Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-03-16

railroad rate question By listening to
the reading Of a report on the House
bill by Mr.. Tillman ana to a speech on
that measure by Mr.. Nelson.
Mr.. Tilnan's report read at the re-
guest of Mr. Aldrich, who said that he
Was curious to hear the opinion of the
South Carolina senator.
Brief attention was given to the mes
sage of the President transmitting the
letter Of the secretary of war relative
10 the recent Moro battlr.
Mr. Bacon spoke of the killing of the
Moros as "slaugl.tcr." and Mr.. Lodge
deprecated criticism until the facts
should be known.
The HoUse resolution giving the in
terstate commerce commission author
ity TO administer oaths in connection
with its investigation of charges of dis
crimmination made against railroads
was adopted without resOrtinG to the
forlnality OF requiring its reference to
committee.
Mr.. Stones resolution directing an
inquiry into the poStoffice department
rulings on the admission OF college
publications to the mails as second
class matter also was adopted.
A large number of private pension
bills and some other semi-private bills
were passed.
The Senate adjourned until Monday.
Platt was the only senator present
when the chaplain offered prayer in the
Senate.
A bill was passed repeating the pro-
vision OF the Tonnage law of 1854 au-
thoriZing the PRECEDENT to suspend
some of the eSdCt.vn:. Newlands de-
Clarcd that while he had joined in the
report on the Hepburn bill and was in
sympathy with the general purpose ne
thought that it was complete. There
should be provision for the national
incorporation of railroads and provision
should be made for interests of employ
ers such as an insurance fund against
accidents and old age. Corporations
should have Il fair rate of interest on
a fair valuation. The interstate COM
merce commission should be made a
board of Cancellation as to all disputes
between employees and railroads. IN
less these reforms were enacted the
senator saw an easy drift to national
ownership of railroads.
The Senate chamber soon filled and
by the time Tillman took the floor to
present his report on the railroad rate
bill. there was an average attendance.
The report was awaded the unusual
distinction of being read at length. In
presenting the document the South
Carolina senator stated that the re-
rort contained only his views and was
not therefore a reported ordinary
seIse.
When as the reading progressed the
cIcrl, was about to omit an extract
from a message by the President, Till
man objected.
ut is the most important part" he
said.
'TiIlman also presented Newland's
views on the bill. The report says:
1t embodied the first clear and con-
else statement of the difference con-
corning court review features ana
other proposed amendments that had
made a unanimous report from tn"
committee impossible.
Without hestitancy the senator de-
cla-ed il to be his belief that the bill
should be amended but that an amend
ncnt should not be of character TO
| impair or prevent the accomplishment
of the objects of the legislation, which
are set forth best, he says. in the
| Presidents message to Congress. RI :
empha sized the need Of regarding the
measure as non-par tis2n. but predict
cd that the issue created will be para
mount iii the next Presidential cleo
tion. AS to the effect he said:
Those who arc responsible for de-
! lay in adequate legislation Will find
that when at last the food gates of
popular wrath and Indignation are
hcisted there will have been some fine
grinding done"
| Mr.. Tillman prefaced his report by
speaking Of the peculiar circumstances
ruling the committees actions on the
House bill which made it an embar-
| RAISING task TO submit views that
would be concerned in by the COM
inittec as 4 whole. Commenting upon
the absence of harmony in the COM
mittee's deliberations, the report says:
Instead of being amended in COM
rnittee as is usual. so as to command
as whole the Endorsement and sup
port of majority of its members, the
bill was brought into the Senate in
a form not entirely satisfactory to
more than two members. Party lines
IN the committee We're broken down
and the bill is in the Senate by reason
OF the union of five members of the
minority party and three members of
the majority party in Congress who
concurred in epoting it favoably; and
: while these eight senators are agreed
as to the general purpose ard scope of
the bill, there are radical differences
/ among them as to the amendments
that ought to be incorporated in it to
make it fully adequate to meet the de-
: mands of the business interests of the
: country at this time.
THE lack of harmony among the
, supporters of the bill-it would be
speaking with more accuracy to say
the supporters of the policy involved
{ in the bill-brings about the anornal-
Gus situation in which a member OF
the minority party in Congress is pu;
charge m the Sena.e OF proposed