Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-05-26

more than a possibility for the nomi.
nation. There is a general feeling
that the broad review amendment.
which has been adopted by the senate
will defeat the real object of the bill.
1t will leave the commission with al.
most zone of the power which it was
intended to confer upon that body,
and put it into the hands of the
courts. It is believed by those who
take a cold, calm. Judicial view of
the subject that this will be disap.
pointing to the public when the ''pud-
ding comes to be judged by the eating
of it. Then the country will begin
to see that the Elkins review provi-
sion was the most eminently fair one
adduced. 1t gave every one a square
deal. 1t simply provided that when
ever a rate fixed by the commission
was declared unjust by the railroads,
the difference between the old rate
and the commission rate should be
paid to the courts, which, after hear
ing the whole matter in full would
determine the question. Then, if the
commission was sustained by the
court the shippers would get their
money back, while on the other hand
if the railroads proved the old rate to
be just the railroads would get the
money TO which the court held them
to be entitled. Thus every interest
woald receive the ample protection of
the law, and even Justice done to
everybody. Under the adopted amend
ment the court can suspend the find
ings OF the commission by a prelimin-
airy injunction and allow the railroads
to pocket the difference between the
old rate and the commission rate.
pending the final determination of the
question, which might be months and
even years after the preliminary in
junction was granted. The justice of
the Elkins amendment is apparent to
all, who will look at it candidly ard
fairly. The Bailey non-suspension
| amendment on the one hand gave the
railroads no recourse, while, the AL
lison amendment gives the peope no
recourse on the other. Either would
necessarily work injustice to one side
or the other. The Elkins proposition
guarded every interest with the same
| zeal. It was a triumph Ct even handed
justice. But it was not adopted. The
radicals were against it because they
wanted to put every burden on the
railroads, while the railroads were
against 1T because they wanted to
shift every harden on the people. Be.
tween these two extremes there have
been some twenty senators who. like
Senator Elkins, sought to properly
safeguard every interest, and to pro-
vide a square deal for everybody. AS
viewed from the inside by one who is
acquainted with every phase of the
Question it might be conceded that
| the Allison amendment was q victory
for the Aldrsek crowd, as is shown by
| the fact that they are better satisfied
| with it than anybody else. There are
many who believe that when the re-
| duction takes place and the people
come to weigh the whole course of
rate legislation calmly they will find
the course pursued by Senator Elkins
to have been the most even and Just
pursued by any member of either
branch of congress, and that if the
/ rate question figures two years hence
Senator Elkins would be a popular
choice for the presidency.
And ON every hand it is felt that no
better president could be found than
he would make. Schooled in the lar
| ger affairs of state and business, with
a judgment seldom equalled aud never
| surpassed. and with a remarkable ca.
pacitv for always doing the right
thing at the right time, Senator Ell
kins would make a very strong presi-
dent in the opinion of those who know
his ability and his capacity. AS said
before, Senator Elkins is in no sense
a candidate for the Place. and for
aaght this writer knows does not
aspire TO it, but one is surprised at
the volume of favorable comment he
hears when the senator's name is
mentioned in that connection.