Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-07-04
WORK RECENT SESSION OF CONGRESS SUMMARIZED
BY Edwin s. Potter.J

Probably more new and extrao rdi-
alton by the congress which began its
legislative life Dec. last, than by
any previous session of our national
iawmakfng body. Not counting the
many acts favorably reported TO or
passed by either branch and left in n
state OF suspended animation, their
tate TO he determined by the next ses-
sion. the amount and character of new
laws enacted makes the Fifty-N
congress the milestone of new era in
the history of American institutions.
The day Of the nation has come:
state and local powers are on the wane
or in small favor. Commercial and in
dlstrial concentration having brought
About new opportunities for abuse of
privilege and the muck rakers" hav-
ing walked up the, public mind to the
various existing evils. President ROose-
yeit found in this congress workable
soil for the, growth of federal powers
In dealing with those evils. The i'm
press or the presidents mind was
gwen TO all the more important RENE
dies adopted. Neither friend nor foe
On the political arena will question the
statement tIat the work Of the session
bears the RoOSeveltian stamp. although
the Democrats all along have pointed
out that the president was merely
camping along the trail blazed by their
party platforms. Nevertheless the
Ia;, 81,
at both ends of the capitol. has either
taken the credit or been forced to as
suUIe responsibility for what was done
even when aided by Democratic votes.
Railroad Rate Regulation.
The keynote was struck unmiStak-
ably i'll the message which congress re-
ceived at the opening Of the session |
namely the insistence on federal fixing |
of Interstate railroad rates as well az
the prevention of rebates or any kind |
of special favOrs. Rate bills of vari- |
ous kinds and descriptions were
promptly Introduced in both senate and |
house but. the house majority being |
under better discipline. the bill was |
more promptly formulated there which |
was approved ut the White House. 1t |
was fathered by Representative Hep |
burn. as chairman of the committee on |
interstate commerce. 1t was so modi- |
hed i'll the committee as to come before |
the house without Democratic Opposi-
ton and after few days of perfume
tory discussion, it was passed on Feb.
: by the almost unanamous vote of
SAG to Z, the seven opponents all be-
ing Republicans. As passed it gave
n a I
full power to regulate interstate freight
tariffs without express recognition of
the rights of appeal in the courts. This
however, was only the foundation of
the law that was to go to the statute
book.
In the senate the Hepburn bill was
dt stined to run the gauntlet of fierce
opposition from a conservative faction
Of the Republicans. led by Aldrich and
! 'oraker, and become the football of
personal and party chickering's over :.
period of three months The main
point of the dispute was the question
of broad or harrow court review pro
vision. and ut one time after the presi-
dents political and personal enemy.
Tillman. had been placed in charge of
the measure there was tacit coalition
between the president and the minor
ity. Later however. the president ac-
cSptCd the compromise Allison amend
ment upon which his party associates
bad agreed. vesting jurisdiction in the
circuit courts to eniOin. set aside, an
nul or suspend any order Of the commits
sion on appeal of the carrier concerned.
II was at this time that the Democratic
leaders charged the president with bad
faith Oh the strength of representations I
said TO have been made through ex-
Senator Chandler. Finally the bill