The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1906-02-15
OUR WASHINGTON
NEWS AND NOTES
LTEMS OF INTEREST BRIEFLY
CHRoNICLED.
THE RATE. BILL PASSES
.he Hpburn Rate Bill Passed by .
Vote of SAG to 7.-Committee Is
Given Power to Investigate and Re-
wise Unreasonable Rates.


The following is summary OF the
Hepburn railroad rate bill which the
House passed:
The bill, according o Mr.. Hepburn s
statement in closing the debate on the
measure, was intended and did, so far
as it could be made, he said, comply
specifically with the recommendations
of President Roosevelt on the rate
question. It gives the Interstate Com
mission authority, when a rate has
been complained of as Unreasonable
by shipper to investigate that rate
state whether or not it is unreasonable
and if found to be unreasonable, to
name a rate which is to be just and
reasonable and fairly remuneratlve,
which is to be the maximum rate to
be charged.
This rate so fixed Is to go into eff
feet thirty days after it is announ-
ced by the commission, subject dur
ing that time to be set aside or sus-
pended by the commission or by the
courts. After it has gone into effect
1T is to remain the rate for three
Nears. During this time the opin-
ion has been expressed by those who
have participated in the debate that
the rate may also be reviewed by the
courts and if found to be either In
conflict with tn terms of the act or
with the Constitution, can be set
aside by the cours.
Another important feature is the
definition of the word railroad and
transportation In manner to In
clude all auxiliary instrumentalities OF
the common carrier and to bring them
within the control of the commission.
THE power to name reasonable rate
and the inclusion of the auxlllarles
within the jurisdiction of the COM
mission are sad be the new fea-
lures. All other provisions are modl-
fcations OF the existing law. They
include publicly of railroad methods,
(which is to be aided in prescribing a
system Of bookkeeping; charging the
eommission to seven members, and In
-creasing salaries of members to
$4,000.
, Baron Hengelmuller, the Austrian
ambassador here and acting dean Of
the diplomatic corps, after confer
ence with officials of the Washington
government, has advised his govern
ment that it is the wish of the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt that no Off
cial gifts shall be presented to their
daughter on the occasion Of her mar
riage to Mr.. Longworth. Mr.. Hengel-
muller, In his circular to the diplomat
DC corps here, has informed the mem
bers of the fact, and it can be stat
ed that the other European govern
ments will follow the example OF Aus
tria Whatever presents are sent will
fbe in the name Of the sovereign. They
will be in the nature of personal ex-
preston of good will and not as pres
ents from the governments themselves.
Although the House Of representa-
tives will not take official recognition
of the wedding of Miss Roosevelt and
Representative Longworth adjourn
ment will be taken on Friday, Feb.
Is, until the following Monday, with
out avowing the purpose. In this
manner the house will avoid estab'
lishing precedent.
Representative Cocks of Long IS
land, the practical farmer Of the New
York delegation, has taken up the cud-
gel against the distribution of free
seed, that time-honored bit of graft
held so dear by most congressman. Ii
Is likely that Mr.. Cocks will make his
maiden speech on the subject of the
free seed evil.
IT am strongly opposed to the dis
tribution of seed as at present con-
ducted,n said Mr.. Cocks today. 1t
might almost be said that the $250,O0O
expended for this purpose is absolute
ay wasted. This quarter of million
dollars could be spent ig other ways
that would give far more benefit to
the farmers than he now gets from
the free seed business. The original
idea Of distributing seed gratuitous-
ly was to furnish the farmer with
new and rare seed. This mas long
since ceased to be the object. Per-
sons living in cities and having
no back yard at all in which to cul-
tivate garden are bonrbarded every
year with samples of corn, peas, radi-
shes and turnip seeds. 1t is barely
Senator Tillman presented letter
~ S y