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

group were senators Fho favored the
bill introduced by S nator Foraker
rates upon the courts. There was sec
ond group of senators opposed to the
Hepburn BILL although It's members
finally voted for il. They wished to
absolutely prevented its passage by the
senate. They wanted more radical and
extreme legislation. Senator LaFol-
lette was one of these senators.
IN his speech in the senate on the
bill Senator LaFollette said:
The Hepburn-Doliiver bill VIII not
solve the transportation problem. I'm
less greatly strengthened it will not
meet the expectations Of the country. It
VIII not dispose of the question.
I would not be unfair. The bill is
not bad in its provisions, but weak be-
cause of It's omissions. do not believe
thar the bin is framed to meet the de-
mand Of the special interests" Nor
has any broad consideration of public
interest dominated its construction. 1t
has neither Ill intent nor high purpose.
Expediepcy seems to have been the
controlling factor in framing it.
Since tho adjournment of congress
the Associated Press made the follow
ing report of his reference to the Hep
burn bill at the Evansville, Ind, Chau-
tauuua:
Z" The senator said the measure would
not answer any good purpose, that the
~
nouneed his intention of denouncfng it
before every audience which he address,
es this season. Had the bill been de-
feated, he said 1t would have been a
popular uprising and resulted in the
passage Of a bill at the next session
that would have brought relief from
the rebate evil
He offered a number of amendments
Which I voted against and which were
defeated. If they had been Incorporated
into the bill. there would have been no
railroad rate legislation at the last ses-
sion Of congress.
There was third group of sena-
tors who sincerely favored the Hep
burn bill. They believed that It was a.
long step in advance, and that it would
prove effective legislation. was
proud to belong to this group. Upon
those senators rested the responsibility
of shaping this legislation, and with
out them, the bill would have gone
down to defeat. This group included
Senators Allison, Dolliver, Cullom,
Hopkins. Nelson, Clapp, Warner
Burkett, Beverage. Hemenway, Full
ton. Perkins, and others. With these
senators. President Roosevelt was in
daily consultation. At several times
during the progress Of the debate,
emergencies arose which required wise
and cautious procedure We knew that
We were opposed by two distinct and
entirely different forces in the senate:
41OSC WIZ WCIC DRPOSCQ 10 any rail-
road rate legislation because they be-
lieved we had enough, and those who
wished to see this bill fail in order to
continue the agitation for the further
anee of their own personal ambitions.
Letter From President Roosevelt.
THE position of Senator LaFollette
Is clearly shown by the extracts from
his speeches to which I have just re-
ferred, but his position is also SO aptly
described in the letter of the president,
which referred to Mr.. Davidson's OBJ
jections to the Dolliver bill. that will
now read it. It is as follows:
The White House, Washington
January 81 1906.
MY Dear Senator:
I entirely agree with your posi-
ton on the rate bill. Commissioner
Prouty was in yesterday. He says that
the Hepburn-Dolliver bill represents
an advance so extraordinary that he
had never dared to suppose it would
be possible to pass it, and that he is
strongly against any effort to amend
It by increasing the powers along the
very lines indicated BY the gentleman
al wish also to state my cordial
agreement with your position in de-
Ginning to say that you would be in
you knew what did recommend. My
position now is exactly yours If the
extremists should have their way they
would completely block all chance for
rate legislation at ALL It is useless to
expect that any legislation will satisfy
those who desire the impossible. But
the Hepburn-Dolliver bill will mark a
real and substantial advance in dealing
with the question by doing away with
abuses and benefiting the people as a
whole It is in my judgment, as far as
we could with wisdom to go at this
time, and those who are opposing the
measure are in reality doing all they
can to prevent any substantial relief
being afforded.
Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
'Hor. Chester 1. Long, United
States Senate
I'VE had extremists in the senate
as we'll as in Kansas, and Senator La
| Toilette was one of them.
The Bacon Amendment.
Senator Bacon offered an amendment
| to it providing that the jurisdictioS of
the courts should not extend to orders
| involving the exercise of discretion by
| the commission. AS all orders of the
/ commission require the exercise of dis
erection and judgment, this amendment
i would have prevented any review by
| the courts of the orders of the commits
sion and would have rendered the whole
act unconstitutional and void under the
numerous decisions of the supreme court.
/ When the vote was taken on the Bacon
I amendment, every Republican senator
who was present As in all, and Senator
/ Teller, voted against 1t. Twenty-one
Democrats and Senator LaFollette voted
for it. If the Bacon amendment had
been added to the Allison amendment,
| the opponents of additional rate regula-
1 ton would have won. The law would
have been declared invalid by the courts
! just as the Populist court OF visitation
! law was held void by the acpreme court
! of Kansas It would have nullified the
Allison amendments. and yet Senator
LaFolIette supported 1t. He cast this
vote after the following telegram of
President Roosevelt, dated May 6, 1906,
had become public:
wv. F. Hill and Members Legislative
Committee. Pennsylvania State Grange,
Harrisburg, Pa.
Telegram received. I am happy to
/ tell YOU that not only am I standing on
- rec.ar Leg