The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-08
Benson Voted Wrong.

tire transportation system.
Benson Voted Wrong.
SENATOR Benson was not a member
Of the senate when Senator La Fol-
lette's amendments to the railroad rate
bill were voted upon. but later in the
session substantially this same amend
ment was offered by Senator La Fol-
lette to the Lake Erie and Ohio river
canal bill, and Senator Nelson having
moved to lay the amendment upon the
table, thirty senators voted in favor of
the motion, and twenty against It.
Senator Benson and myself voted to
table the amendment, and for this and
other votes cast against Senator La
Follette's amendm ents to that meas
ure, Senator Benson has brought down
upon himself the censure Of the sena-
tor from Wisconsin
81 voted against the La Toilette
amendment giving authority to the
commission to prohibit any carrier
from charging or receiving greater
comp ensation for the transportation of
property for a shorter than a longer
distance over the same line in the same
direction. The present law prohibits
such changes when the conditions are
similar at the end Of the short and
long haul. Railroads now in making
special rates at competitive points are
not compelled to make similar reduc-
tons Al intermediate points unless the
conditions at the intermediate points
are the same as at the competitive
points. The special low rate at the end
of a long haul is the salvation of the
farmers of Kansas and other states in
the Mississippi valley; as it enables
them to get their agricultural products
to the seaboard at lower rates proper
tionately than are accorded to the
farmers of the states closer the sea-
would be an unfaithful representative
Of the people of Kansas If I favored
| legislation that would interfere with
these special rates. This amendment
$3.50 80
commission authority over the relation
of rates between different cities. Such
authority was sought to be given the
commission by a section in the frst
draft of the Dolliver bill. but it was
eliminated because so many senators
and representatives. together with the
| president, opposed It. No serious effort
was made to incorporate such an
amendment in the bill outside of this
! amendment proposed by Senator La
Toilette. I voted against it, together
with forty-five other senators. there be-
4 ing only twenty-five votes cast for It,
all of whom we're Democrats but two.
Senator La Toilette offered another
amendment restoring punishment by
/ imprisonment for the violation of GER
4 tain provisions of the interstate COM
merce law. His amendment was
broadened by an amendment offered by
Senator Lodge and then voted for it
4 It was adopted and became part of the
] bill I voted for other amendments
which he offered and voted against
| other amendments which he presented.
Il have no apology to offer to Sena-
tor La Toilette or to the people OF
Kansas for my votes on his amend
ments. I voted on them deliberately,
and would vote the same way again
under similar conditions and circum-
stances We we're in the midst of
mighty struggle to secure the passage
OF a measure that had been debated
for. several months in the senate. Only
amendments which strengthened the
bill and which did not imperil its
passage received my support.
Compares Ia Toilette and simpson.
Senator La Toilette in his speech at
the Clay Center. Kan, Chautauqua. is
reported to have made the following
statement:
q Since 1870, there have been but two
sessions Of congress that have not been
under the control of the railroads. One
in 1887 and the second session just past.
I'VE heard similar statements to this
4 in Kansas several years ago. They were
made by members Of the Populist party
| who had lost faith in humanity and
their country They did not know
/ whereof they spoke and the statements
1 did not come from viciousness. This
/ statement comes. however. from gen
/ tleman who knows better. It Is made
for the purpose Of influencing public
/ sentiment and tends to destroy the con-
1 fiden-~ the people in their represen-
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