Amador ledger., 1906-01-19
| RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
HOW THE RATE MAKING CUES.
TON STANDS BEFORE
CONGRESS- TODAY.

ternatIVeSs
After it's usual little furry of bust
ness before Christmas, followed by the
holiday period, Congress is now ready
to settle down to the serious work Of
the session. Probable debate looms
up large on the Panama Canal ques
ton, the railroad rate issue and the
tariff. Of these the railroad question
is undoubtedly the most important, at
least it is the newest subject; and
while no legislation may be desired
on the other issues, if railroad rate
bill is to be. passed, as Is the an
nounced desire Of the leaders and the
President, practically unlimited debate
will ensue. It has been stated that
the House would likely act promptly,
as it did last year, but it is something
of a problem as to what will be the
procedure in the Senate. The Inter
state Commerce Commission rate bill
appears to have taken the place of the
Esch- Townsend bill of last session.
Technically there is to be no Admins
tration bill, which designation was ac-
corded the Esch-Townsend measure,
but with the members Of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission in hearty
accord with the President, it is un-
derstood that the Commissions bill
contains the basis Of the Administra-
tons demands.
On the other hand. the Foraker rate
bill and the Elkins bill are the prin-
cipal alternative measures before
Congress.
The issues, then, would be thus
Joined, and the two houses would
likely struggle with it for a large por-
ton of the session, with the probable
ity that in the end a compromise
would be reached. This contemplates
some notifications of the Presidents
measure, which will not necessarily
mean defeat for him or give him cause
for embarrassment. 1t is conceded,
even by those who are avowedly sup
porting President Roosevelt's railroad
rate policy, that he is too stanch a
partisan to embron his party in dan
gerous strife on the verge of a general
Congressional election that will be
fraught with unusual importance to
other policies. which the President
heartily desires should be carried out
as Administration measures backed by
practically solid Republican support.
Tariff revision, or "readjustment"
is one of those policies which is said
to be close to the Presidential heart,
and a new and practical assertion OF
the Monroe Doctrine. particularly
with relation to such threatening
muddles as that in Santo Domingo. is
said to be another.
Protests From Shippers.
A rather peculiar development Of
the railroad question is the action or
great numbers Of large shippers who
theoretically are the very men who
should favor stringent rate legislation,
but who are vigorously expressing
themselves as adverse to radical ac-
ton. Since Congress met, great num-
bers of letters and protests have been
received from shippers all over the
country, declaring that they are ad-
verse to giving theAEate-making power
to the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion, or to any other political tribunal.
The protests coming from shippers to
members of Congress are very ef-
fective, since the shippers afe Usually
among the most Influential men in
Congressional districts.
The situation iss-9uA !; OF possible
complexities and changes, the only
apparent developments thus far being
a less radical public view Of railroad
matters, which is being reflected In
the more conservative attitude on the
part Of the thoughtful Members OF
Congress and Senators. There seems
to be a growing recognition of the
fact that the subject is One full OK
intricate and complex conditions
which make final action inadVisable
without very full understanding OF
what the practical effect OF any pro-
posed legislation would be, not only
upon transportation interests, but up
on the hundreds Of thousands OF peo-
pie throughout the country who conA
stitute the shippers.
Democrats to Support President.
There has been such a stampede OF
Democratic Representatives and Sen
ators to the support of "any rate bill
which the President may want" on
the ground that any rate bill is good
Democratic doctrine, that many Of the
Presidents political advisers are
warning him that he may be in the
position Of having to dodge an alliance
with the Democrats, which is exactly
what the President does not want.
While it is generally believed that
the House will promptly pass the
administration" bill, yet Speaker
Cannon said not long ago that while
it was impossible to say what Con-
gress would do, he felt convinced that
the House would not again pass the
Esch- Townsend bill. Yet the Inter-
state Commerce Commission bill is a
much more radical measure and In
every way is more far-reaching.
Whether this is to be made the basis
of compromise or whether the Pres
ident will insist that a commission
appointed by him shall be invested
with this plenary power Of constitN-
tional government-legislatiVe, jadic-
ial and executive-is matter Of some
conjecture.