The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-19
STRUGGLE Is ON.
The Senate Committee on Inter-
state Commerce
VIII Meet Monday to Take Up a
Railroad Measure.
President Has Been Oyerrun
With Interested Visitors.
HE is STANDING PAT.
A Number of Committeeman
Ready to Back Him.
Tillman for First Time Is in
Accord With Roosevelt.
Opposition Ready to Made Any
Sacrifice to Save Rates.
President Has Been Oyerrun
With Interested Visitors.
HE is STANDING PAT.
A Number of Committeeman
Ready to Back Him.
FilIman for First Time Is in
Accord With Roosevelt.
Opposition Ready to Made Any
Sacrifice to Save Rates.


Washington. Nov. 1s.-In the room
OF the senate committee on interstate
commerce next Monday morning the
struggle with the problem of legisla-
ton affecting the railroads will begin.
The question has occupied public at
tention to the partial exclusion Of 9th
er matters Of Importance for a year,
but the committee meeting Of day
after tomorrow will mark the real be-
ginning of the contest which congress
viii end before the close of the COM
ing session.
The committee OF which Stephen 3.
Elkins of West Virginia is chairman
has been directed explicitly to make a
report on the matter Of railway legis-
lation "by bill or otherwise not later
than December IA Nearly every
member of the committee is in Wash
ington and the few absentees are ex-
pected to reach the city by tomorrow
night.
Chairman EIkins has intimated that
no bill can be prepared within the
time set by the senate for making the
report. Senator Dolliver OF Iowa, on
the other hand, believes there is no
reason why bill can not be present
ed to the senate within a week after
the convening of congress.
Members are divided on the dues-
tiOn of the extent to which Hesitation
to be recommended should 90 in the
matter Of giving authority to the IN
tsrState commerce commission to fix
rates This is the mere statement of
a fact already well known but there
are indications today that Chairman
4 Elk1ns may be able to obtain a ma
/ Jorlty report by yielding much from
his own views and by gaining as much
/ from the members of the committee
! nave been gTf1gRTq5Efi0 rfa
/ anJagonistlc to the chairman.
Ihe last week in " Washington has
been one of final missionary work by
men representing the railroad interests
and by men who desire to see legisla-
! ton enacted that win go to the full
i limit of that outlined in the Essch-
Townsend bill Of last winter The
| White House has had its scores Of Wis
4 itors daily from all sorts and condition
/ of official and business life and each
/ individual has had his word with the
! president upon the railroad matter. The
| president himself has made up his mind
| on the subject and that part Of his
message touching railroad legislation is
prepared. The statements of men who
have seen the chief executive and have
| learned his views make it practically
| certain that he is standing pat"
In the senate committee the men
| who believe that the granting Of the
right to the interstate commerce COM
mission to fix rates would be danger
| Gus, are preparing to yield on every
/ other point for which they have held
/ out in order to secure q majority report
/ on measure that shall not include the
/ rate fixing authority.
The majority of the Republicans on
/ the senate committee which will meet
Monday are opposed to the prss.dent's
railroad legislation plan but there are
/ Democrats to be considered.
/ Senator Tfllman. for the first time
/ in his life, finds himself in thor8ugh
| accord on a legislative proposition
| with Theodore Roosevelt. Senator
/ McLaurin, of Mississippi, another
/ Democratic member Of the commit
| tee is held to be favorable to meas
/ ure that will meet the views of Sen
/ ator Elkins. Senators Carmack, Fos-
| ter and Newlands, Democrats all
three, are held to be in the class with
/ Tillman. Mr.. NewIands was the
] father of the bill introduced some
time ago that if it had been enacted
! would have placed control of the rail-
Il roads virtually in the hands OF the
4 government.
Senators Do1liver Of Iowa and Clapp
| of Minnesota are the only Republican
members who are known to be inn
| novably in favor Of going as far as
the president desires, but It may be
that they will be Joined by Senators
| CuIlom and A4il1ard, and these four.
with the aid Of the Democrats, can
control the committee. There Is a
strong feeling, however. that Cullen
and Ninard may be willing to vote
/ with Chairman Elkins provided he
prepares a bill that grants everything g
Mr.. Roosevelt asks excepting that the
rate making power be vested absc-
lutelv in the interstate commerce
! commission.