Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1906-04-04
DOINGS in CONGRESS
What is Being Done Day by Day By
the National House and Senate.
Rate Bill Honest.

L When the Senate met MIR. Culbert-
ton presented and had the clerk to
read memorial from the Cattle
Raisers' Association Of Texas. urging
the passage of the railroad rate bill
as it came from the House. The let
ter was accompanied by letter from
S. H. Cowan, attorney for the asso-
ciation, IN which he said that the rail
roads have in the past six years in
creased rates on cattle shipments TO
the extent of $1S ear, causing
total outlay Of $10,000,O00 above the
amount that it would have been nee
cessary to pay under the old prices.
The petition urged the Senate to re-
sist efforts to seriously amend the bill
as mere snbterfuges OH part Of op-
ponents of the bill.
The following bills were passed:
Amending the law requiring lights
Oh RATS SO as to make it apply to
RATS III tow.
Authorizing the erection Of dam
across the Choctaw Hatche river, in
Dale county, Ala.
The conference report OIL the con-
sular reorganization bill was agreed
to without discussion.
ALI in Publics Interest.
When the railroad rate bill was
taken up, Mr.. Clay addressed the
Senate, saying that he not consider
the principle point of controversy a
serious one. He had, heard charges
that both the House and the Knox
bills were drawn i'll the interest Of
the railroad, but the facts, he de-
clared, were convincing that such was
not the case. He then traced the his
tory of the House bill, saying that it
owed its origin to the Interstate
commerce commission and had been
accepted by the entire membership of
the House committee, Republican and
Democrats alike had passed the
House with practical unanimity. The
bill might not be perfect, but he was
satisfied that it had received only
honest constellation. So, too, lie was
satisfied that the Knox, the Tiliman
and Culbertson bills had all been
drawn i'll the interest of the people.
He discussed the question Of a court
review Of the orders of The inter-
State commerce commission, saying
that if under the House bill the regu-
larity Of the commission orders only
was contested, the carrier would be
deprived Of the right TO contesting
rate fixed.
Should Concede Review.
Mr. Clay declared that Of it was
the intention to permit review Of
the COMMISSIONS finding, The right
should be conceded in the bill.
"Why not say so directly in the
ELL and get over the controversy"
.lle said ST believe tliat review ought
to>be permitted, but l believe that The
review ought to be confined to the
question as to whether the rate fixed
i; constitutional. The court should
not be authorized 10 go into the whole
ease"
Mr.. Tillman andeMr. Fulton asked
why, if the review privilege was to be
confined to the constitutional privi-
lege, any provision Of the kind was
necessary, and Mr.. Clay replied that
he would agree with them if there
were nothing in the bill as it stands
Son the subject Of review; but that in
view of the text Of the bill he thought
it should be amended SO as to author
size the courts to say whether the
rates fixed were confscatory.
Mr.. Clay referred to the differences
of opinion sbetween eminent lawyers
whep the income tax measure was be-
fore Congress.
Mr.. Tillman said it was no wonder
lawyers were "befuddled" OH that
measure, because the Supreme Court
had been on both sides.
In the House.
The House adopted the conference
report on the consular reform bill.
April 10 was agreed upon as the
date when debate on the pure food
bill shall commence, to continue al
least two days.
Consideration Of the legislative, ex-
executive and judicial bill was resum-
ed, and when an amendment was Of
fered to the amount appropriated for
travelling aud other expenses of conf
Dental agents Of the Department of
the Interior, Mr.. Tawney Of Minnc-