Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-03
PREDICTS BRYAN'S SUCCESS
Enthusiastic Prophecy by Mr. Henry
of Texas.
REPLIES TO MCCALL
Makes Interesting Analysis of the
Companies of the Country.

Less than a score of members were I'm
their places when the House met at IL
o clock today to continue discussion of tho
Hepburn railroad rate bill
A resolution was agreed 30 requesting the
Secretary of the Interior to make full re-
port of the facts and circumstances regard-
ing the formation and enlargement of the
San Francisco mountains forest reserve: as
to the present condition of the lieu lana
rights growing out of the same. and as to
contracts for the exchange of railroad
lands.
The rate debate was opened by Mr.. Clay
ton (Ala.). Instead OF being thing,
he declared the Legislative regulation of In.
terstate commerce to be old the come
mon law. The states have always exers
cised this power to the full extent. Con.
gress, he said. has the same plenary power
over interstate commerce and ought to ex-
ercse 1t in restraint of the railroads and
for the benefit of the public. The necessity
for the legislation is brought about by thH
unjust determinations of the roads through
rebates and terminal charges.
Mr.. Clayton maintained that the Elkina
law preventing rebates could not be en-
forced without an espionage which was uf-
American, and that the present biIl would
make II possible to obtain information
without resort to the spy system. because
the books of railroad corporations would oa
open to the agents OF the commission.
Bryan's Victory Predicted
Whether 1t be communism, anarchy or
not the time will come when the people will
rise up and follow William J. Bryan TO vic.
tory" This was the opening prediction OF
Mr.. Henry CTexas). who followed Mr. Clay.
ton for the bill. He was replying to Mr.,
Sibley's recent characterization of the pend.
ing bill. The maximum rate case, he said,
settled affirmatively the constitutionality OF
granting the power to fix rates. He regret-
ted the Presidents change of attitude on
the question.
Il believe in his honesty and sincerity"
he said, but wish he had adhered TO his
original Intention to give power TO establish
a reasonable rate and left the question OF
the maximum rate out OF consideration
Mr.. Esch Cwis) said there were Ave ages
in railroading in America-the age of COM
struction. the age of competition, the age OF
combinations. the age of government con-
troll, "and there is the fifth he continued,
"the age of government ownership, from
which may God save u.s." ~
Esch Replies to Mccall
Mr.. Esch took issue with Mr. McCaRs
charge that the President had induleed
in a non sequitur In his rate legislation
recommendation. That the recommendation
was justified by conditions he showed ~
reviews OF high rates, rebates and over
capitalization of railways. The total or
twelve billions capitalization he declared 10
be half fictitious.
An interesting analysis of business of the
four great express companies was made by
Mr.. Esch, who maintained the bill gave
the commission authority over this instrI-
mentality of transportation. The express
companies, he said, carried freight ana
charged three or four times higher rates
than freight. The roads through their con-
tracts with these companies get from 40
to 80 per cent more for the transportation
of express freight than when sent as
freight.
The four companies are capitalized for
$50 600 maintain 10000 agencies. have $1,000
employees carried last year 100 900, ,o0) par
GELS and transmitted 1000, 600 money orders
aggrega ting $50 coo $50.
The Canadian system of railroad control,
which has been in operation for a year, was
discussed by Mr.. -Esch. Not only were rates
regulated he said, but all other incidents to
TRANSFORMATION, such as the construction OF
roads the speed of trains, etc. And yet the
Canadian roads had done more business and
built more lines of road than usual during
this first year of strict government control.
Railways Public Property.
An hour was yielded 10 Mr.. Kennedy
COhfo), who developed an argument that
railroads were not private property in the
strict construction of the term Duc publi3
property, and subject to state and federal