Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-05-17
Washington Letter.
tFRoM OUR REGULA CORREsPONDENT.)
Saturday, May IL, 1866.

One OF the unlocked Tor results OF the
Railroad rate bill that will soon pass
the Senate is the decline of power o.
Senator AldricL, the corporation rep
resentatlye in the senate. The senator
from Rhode Island has long been lead
er Of Lis party IN the senate and Lis
influence in that capacity has been
practically unlimited. In the rate bill
though he appears to have met his Wa
ter.oo. and it is doubtful if be ever re-
gains the strength he has lost by that
measure. No other senator has wor ket|
80 hard for the defeat Of the bill OF
oeen so active in efforts to nullify the
effect of any legislation on that subject
that might be enacted. He met his
frat defeat though in the committee
which had charge of the bill.
In order to delay and possibly etran-
gle the measure he fought to have it
made over in the committee, but was
opposed by both republicans and dem
ocrats; as is we'll known the bill was
repol ted to the senate without amend
ments, His next tactics were to pro-
long discussion of the bill, to indefi-
nitely delav action and to so confuse
the issue that a vote could not be reach.
ed this session. Forced at last to sub
NIT to the naming OF a date for the vote
he organized his forces for fight OIL
the amendments and in this he has been
defeated at every point. He has fought
persistently the Lodge proposal to place
Interstate pipe lines under the Inter
state Commerce Commission by making
them common carriers and the greatest
of all his campaigns has been against
the E!kins amendment to prevent rail-
roads from producing coal or other
commodities which they ship in com
petition with other producers. When
he found this last measure could not be
defeated openly, he essayed to kill it by
having it referred back to the commit
tee that it might be reported as new
bill. In all of these and in his oppo-
siIion to the anti pass provision he has
met unequivocal defeat and it is pre-
dicted that the passage Of the bill will
prove the end of his great power in the
senate. The rate bill has in fact been
the cause of some startling changes in
the senate. Senator German who has
been the leader Of the democrats up tc
this winter has been i'll and the leader.
ship has passed to Senator Bailey who
has more than proved bis right to the
position. Senator German who is
above all things the friend of the cor
rorations, has not passed on these pref
erences to Senator Bailey and the party
under him will fight for far different
ideals. Senator Allison whose name is
used in connection with the compro-
mise amendment which he repudiates,
has aleo been absent from the senate all
winter on account of illness and it IL
not likely that he will ever be restored
to the power which be had previously
held in the party. With Senator Al
drich also dethroned, the leadership
must fail into new hands and there is
much speculation as to the reorganiza-
ticn of both parties. Without doubt,
there will be many changes and the in
PRODUCTION of new blood means the pass.
ing away Of old time methods and the
introduction of newer, and it may rea-
sonably be predicted, better ideals and
attitudes.
The sentiment IN the House in regard
to the bill is practically unanimous in
favor of it's passage. and even the dras-
tic amendment of Senator Elkins adop.
ted in the Senate that coal carrying
roads shall not be permitted to own and
operate coal mines, will not be opposed
in the House. It is probable that no
objection will be made to the judicial
review amendment accepted by the
President and the senators, and there
is every reason to predict that the bill
will pass the House with a rush and be
signed by the president within the
month.
There are several weighty matters
which congress this session should con-
slider. 1t is rumored that strenuous
efforts will be made to have the State
hood bill carried over to the short ses-
ills Dangerous to Neglect Cold.
How often do we hear it remarked:
tsJ.,. .oIl - ooJ fau, do lat or