The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-02-06


courts could have absolutely no power of
review of any action of the commission
which might be just a shade under or
less than the conflscation Of property
A number of senators listened to Mr.
Littlefelds argument, including Senators
Foraker Perkins, Mllard, Kean, Bulke-
ley Rayner, Piles, Scott, Gallinger and
Alec.
Developing his contention that under
the bill the commission could regulate
the differential between the long and short
haul, Mr.. Lttlefeld said he was unwilling
that a commission should say whether or
not the New England cotton manufactur-
ers should or should not De wiped out.
He would, he said, demonstrate from
their own record the utter incapacity of
the Interstate commerce commission to
administer rates.
"And will give them that square deal
that we hear talked of SO much and see
so little practiced." Q.aughter)
He said that out of twenty-four deci-
sions regarding unjust Determinations
eight of them had been sustained by the
courts.
The bill made four a quorum. This
made it possible for a President to re-
move three members and leave the whole
great power in the hands of three men,
a majority of the four, who could be OF
any political belief which happened to
predominant. 1t would be then that this
dangerous power would rise up and curse
it's maker.
Mr.. Stevens of Minnesota said the huge
and awful things which had been de-
picted would not result from the enforce
ment of the legislation.
The committee which considered the
bill was unanimous that it would not
work hardship.
Grosvenor Criticises the Claim.
Mr.. Grosyenor of Ohio criticised the
claim that there was any popular de-
mand for the legislation. What there
was had been manufactured out of whole
cloth in Congress. There never had been
such fake" issue launched. The ques-
tion of rebates constituted the only legiti-
mate complaint being made, land yet"
he continued, the gentlemen reporting
this bill have absolutely lodged every
question of the slightest importance to
the shipper of this country" What they
had reported, he said, not one of them
could tell exactly. Every one thought it
meant different thing, and the whole
thing was to be left to the construction
of the courts.
''And yet 1t was born at the dawning
of political millineum in this House
All the angels sang together on the day
this bill was reported, and sang the same
tune daughter
Mr.. Grosyenor said he would propose
an amendment to correct what he re-
garded as the real evil. His amendment
would prevent railroad companies or Of
ficers from owning productive interests
along their own lines.
Another fault Mr. Grosyenor found with
the bill was that it did not include the
regulation Of sleeping cars and dining
cars
The bill in operation would kill all COM
petition and the result would be exactly
the same as the effects of the old pool
ing bill with uniform rates, he said, the
center of the country would not suffer,
but that 1t would be the extremities or
border states
Having expressed himself on the bill,
Mr.. Grosvenor concluded:
And l shall aid in getting 1t out of
this House as speedily as possible"
Mr.. Lamar of Florida, announced he
should support the bill cheerfully
Underwood Favors Measure.
Mr.. Underwood of Alabama. commended
that the time would come when compe-
tition would no longer regulate railroad
rates. There were three methods of gov
eminent control: Absolute ownership, alb
solute control by commission, or partial
control by a commission, as proposed In
the bill. which he favored.
An anti-pass amendment was advocated
by Mr.. Gains of Tennessee. He never
rides on pass himself and would pro-
vide penalty Of $1,000 against persons ac-
cepting passes. Passes, he said, made pas
senger rates higher for the masses and
were species of corruption.
Mr.. Hardwick of Georgia, said the leg
islation met the demand of shippers and
then reviewed its history to show 1t was
essentially democratic In inception. At the
close of the days debate, the Notifications
appropriations bill was reported, and at