The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1906-07-11
EXTENSION OF FEDERAL POWERS
Railway Rate Bill One OF the
Most important Before
the Congress.
Meat Inspection Amendment to the
Agricultural Appropriation Bill
New Star Added to
the Flag.
fBy Edwin s. POtter.1

10y EyuWlu %. IOtteT.J
Probably more new and eXtraOrdi-
nary questions were under consider
alton by the congress which began its
legislative life Dec. 4 last, than by
any previous session of our national
lawmaking body. Not counting the
many acts favOrably reported to or
passed by either branch and left in a
state Of suspended animation, their
fate to be determined by the next ses-
sion. the amount and character of new
laws enacted makes the Fifty Ninth
congress the milestone of a new era in
the history of American institutions.
The day Of the nation has come;
state and local powers are on the wane
or In small favor. Commercial and in
dustrial concentration having brought
about new opportunities for abuse of
privilege and the muck rakers' hav-
Ing walked up the public mind to the
various existing evils. President Roose-
welt fOund i'm this congress workable
soil for the growth of federal powers
IN dealing with those evils. The i'm
press Of the presidents mind was
given to all the more important RENE
dies adopted. Neither friend nor foe
In the political arena will question the
statement that the work Of the session
bears the R~OOseveltian stamp. although
b Democrats all along have pointed
out that the president was merely
camping along the trail blazed by their
party platforms. Nevertheless the
presidents party, being in the majority
at both ends of the capitol, has either
taken the credit or been forced to as
sumo responsibility for what was done.
even when aided by Democratic votes.
Railroad Rate Regulation.
The keynote was struck unmistak-
ably in the message which congress re-
ceived ut the opening of the session.
namely the insistence on federal fixing
of interstate railroad rates as well as
the prevention Of rebates, or any kind
OF special favors. Rate bills of vari.
~ uCSCIlDtlOlS were
promptly introduced in both senate and
house but, the house majority being
under better discipline, the bill was
more promptly formulated there which
was approved at the White House. 1t
was fathered by Representative Hep
burn, as chairman of the committee on
Interstate commerce. 1t was so modi-
fied in the committee as to come before
house without Democratic Opposi-
ton and after a few days Of perfume
tory discussion, it was passed on Feb. |
8 by the almost UNANIMOUS vote of
346 to Z, the seven opponents all be- |
Ing Republicans. AS passed it gave
the Interstate commerce commission
full power to regulate interstate freight |
tariffs without express recognition of
the rights of appeal in the courts. This
however. was only the foundation of
the law that was to go to the statute
book.
In the senate the Hepburn bill was
de stined to run the gauntlet of fierce
opposition from n conservative faction
the Republicans. led by Aldrich and
Foraker. and become the football Of
personal and party chickering's over !.
period Of three months. The main
point of the dispute was the question
or a broad Of narrow court review pro.
vision. and Mt one time after the presi-
dents political and personal enemy,
Tfllman. had been placed in charge of
the measure there was a tacit coalition
the president and the minor
lty. Later however, the president ac-
h compromise Allison amend
ment upon which his party associates
had agreed, vesting jurisdiction in the
circuit courts to enjoin, set aside, an
null or suspend any order Of the Commits
ZION on appeal Of the carrier concerned.
It was at this time that the Democratic
leaders charged the president with bad
faith ON the strength Of representations
said to have been made through ex-
Senator Chandler. Finally the bill
s~ixty-seven amendments passed
The senate May IS by a vote Of Il to
Still further changes were made
n conference thereafter.
The senate c0nferrees held out stub
,ornly against the house proposal to
lrop the clause placing pipe lines under
'ederal control. As this was finally
greed to by senate and house, the pipe
ines are to be regarded az common
~arriers. but are not prohibited from