The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-04-27
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.

From our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, d. c., April 20, 1905.
The Senate committee on Inter
state Commerce has gotten to work
and is holding daily hearings on
the subject3of railway rate legisla-
ton. As starter Senator Elkins,
chairman Of the committee, invited
nearly fifty railway men to appear
before the committee and testify as
TO why the Government should not
attempt to fix railway rates. When
the railroad men have concluded
their testimony "such others as
may desire will be at liberty to
testify. To the unprejudiced OBJ
server it will appear AS if the com
mittee was more anxious to hear
the railway men than the opposi-
ton. OF course the railway men
who conesto Washington will have
all their expenses paid by the
companies and their salaries will 90
on just the same, while the shipper
or other opponent of the present
system must come here at his own
expense often leaving his business
to suffer in the meantime.
xxx
Senator Elkins has also appealed
to the Department of Justice for
opinions on two questions as
f llows; first, Can Congress dele
gate TO a commission the power to
fix railway rates? second; Can a
federal commission allow diferen
tial rates between ports without con-
flicting with the ninth section Of the
constitution, which prohibits dis
elimination between the ports of
the several States? The answers
10 these questions are not likely to
meet with the approval OF some of
the members of Mr.. Elkins COM
mittee or with that of the railway
men. Poth questions have already
been answered by high authorities
on the subject Senator Knox,
former Attorney General has as
sured your correspondent that Con
gress has the right to delegate its
authority to fix railway rates to
commission, and Senator Spooner,
has informed your correspondent
that there is nothing in the prac-
tice of allowing railway differen-
~ ic urI,;c1, couN; ;ct ,.;tb Tho ,act;o,,
Of the constitution referred to.
XXX
| There is, unfortunately, an OBJ
vious disposition OH the part of the
| Interstate Commerce committee to
regard the current hearings as
little short of farce. While they
are unwilling to be quoted on the
subject they admit their belief that
it is the intention of the chairman
| of the committee to conduct the
hearings with the purpose of be-
clouding the issue rather than with
the hope of Calculating it. More
over, they are convinced that the
Chairman, with the assistance of
several members of the committee
are determined to report to the Sen
ate at the earliest opportunity, a
measure which will furnish just as
little remedy for existing evils as
the necessities of the situation COM
pei, rather than a measure which
will remedy existing evils to the
full extent of the power of Congress.
There are some members os the
committee who hope to defeat what
they believe to be the purpose o!
the chairman. These include all
the Democratic members and Sena.
tors Cullom and Dolliver. If they
hold together they may be able tc
accomplish their aim but the
chances are against them. 1t is as
serted that Mr.. Elkins believes tha,
| if his committee can report to the
Senate mild" railway measure
before the next House can effect it:
organization and pass a railway
measure along the lines of the
Townsend Esch bill, for instance
he can hold the Senate to the pro
gramme reported by its committee
and thus prevent the enactment o
drastic legislation. In this regard
however, there are some indications
that Mr.. Elkins is counting with
out his host. There are numbe
of Republican Senators, not mem
bers of his committee, who declare
their intention OF so amending any