The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1906-01-19
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
HOW THE RATE MAKING QUES.
TON STANDS BEFORE
CONGRESS- TODAY.


Interstate Commerce Commission
RilI is Administration Measure-The
Foraker Bill and the Eikins Bill AZ
ternatives.
After its usual. little furry OF bust
ness before Christmas, followed by the
holiday period, Congress Is now ready
to settle down to the serious WORK OF
the session. Probable debate looms
I'M large on the Panama Canal ques-
ton. the railroad rate issue and the
tariff. OF these the railroad question
is undoubtedly the most important, az
least it is the newest subject; ana
while no legislation may be desired
nm the other issues, If railroad rate
hill is to be passed, as Is the an
nounced desire of the leaders and the
President. practically unlimited debate
will ensue. It has been stated that
the House would likely act promptly,
as It did last year, but 1t is something
Of a problem as to what will be the
procedure in the Senate. The Inter.
state Commerce Commission rate bill
anpears to have taken the place OF the
Esch.Townsend bill of last session.
Technically there is to be no Admins
tration bill, which designation was ac-
corded the Esch- Townsend measure,
hut with the members of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission In hearty
accord with the President. IT 10 un,
derstood that the Commissions Dill
contains the basis Of the Adminlstra-
TONS demands.
On the other hand, the Foraker rate
bill and the Elkins bill are the prin-
cipal alternative measures before
The issues, then, would be thus
Joined. and the two houses would
likely struggle with 1t for large por'
ton Of the session, with the probable
ity that In the end compromise
would be reached. This contemplates
some notifications Of the Presidents
measure. which will not necessarily
mean defeat for him or give him cause
for embarrassment 1t is conceded,
even by those who are avowedly sup
porting President Roosevelt's railroad
rate policy, that he Is too stanch a
partisan to embroil his party In dan.
gerous strife on the verge of a general
Congressional election that VIII De
fraught with unusual Importance 10
other policies which the President
heartily desires should be carried out
as Administration measures backed by
a practically solid Republican support:
Tariff revision, or reimbursement.
is one of those policies which Is said
to be close to the Presidential heart,
and new and practical assertion OF
the Monroe Doctrine. particularly
with relation to such threatening
muddles as that in Santo Domingo. Is
said to be another.
Protests From Shippers.
A rather peculiar development OF
the railroad question 10 the action OF
great numbers of large shippers VINO
theoretically are the very men who
should favor stringent rate legislation,
but who are vigorously expressing
themselves as adverse to radical ac-
ton. Since Congress met, great mum
bers Of letters and protests have been
received from shippers all over the
country, declaring that they are ad'
verse to giving the rate-making power
to the Interstate Commerce Commas
sion. or to any other political tribunal
The protests coming from shippers &c
members of Congress are very et
fective, since the shippers are usually
among the most influential men IN
Congressional districts.
The situation is full .of possible
complexities and changes, the only
apparent developments thus far being
a less radical public view OF railroad
matters, which is being reflected II
the more conservative attitude on the
mart Of the thoughtful Members Of
Congress and Senators. There seems
to be a growing recognition OF tne
fact that the subject Is one fui! O
intricate and complex conditions
which make final action inadyisable
without a very full understanding OF
what the practical effect Of any pro
posed legislation would be, not only
upon transportation interests, but up
on the hundreds Of thousands OF PEG
pie throughout the country who con
stitute the shippers.
Democrats to Support President.
There has been such a stampede O.
Democratic Representatives and Sen
ators to the support Of "any rate bill
which the President may want" OF
the ground that any rate bill is goot
Democratic doctrine, that many OF tht
Presidents political advisers arr
warning him that he may be IN tn
position of having to dodge an allianc'
with the Democrats, which Is exactl!
what the President does not want.
While it is generally believed thai
the House will promptly pass thu
Administration" bill, yet Speakel
Cannon said not long ago that while
it was impossible to say what Con
gress would do, he felt convinced tina
the House would not again pass TN
Esch- Townsend bill. Yet the Inter
state Commerce Commission bill IS
much more radical measure and II
every way is more far-reachine
Whether this ID to be made the basl
of a compromise or whether the Pres
ident will insist that q commission
appointed by him shall be investe
with this plenary power Of constitt
tional government-legislative, jude
ial and executives matter OF som
conjecture.
In connection with the foreign an
domestic policies above mentioned,
is said alike by friends and critics
the President that he is facing q or
- v~v 4, 6fo axxyn TQa