The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-01
Iowa Senator Speaks in Favor of
Railroad Rate Bill.
Declares That It Fortifles the
Existing Law.
QUESTION OF APPEAL.
Is the battle-ground for Discus
sion of the Bill.
He Does Not Believe That Re-
batting Has Been Dropped.

washington, March THAT interest
in the railroad rate question continues
undated, was made manifest again to-
day by the large audience which greet
ed Mr.. Dolliver from the senate galleries
when he rose to speak on the DoIliver-
Hepburn bill. From the first The iowa
senator has been the champion Of the
policy of giving the interstate commerce
commission full authority and the
friends of the house bill have expected
him to take a leading part in pressing
the consideration of the measure, hot
withstanding it has been placed in
charge of another senator.
His was the first speech made II sup
port of the bill
Mr.. Dollfver began his speech at 1870
p. m, Immediately after the disposal CT
the routine morning business. That O.
der included the passage of bills auth
orizfng the disposition of surplus lands
on the Yakima and Colville Indian res
ervation in Washington.
Mr.. DOlliver spoke without notes. He
| began with a compliment to Mr.. Cullom,
of whom he spoke as the father Cf in
| terstate commerce legislation and 10 Mr..
/ Nelson, the author of a bill presented
| to the last congress.
The senator then outlined the Iii
/ pointing out wherein it amends the ex-
/ listing interstate law saying that, alter
/ all, the changes were comparatively lew
Instead of undermining the law the
! bill fortifies it. he said, and he declared
/ that if the present law had been treat
| ed with the reverence and sanc-lty II
/ deserved the American people would
/ have approached the subject in frame
| of mind different from that which low
prevails.
He said that the railroad companies
were unable to protect themselves
against the fragrant abuses OF the
private car companies under section /
of the present law. He had not faV-
cred the abolition of these cars but he
did believe that the car companies
should be regulated by making respon-
sible the railroad companies.
Speaking of the interstate commerce
commission he discussed Judge Gross
cups recommendation for a specific
court but he did not accept the theory
| advanced for the reason that he con
sidered the present machinery SUI
6cient for all purposes. He recognized
the fact that it had become fashion
able to speak slightfpgly of the inter
state commission and defended that
body against such attacks.
He expressed the opinion that If the
1 lawyers had dea1t as fairly with the
| commission as with the courts the re-
suit would have been better.
Mr.. DOlliver declared he did not ex-
/ DeCL d DIOLIdCLeu NSAtu6AteA DEEWCCAA
| the railroads and the business com
munity, believing that when the law
was enacted it would be observed by
] carriers and shippers alike. He pre-
dicted that within five years there
would be boards of arbitration in rail-
way traffic centers of the country, so
! that appeals to the commission would
be the rule rather than the exception.
/ He recognized the fact that the
question of appeals to the court from
the orders of the commission was the
battle ground and he declared that as
/ the bill stands it leaves the door to the
courts open for the protection of all
| constitutional rights.
Rebate Question.
/ He temporarily left that point and
took up the rebate question. saying
that he did not agree with either Mr..
Foraker or Mr.. Bacon that the secret
practices have been abandoned. He
did not believe the Elkins bill ade-
quate for protection against these
practices.
1.-The difficulty about rebates is not
said. 'but in discovering them and we
| as to cover that defect"
In the House.
Washington, March 1.-The house
on meeting today agreed to a senate
joint resolution which continues the
tribal government of the five civilized
/ tribes Of Indians in the Indian Terri
tory until the property of the Indians
| shall be disposed Of