Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1905-05-20

med Into Shape for the Public Rec.
ord--A Very willing Committee
Preparing ths Whole Thing for
Compromise.
washington. ID. G., May i9-The
railroads nave had their Innings
before the United States senate COM
mlitao on interstate commerce. and, II
there "a no objection the majority 81
senators composing that tribunal
would now like go adjourn They have
made up their minds Here are their
conclusions
The Escb Townsend bill. passed
by the house OF representatives. s So
bad a. 10 be unworthy OF serious con
alteration,
2 Matchmaking by federal com
mission would be unwiae, unneces-
sary. ~ not Unconstitutional
UNWiSf because II would lodge
dangerous power In the hands OF
small body Of men subject to political
and corrupt influences
Rates would lose elasticity and ad-
sectional issue.
Rates would loat elasticity and ad.
agitation TO economic changes.
UNNECESSARY Because present
law II sufficient II enforced.
Orders Of the interstate commerce
commission have been obeyed Ia prac.
ticaily All instances.
Rebates are a thing OF the past
Enlarged powers given 10 the law by
che Elkina' net. passed two years ago,
never have been invoked.
UNCONSTITUTIONAL l2l-Attor-
neys for the railroads agree that con
gr,.aa mas power under the constitution
10 delegate legislative q. q. ratemak'
ingl ppWcr 70 "a commission. that
such "A commission would have cOnstl'
tutional authority 20 make rates, 10
10 Immediately into force. such rates
10 come within the limits OF the "eN'
ts0stiouato" on the one hand, and Of
the "conhscatoiy' on toe other. These
limits OF "reasonahlcness' would be
determined by the courts.
Clause G, sccticn 3, Of the constitu-
ti0n-the no preference" section,
probably does not apply except TO ef-
forts VI the federal government 90
give an Embellishments to one stai
as compared with another state.
A Vigorous protest has already been
aroused by the suggestion that the
committee adjourn without boxing
INFO the other subjects enumerated IN
the "Kcan resolution" This resola'
ton. being the one under which the
committee Is acting, enumerates other
toplcA 10 be inquired into, namely:
Violations OF evasiuns OF the anti
rebate law and the devices and meth
DDS by which eyaslons are accom-.
plished. including refrigerator and
other private car systems, Industrial
railway tracks. switching charges and
tho like and also 90 consider what
legislation should be- enacted IN rela'
ton ~ the liability OF railroad com
panies engaged In Interstate traihc for
Injuries received By their employees
when ln the discharge OF their duty"
NOT A WITNESS HAS BEEN
CALLED or A QUESTION ASKED
ON ANY OF THESE TOPICS.
Up 10 the present time the hearings
have been an absolutely One.sided at
fair. The only witnesses called have
hoen railroad lawyers and traffic man'
ayers, and their testimony has been
carefully directed by Chairman Stop
hen b. Elkins, with a view 20 making
brief against a grant OF rate'making
authority 10 the government, and with
further view Of excluding any evil
dence which might be opposed to this
general argument
For the better accomplishment Of
this purpose the printed record OF the
hearings, which purpoiss to be YER
batim and aculatc account OF the teNu'
mony, has been daily revised by the
witnesses and senators OK the commit
tee, and parts OF Il stricken out
Hut tee hearings have had a stiii
,a.s.a.elfalsla fanfuFN AluWI the
opening day ON the i7th OF April, the
voice and directing mind OF the as
ISOLATED railway interests which are
opposing this Legislation have been
present IN the committee room In the
person OF former United states SEN
atog Chas. b. Faulkner. OF West VIZ
ginia, who has occupied a seat directly
behind that OF Chairman Elkinas sug'
gestng with whispered questions the
line of evidence 10 DO brought ont. II
Us matter OF common knowledge
about the COMMITTEE that Faulkner 10
Ia charge OF the associated railroad
lobby, aud that he % present IN an
advisory capacity 10 aid the chairman.
The railroads represented by Faux
ner include the Atchisop. Topeka A.
santa Fe, the Chicago, Burlington a
Quincy, the Northern Pacific and
Great Northern, the Louisville a Nash
Vile. the Southern, the New York,
New Haven a Hartford. the Boston a
Maine. the Delaware a Hudson, the
Missouri Pacific. the Erie, the Rock
island and some others.
Il h understood, though the infor-
nation cOnnot be confirmed that the
Vanderbilt interests and the Pennsyl'
yanla have declined 10 join the league
of railroads which II making this con.
certed efrort 90 XIII effective railroad
legislation.
The witnesses who have given eyi'
dence before the senate committee in
clude Victor MOrawetx, general c0un.
ael for the santa Re system; J. J, Hili,
president OF the Great Northern;
I.uclus futile, president OF the Bottom
s Maine. walker u. Hines, special
counsel for the Louisville a Mash.
Vile; James II. Inland, tralic man.
aver OF the Rock Island system. RObt,
Mather, o. the Burlington. Hugh l..
Bond. trafIic manager OF the Baltimore
4 Ohio; Chas. Lincoln, tranio manager
on the santa Ne system, and Geo, Il.
Peck. general counsel for the Rock
Island System. Among those sum.
mOned, but who have not appeared.
are A. J. Cassatt. OF the Pennsylvania,
Maryin Hughltt, OF the Chicago a
Northwestern; y. a. Hartman, OF tho
Union Pacific; David Wilcox, Of the
DelaWaro a Hudsoni VIM. II. Iruea'