The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-03-15
TILLMAM REPORTS
ON THE RATE BILL
Continued from page One.

Continued from page One.
as TO tho scope OF this clause ana the
executive powers OF the commission under
| H. on the one hand it Is claimed most
| positively that congress cannot deleBate
! it's powers 10 the commission and thus au-
| thorize II TO fix a rate, while on the
| other had Il L. asserted with equal ear
nestness and force that this power is In
| disputable.
| Whatever may be the results OF THIS
discussion in the senate II the bill becomes
| the law. the final determination or the
| question at Issue must be made by tne
| supreme court There is even greater so
! licitude upon the question or judicial re-
Friends OF the railroads contend. urged
Mr. Tillman. that congress cannot limit
| the jurisdiction OF the circuit court. while,
on the other hand he added. 1t is as
serted with equal emphasis that the power
10 create all courts; other than the SUI
preme court rests alone In congress, ana
such courts being statutory are necessar1-
ly limited in their scope and power by the
authority which creates them
TILLMANs OWN VIEW.
lie continued; Il myself incline most
| slightest doubt that IL is possible 10 prop
| erly amend this bill so as TO prohibit the
| circuit courts from interfering with the
! orders OF the interstate commerce COM
mission by any interlocutory order AS
I has already been observed In connection
| with the power TO fix rates this question
4
| court should the proposed law be enacted
! THE senate must determine by It's vote
! what shall be It's attitude upon the cues.
| tions OF court review and interlocutory
! suspensions. The whole question at issue
( is 10 giving relief to the producing inter
| ests OF the country, revolves around this
! feature of the bin IL any decision OF the
/ supreme court shall declare that congress
| is powerless TO grant speedy relief
! through a commission IL needs no prophet
| TO tell that an outburst of surprise and
indignation will sweep over the country.
JUGGLING WITH RAILROADS.
After commenting at length upon what
he declared 10 be the existing system
OF Juggling with railroad properties "for
the robbery OF the masses Mr.. Tillmar
stated that this phase OF the subject
brings into great Importance "the rela-
tion to congress Of the increase In capi-
talization, whether II is the purpose OF
congress tao compel the business indus
tries 10 pay dividends. not upon the real
value OF these properties but on the flc-
titious value which has been sought to be
placed upon them by the increased capi-
tallzation."
Mr.. Tilman recommended that amend
ments to the bill be adopted which would
give relief 10 the anomalous and 0utra-
geous condition OF affairs disclosed as ex-
listing in west Virginia.
A WORD OF CAUTION.
Hr. Tlllman concluded with "A word ot
caution to the friends OF the proposed
legislation
| He said:
"Our full expectations may not be real
lied al the present session Of congress
The opponent OF effective legislation are
alert have had large experience, and are
thoroughly organized.
THE demand Of the people for reliei
from the expressions and wrongs they
now endure may be thwarted by the grea
influence of the railway corporations
This influence has hitherto been para
mount and its representatives in the two
houses may feel that II Is safe to refuse
to redress the grievances and TO continue
the policy of non-interference. They may
ignore popular clamor, and either pass n,
| bill at all or such a one will prov,
wholly inadequate. The may palter Will
| us in a double sense keep the word o,
! promise TO the ear
"'And break IL 10 the hope
such action on their part will in my
Judgment be very unwise and will only
dam up the water The issue will be mad,
the paramount one in the next election
and those who are responsible for delay
or inadequate legislation will f1nd tha
when. at last the flood gates OF populai
wrath and indignant feeling are holsteC
there will be some grinding done.
"If those most Interested I'm this propo
sItion will not consent to wise Legislation
TO relieve the distress OF the people ther,
Is danger OF more radical policies anC
leaders coming TO the front with the re
suit that legislation far more drastic anC
dangerous than anything proposed in this
bill and the amendments TO be Offered
will be enacted"