The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-01
GALLERIES CROWDED
DURING ADDRESS
Hours of Time Consumed BY the
Distinguished ohioan in Fight
ing the Railway Rate Bill,
Large Crowd Having
Braved Freezing to
Reach Capitol.
From our Regular Correspondence j

tF'rorn Our Regular Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON. D. c.. February 2S.--
1t was an interesting spectacle presented
by Senator Foraker. of Ohio, to-day, as
he stood In the Se,Yate chamber and con-
sumed hours OF time combating u mea-
sure on which the Republican President
OF the country and the leader OF the
party. uoniinally, at least. has set his
heart above everything else,
The speech able az are all the efforts
OF the distinguished Ohioan, received the
closest possible attention. The gale
ries were crowded To overflowing though
to reach the Capitol 1t was necessary to
brave a temperature considerably below
freezing aud face winds that howled
| through the streets straight from the
Arctic Ocean. Scarcely 81 senator left
his seat during the argument. and when
one was called out by correspondents or
constituents 1t was observed that lie
fastened back, desirous OF losing none
OF the argument Mr.. Foraker was max
ing ngainst comforting on the national
government. through the commerce com
mission, the power TO flx railway rates.
Question of Power.
A great portion OF the spcech was
l. taken up with consideration OF the aues-
ton as to whether the government,
through Congress. has the power to fix
railway charges. Scnstor Foraker be-
iicves the government does not possess
this power. and that the Supreme Court
OF the United States Will so hold when
it shall pass on the question. at the
same time he said he thought the com
mon law afforded protection against un
just rates, and that any legislation OF this
subject should be directed towards the
correction OF injustice through the eNcr-
else OF the powers OF the courts.
He called attention 40 the fact that
| though, the bill was admittedly unsatlsfac-
tory TO tie advocates uf rate regulation.
| It's passayc without auaandment was he
| ing demanded He predicted that such
action would be disappointing 10 the cu-
tire country in its results. as we'll as an
abdIcation OF law maisin:; functions on
tho part OF tho Senate.
AS to Southern Rates.
or especial interest to the people of tho
South We're Senator Foraker's remarks
on the nice adjustment of rates cnd their
| inter-dependence at present.
The gross revenues OF the roads arc
so closely calculated to meet interest
| dividend and operating expenses" he
said. that n reduction OF one mill on
per mile would SO reduce the aggregate
as to make 1t impossible for the roads tc
pay one dollar of dividends on their stock
and further reduction of one and one
| half mills per ton per mile would make
| IL impossible to pay one. dollar of in.
terest on their bonded obligations.
I'VE should hesitate to disturb sucl
| conditions.
The answer made TO this suggestion
| Is that the commission will have SO lit
! tie rate-nlaking power that no harm car
| result from its exercise. II there be bu
! little. then there must lie but little ne
| cessity. But the difficulty seems to lie II
!, the fact not fully and properly appre
ciated, that rates are so interviewer ant
lnterdependent that it is impossible Il
disturb one without affecting many, ant
that since there will be no mode OF re-
| lief afforded under this bill eXcep
| through maximum rate-malsing. if we
| give such an Invitation fo. them as this
! Dill amounts to. there arc likely to be the
! most serious disturbances resulting from
! the exercise OF this power. It matters
! not that the commission as 1t has beer
/: ccntended. Will consider only one rate al
4 time. II 1t should make change IN
|! that rates, all other rates in any manner
| dependent upon it would have 10 lc cor.
| respondlngly changed.
! "A change in the rates on. cotton from
the cotton mills of New England to Chi
caGo and Western points would neccssi-
tate n corresponding change of rates on
J. the products OF the cotton mills of thc
| Continued on Seventh Pagc.)