap- propritaions as a deficiency bill, but on the request Of MT. Kittredge the bill was read.
 MT. Hopkins urged that the bill be referred to the committee on inter- oceanic canals as it was an emergency bill. not deficiency bill. MT. Spooner said 1t was an emergency bill because 1t was deficiency measure.
 MT. Allison said he would frankly state that the sundry civil appropria- tion bill should in the future carry re- gular canal appropriations unless the resolutions should be amended
 Tt is good old Anglo Saxon steal ing, and not graft" asserted Tillman. ito pay such high salaries as are paid to the canal officials" He mentioned particularly tne salary of $10,00O to the auditor. Mir Allison declared that all these salaries should be fixed by sta tute. This was not a function of the appropriations committee he added but it was over such legislation as this that othar great committees had juris- diction.
 MT. Hemenway asserted that the committee on inter-oceanic canals could meet tomorrow if it desired and explain just what salaries should be paid the canal officials.
 MT. Tillman said: '' There should be legislation and the steal stopped even if the president had loaned the pres tige of his great name to the existing SOlihillOu OL dIIdlTS.
 MT. Teller took the positio.. that the president had been authorized to create offices and fix their salaries and congress should pay them. There should be law fixing salaries. Mr. Beacon declared he did not see how congress could fix salaries unless it undertakes the "herculean and i'm possible task of fixing the salaries of each one composing the vast army of employees of the canal"
 MT. Daniel favored the bill going to the appropriations committee and Mir. Morgan to the canal committee MT. Morgan read the first section of the bill relating to the issuance of bonds for $13O, ,O0O,G0O and declared that the whole issue is the intention of this section to make these bonds bankab,e. When this has been done there is nothing to prevent the president from turning his back upon congress- said MT. Morgan.
 He could say to congress, I don't need any more appropriations from you. I have $13O,OOO,O0O and that is all I need.'"
 He protested against referring the bill to another overwhelming republi- can committee as he termed the appro- priation committee. The bill was re- ferred to the committee on appropria- tions on yea and nay vote, 40 to 52 The senate then, at 4:5O p. m., went into executive session and at 51O ad- journed.