Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-05-17

Judgment on what 10 DONE"
This statement which ! then mad
now repeat, because | have neve
concealed from you or evaded In an,
manner my opinions on public ques
tons and / will not begin now to con
ceal my opinions.
Now, Just because this may be mis-
quoted again, say now that endors'
every line Of the platform which hal
Just been read in your hearing; be-
lieve in 1t and stand upon 1t.
Powers of Congress.
The original Interstate Commerce
Act of 1887 gave the commission au-
thority to stop all rebates and I'M
Just determinations and unfair prac-
tees, and all undue preferences Of ad-
vantages to any person or any local.
ity, and all unreasonable rates and
all combinations and pooling of
freights, and gave the commission
power to prosecute any railroads in
the federal courts for any violation
Of the law, at expense Of the govern
ment. And this has been the law
for 10 years. This law has been
strengthened from time to time, and
l have voted for, three different
amendments Of this law to strengthen
and make 1t more effective. l also
voted for the Elkins' law which was
for the express purpose of enabling
the commission to prosecute any rail-
road directly in the circuit court Of
the United States, for any violation
Of this law and I voted for the act
to expedite the trial Of these cases at
the earliest practical day. And l did
this two years before the Esch Town
send bill was proposed. There are
some noisy people now over this sub
ject. Where were they then? Is this
a new discovery with them?
Supreme Courts Authority.
Now let me say another word by
way Of caution to you, and that is,
the supreme court of the United
States has never yet said that con-
gress could delegate this legislative
authority or power. And that ques-
lion is an open question yet. Keep
IN mind l said a state constitution
was Limitation Of power only, and
Ill the railroad cases that have gone
Up to the supreme court on the ques-
ion Of the power Of law to fix rates
md to make rates, have been ques-
ions upon the power of a state legls-
alton to make the rates. The state
las this power. It is not prohibited
" the state constitution. But the
upreme court has never yet said that
congress has the power to fix rates.
IND the supreme court has never yet
aid that congress can delegate this
'ower. The national constitution is
grant Of power, and 1t has not
ranted to congress the power to
elegate its legislative authority or
over. The President himself, in his
lessage said, that this power to re-
ulate rates should be given to some
body, but this COM
lission must be unequivocally ad-
I am with him as far as the con-
Tuition permits, but If the question
yer comes to place when I must
lolate the constitution of the United
tates, I won't do that. All the men
no have tried 1t, and there were a
'od many Of them once, made fall
% Of that job.
Congress and the ViIlihers.
May now say few words about
q character of the congress which
axes your national laws? In the
agazines and some of the journals
the day, there is set Of men who
Q making a business of speaking
II Of our country. They are devot-
g their time and talent to teach the
untry that our people are corrupt. !
late numbers Of the Cosmopolitan
ere are articles entitled 1.-THE Trea-
n Of the Senate" Treason" is an
ly word. Language is used there
ncerning senators of the United
ates that is villainous, and all with
t a foundation Of fact, but from {
IRE inference and by innuendo. I
For a whole year that same star !
writer's abused Mr.. Knox as being
attorney Of the Pennsylvania rail- I
Id. Some Of them found fault even q
tn the President for selecting him Z
Attorney General, because they Q
d he was corporation lawyer. .
en- they villhed him as senator be- a
Use they said he was the attorney .
d representative of the Pennsyl- U
MIA railroad. Then Mr.. Knox got \
and said, "The senator is mistaken, q
have never been in the employ of q
Pennsylvania railroad, or any Of Z
offices in any capacity. l never
resented 1t as an attorney in any v
70 in any court" Il
Tow what becomes Of the SANDER? Il
! this same villalnous stan of men c.
o are writing for the purpose Of n
aiming our public men and publish u
It for your boys and mine to read, p
,lish In that same magazine and Il
the country that they had lied 81
tut the senator? Not a word Of II. 3
latest chapter Of utilization up Ct
Senator Aldrich and other SEN n
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