Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1906-04-13
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON. ADril IA

WI, pm louUs
Senator Tillman's efforts to get a
time fixed for vote on TIA rate bill
are fruitless, Senator Aldrich object.
ing to an agreement as he has done. 1t
Is more than very apparent that Aid.
rich would like to prevent vote in.
definitely and have the session ad.
journ without any bill being passed.
Many predictions are made that II
will be impossible to reach an agree,
ment on a rate measure at this ses.
sion on the ground that Aldrich and
others, unless they can get a broad
court review amendment in the bill
will never consent to allow vote.
On the other hand it Is known that
IL no rate legislation Is enacted the
president will call an extra session.
This fact will weigh strongly against
an adjournment without any bill be.
ing passed. Senator Allison was in
conference with the president on the
rate question on the 9Th, Senators
Long and Nelson were there also.
The president continued his policy OF
calling in democratic senators and
had conference of about two hours
with Senator Rayner of Maryland.
The democrats of the senate made q
move for conference on the rate
question on the 9Th, and attempted
to secure enough signatures to war
rant calling one, but the idea was
abandoned. In urging an agreem emf
as to the time Of voting, Senator Till
man pointed out that nearly all the
democrats had spoken who desired to
speak. Much republican eloquence,
however, is still to be heard. Senator
AiIison has not yet made set speech
on the rate question, but it is expect
ed that he will do SO and will have
something to, say before the legisla
cure closes.
In his recent address on the rail
road rate bill Senator Ell.ns announc
ed his conclusion in the following
language:
"First-That any legislation at
tempting to confer upon the interstate
commerce commission the power tc
fix rates will be unconstitutional I'M
less it prescribes the standard OF
charges which shall control, and re
quires the commission to conform
thereto in fixing rates.
"Second-That any legislation al
tempting to fix rates would be I'm
constitutional whose practical effect
is to deny to common carriers the
right to invoke and obtain, in due
time, the protection of the courts
from being compelled. to transport
persons or property at rates which
violate the carriers constitutional
rights"
He declared that the pending bill
works a clear delegation Of the con-
gressional power to fix rates, and
added:
ut would seem, therefore, neces
sarily to follow that the provisions
of the bill col.serring rate fixing
power upon the commission are I'm
constitutional"
Much talk continues to be hearc
in Washington that the president will
before long take up the tariff revision
question and that he is seriously
contemplating sending special mes
sage to congress about 1t, looking to
some preliminary action at this ses'
sion and revision next session.
Senators Allison and Dolliver of
Iowa had conference with the presi-
dent at the White House on the even
ing of the 18th. regarding the railroad
rate bill. Neither of the Senators
would discuss the talk they had with
the president beyond saying that there
was "a merely incidental discussion
of the rate bill situation
Representative Norris Of Nebraska
got a favorable report from the COM
mittee on election of president, vice
president and representatives for his
Joint resolution for popular election
Of senators and extending to four
years the term of members of the
1ouse. He believes thai the bill
has good show of being passed, es-
pecially that part relating to the ex-
tension of the terms of members of
the house. Judge Norris urges that
the present two year term for mem.
bers of the house works an injustice
to the members and to the country.
Extreme measures have been adopt.
ed to apprehend the large number OF
italian anarchists who have been
landing in this country recently. The
police of all cities and the immigra.
ton officials have been notified to
keep close watch, and the depart.
ment authorities believe that before
long they will have in custody all OF
the men known to be enemies Of or
ganized government. One man re
Gently arrested in San Francisco open.
" avowed his intention of killing the
president, and he was deported. The
italian government, through its con-
sui at Baltimore, has furnished the
name of another man who is held to
" particularly dangerous, and every
effort to capture him is bejSg made,
t is believed that be is the ringleader
If the band that has come to this
"
The house public building bill will
)e brought ont soon. Captain Hull
,ays it is probable that a rule will
,e adopted in the house and the bill
"a ssed under this rule, thus prohibit.
ng any important amendments. This
will insure Des MONIES getting its
500, 900 appropriation for a one
story building for postofflce purposes
md allowances for other Iowa cities
Is already announced.
Two Irish farmers who had not
cen each other for long. time met