The Washington times., 1906-02-07
Oratorical Giants on Both
Sides Measure
Swords.
MR.. COCHRAN AROUSED
Makes Earnest Plea in the
House in Support
of Bill.

The oratorical siege guns of the House
were brought into action during today's
debate on the rate bill.
It viii be the closing day ,Or general
discussion. to be followed by the reading
of the bill for amendment,
Today's satuTnaIia OF eioquence by far
surpassed in interest any previous dis
play during the long discussion of the
Hepburn measure. The Democrats pre-
sented their two foremost champions,
Bourke Cochran of New York and JOnn
Sharp Williams of Mississippi. the
minority leader. while the Republicans
were represented in the lists by their
premier debater. Chairman Hepburn OF
the Committee on Interstate and For
eign Commerce. whose name is borne
by the pending bill. and Congressman
James r. Mann of Illinois
Notables in Attendance.
In anticipation of the feast OF reason
and flow OF eloduence, the galleries were
early fIe5, many notables being in at
tendance, while on the floor of the
House most of the members were in
their seats and a number of interested
Senators were scattered about
The first address was that of Mr.. Cock
ran. perhaps the favorite orator in either
devoted to a ringing denunciation of the
evils and corruptiOns that have grown
up about the system OF favoritism in
transportation. Especially did he protest
against the argument that Government
supervision Of rates would reduce the
revenues and thereby injure the owners
OF railroad securities, for ne declared
with great vehemence that the prefer
ences which are corruptly granted are
granted at the expense of the railroad
conDanies themselves to the detrinent
OF the stockholders and bondholders
but for the personal enrichment and ad-
vantage of the thieves and scoundrels' -
who control railway management.
Step Toward Emancipation.
This BILL" said Mr. Cochran. "is a
step toward the emancipation Of the
Industries of this country from the in
terests which. having been established
originally to serve the people, have
lately begun 10 control the Govern
ment"
He reviewed the statement made by
various people that the tendencies of
the bin are alarming and socialistic.
Il support this bill" he declared en-
phaticaIly, because regard it as an
absolute barrier to socialism and the
other objections that have been made
against it
The purpose Of this bill is 70 maxi
the roads render the people an efficient
service. which is an important service.
So far from its having socialistic tenden-
cies 1t Is the most effective barrier
against the rising tide Of socialism.
a railway service is a public func-
Iion which in this country we Weld to
a private agency on the assumption
that the private agency VIII Go Jhe
service we'll The public IS entitled to
the highest standard of efficiency. in re
turn for which the private agency ougni
10 be given security, absolute security,
for its properly.
The contention has been made by
gentlemen that this legislation. while
not conffscatory. viii deprive the rail-
roads of profits and discourage the de
velopment of railroads They should
remember that. if tha bill did cut of
profits it would be declared c0niiscator3
BY any court in all this wide land
Equal Treatment Demanded.
eff two men offer a carload each OF
freight and one gets a lower rate, one
IS enriched at the expense Of the other
All are entitled to equal treatne ent
What is the history? Measure the dis
fance between the service to which the
people are entitled and what they get
These functions come nearer to the
people -han those Of government Ii
constitutes a greater inequity in tax
alton than we can imagine in any gov
eTnmenTal imposition OF ldA bliIueIlS
The railroad touches all YOU 10 tht
price OF your products, the cost OF
your HeCcssdTieS.
''Et Is as though respiration on eV'
cry exercise of muscular eNerIoH were
taxed. and taxed unequally. Every ef-
fort, every virtue, is taXed-anc these
faVoTs are always granted cOrruptly
not 10 the advantage. but 70 the IN
Jury OF the railroad company, and e
The corrupt benefit of the railroad
manager, This i'll will not rob The
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