Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1906-03-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington 2. 9. March q, ls06.


what the President and Senator TIL.
man really think d each other
Probably nobody will ever know
exactly. But there seems 90 doubt
after Senator Tillmau 5 impassioned
defense OF the rate bill In bis per
sonal report" co the measure that
the presidents has found by accident
in tbs Senate achampion mhoechoes
his views and who is really stand
ing for the spirit of the law that the
President has set himself 70 have
enacted Thns there is presented
the curious spectacle Of the Presi-
dent and his bitterest personal and
political opponent lighting shoulder
to shoulder ii the same Cause. Sen
ator Tillmap has often proved him
self tighter after the President s
own heart and bis language on the
rate bill is no less logical aud In
6niteIy harder and more rugged
than the things the President had TO
say ia his message as 10 The neces-
sity for rnte legislation. ia fact
some of the naked and unsightly
truths that Senator Tillman exposed
TO view III his speech are so vital to
the interests Of everyone who has q
real heart interest ii the country
that they may we'll be reproduced
For he says that ii Is case 81 fluG
ing out whesher the government
can control tho railroads or whether
the roads control The government
and II the latter proves 70 be the
case there is 8 period Of radical
aud social revolution ahead that
may lead to bloodshed or worse. 10
he course of his remarks Senator
Tillman said Those who are res
ponsibIe for delay or inadequate
Legislation will find that wh@p 81
last the food gates Unpopular wrath
and indignation are bolsted. there
will have TO be some fine grinding
done.
The situation today brings into
prominence the fact that the pro-
posed Legislation Is nonpartizan.
II any decision Of the Supreme
Court shall declare that Congress Is
powerless 10 grant speedy relief
through q commission. II needs no
prophet TO tell what an outburst ~
surprise and indignation willsweep
over the country. Whatever else
Congress does or fails to do, The
producers u the country should be
relieved from such danger 81 being
compelled to make good the values
81 over cnpitaiized railroads rs turks
IL the innocent looking and plausi-
ole provision about fairly rempnera-
tive rates
Within the last few years The
railroads have become transformed
into The verlest band Of robber high.
waymen who do not thrust their
pistols in the faces Of their victims
and demand money or 9heiF lIses
out who levy tribute Ii freight rates
which are as high a. the traffic will
bear, deny access 70 the market.
TnoDopolixs with brnzen afEronsery
one 81 the prime necessities 0flife
coal and 10 every way show their
absolute contempt for the people
and She peoples rights
We should divorce absolutely
she business al transporting freight
as public carrier and The buaineNs
II producing freight TO be trans.
ported
II those whO are Interested 10
these great properties VIII NOT con-
sent 70 wise Legislation ID relieve
the distress ~ the people. there Is
danger 81 more radical policy and
leaders coming 70 tho front. wlth
the result that Legislation Ear more
drastic and dangerous than any.
thing proposed Ia this bill, and che
one amendment 70 be offered. will
be speedily enacted
20
The foregoing il but q part Of
Senator Tillmnns personal view as
presented 10 the Senate How near
81 comes 10 being an accurate view.
every householder whO has felt him
self IN The grip on tho railroads
through enhanced prices Of living
will realize. Ii Ia D fat warning to
the railroad maRnates aud the own
ers of the colossal fortunes thai the
railroads have built up 10 come into
camp aud net with reasonable de.
cency lest worset thing beiaIl them
Whether The railroads and great
interests nov well represented
10 many high priced seats 10 The
Senate, will heed the warning, the
vote on the rate bill will make plain.
The prospect for reasonably salts.
factory Legislation are somewhat
brighter just nov. But there are
many things that can happen be-.
tween now and the vote on the bill.
Much pressure has been and will be
brought on individual senator's 10
favor Of the bill. The pressure
against il has already been brought
10 large rolls and there Is more
where that came from. II Is posi-.
bic that The railroads will see the
situation Ii the same light that Sena
tor Tiilman has presented ii and
will cali of their Hobbies when they
lifmosl they ean safely ATTEMPT
Az the same time II Il possible thar
their eyes may have been pulled
shut through too fat feeding and
v this Is the case. the legislation Il
sure 70 beeither delayed indefinitely
or else viii be Of so unsatisfactory
o charactersthat IL might al well moi
H. A41.t& -. - =