The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-03-21

and the executive powers Of the con
mission under it. o the one hand, it
is claimed most positi Vely that Con.
gress cannot delegate its powers to
the commission and thus authorize it
to fix a rate, while, on the other hand,
it is asserted with equal earnestness
ard force that this power is lndisput.
able. Whatever NAV be the results OF
this di.cussion in the Senate, II the
bill becomes. law In the final deter
mination OF the question at issue must
be made by the Supreme Court" There
is, he said, even greater solicitude
upon the question Of judicial review.
Senator Tillman added that at the
same time the cries Of the people are
demanding relief for pro]ucars and
shippers. he declared that 1t is the
6uty Of Congress to hold an even bal.
ance between these conflicting and
c%ontencing interests.
Senator Tlllman inclines. to the
view and said he had not the slightest
doubt that it is possible to properly
amend the bill 80 as to prohibit the
Circuit Courts from interfering with
the orders of the Inter State com.
merce commission by any interlocutory
order.
1.-THE Senate must determine by its
vote what shall he it's attitude upon
the q lestion of Court review and In.
t%erlocutory suspensions. The whole
question at issue as to giving relief to
producing interests Of the country re-
wolves around this feature Of the bill.
II any decision Of the Supreme Court
shall declare that Congress is power.
less to grant speedy relief through a
commission, 1t needs no prophet to
tell that an outburst Of surprise and
indignation will sweep over the coun.
try"
Summing up tho situation he said:
1T is impossible to deny that this
great accumulation Of wealth In the
nands of the few is such a menace to
liberty that the honest patriot stands
appalled, by the OUTLOOK"
=, After commenting at length upon
what be DECLARED TO bs the existing
system of juggling with raj road prop
critics, for the robbery Of the Masses
Senator Tillman sai?:
There is q dangerous provision in
this bill which, In my judgment,
ought to be striker out, and that Is In
Section Is, where the Interstate COLI
MERGE commission is told Ito deter
mine lad prescribe what will, In its
] ltgnent, be the just and reasonable
ard fairly remunerative rate etc.
The last words are too elastic and am.
bigucus aud can DO construed to mean
too much that it would be harmful
and dangerous for Congress to enact
into a law. f trly remuaerative rate
on what; the actual value or the fcti
tious value Of the properties?"
Senator Tlllman declared there can
be Nd justice in compelling the people
as q whole to pay dividends on water
ed stock. primarily to Increase The
fortunes of men already too rich.
Whatever else Congress does, OF
fails to d." he addsd. the produc
srs of the country should be relieved
from such danger Of being compelled
TO made good the values Of over zap
ltal I'D railroads as turks in this in
aocent- looking and plaust Die provision
about fairly remunerative rates
Senator Tillman recommended that
the amendments to the bill bs adopt
ed, which would give relief to the
anamalcus and outrageous condition
If affi rs disclosed as existing In West
Virginia. 60.
Continuing, he said; Vested with
the rights OF eminent domain to con.
struct tneir lines sud granted liberal
franchises andcharters, the railroads
designed to be public carriers for tn
benefit of the waole people, In tht
last few years have become rapid,
transformed into the v,riest band OF
acknowledgements who do not
thrust their pistols in the faces OF
their victims and dem nd money OF
their l.v 8, but who levy tribute II
freight rates, which are as high as the
traffic will bear, denYsaccess to mar
ket, monopol;z, with tfftonter one OF
the prime nesessaries Of life, coal, and
In every way show their absolute con-
tempt for the p,opls and the peoples
right.
Senator Tillmau concluded with "a
word of caution o the trends Of the
proposed legislation" 81. said:
'Ou: full expectations may not be
realized at the present session Of Con
gress. The opponents OF effective
legislation aye alert, have had large
experience and are ( roughly organ
lied. The demand OF the people for
relief from the expressions and wrongs
they now endure may be thwarted by
the great infuerc, of the railroad
corporations. This in6ueI c, has hith.
erto been paramount, and its repr--
sentatives in the Two houses may feel
1t is safe to r.dress the grievances and
to c,nJiLu, the policy Of non interfsl-
ence They maydgnore popular clam
or; and either pass no bill at all or
enact one that will prove wholly in.
adequate. They may palter with US
In q double sense:
Keep the Word Of promise to the
ear And break 1t to the hope"
"Suca action on their part will In
my judgement, be very uawise ano
will only dam up the water. Tie
issue will be made the paramount n