Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-14

proper balance of Messrs. Vanderbilt, Nor
gan. Gould and Hartman"
He added:
Things are in such fine shape around this
table that it would be a shame for any I'M
invited guest to break into the harmony
of the scene and turn II into a Belshaz-
Ears feast. We must not suppose that
these gentlemen are tndulging in any lux
uries as they are sitting around this table.
They are not regaling themselves in mid
winter with tropical fruit from Florida
groves or California vineyards. transp orted
in the Armour company's refrigerator cars;
on the contrary, their meal is a very frugal
one. They have been Woodworking lnd-
viduals during all of their lives. and now.
after years of incessant toll and labor. at
the moment when they have acquired a
bare competency and are earning a fair
amount of wages to keep themselves and
their dependent families from want and
restitution It IS heartiess and cruel
deed, know, TO ,Hsettle their equilibrium
or to deprive theIh OF their hard-earned
savings. 1t was sad enough. anyway, this
whole scene as 1t presented itself TO the
committee.
ut was pathetic TO observe the solemn
procession of railroad counsel-Mr. Moro
witt of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe;
Mr.. Bond of the Baltimore and Ohio: Mr..
Hines of the Atlantic Coast Line; MI
Mather of the Rock Island, and Mr.. Peck
of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul all
arrayed in their mourning weeds. with their
long, funereal briefs, exhorting the commit
tee not to take any step that would bring
havoc and ruin upon their clients, VINO nave
already made SO many sacrifices OF unset
fish devotion to the interests of the public.
The calamities that are In store for us, as
portrayed by these eminent members OF
the profession, are something too dreadful
TO contemplate with composure. Joseph
never prophesied the plaques OF Egypt
with the accuracy and precision that this
formidable body of SoothSayerS announces
the terrible succession of catastrophes that
are TO overtake US If should determine
upon this apparently innocent legislation,
and jeremiah never wept over the afflc-
lions of Jerusalem wit hthe passionate and
consuming emotions that agitated their
bosoms they poured their lamentations
into the ears of the distinguished chairman
OF the committee, who tried upon many an
occasion to condole with them In their mis-
fortunes and assuage them In the eXuber-
ant profusion of their grief
Review Of the Courts.
On the question Of review OF the find
ings of the commission by the courts, Mr..
Rayner said he had reached the conclusion
that under the Nebraska decision IN the
case of Smythe agt Ames the courts, with
powers reposed in them, will give ample
protection 10 the carriers in every case
where the commission does not allow them
just compensation, and viii rot compel
them TO prove that single rae is shso-
ldtely confisca tory. He would, however,
have it understood that he was opposed to
the provision permitting the courts to sus-
pend the orders OF the commission during
the tendency of the proceedings.
II am" he said, I'm favor OF an amend
ment to the Hepburn bill vesting in the
court the right to try the question Of I'M
just compensation, with restraining orders
abolished, and with the further right, IL
possible, to let the court fix the RAJ. II Il
reverses the order of the commission. With
these changes l am In favor of the bill as
passed by the House, and If we cannot get
these changes I prefer to take the bill as
it Is rather than mutilate 1t or destroy its
efficiency"
Announcing that HIS interests are identi-
ieu with the railroads, Mr.. Rayner aG-
vised the railroad managers to accept the
pending legisla ton, lest the people take the
question in their own hands, organize po-
litical party that will be irresistible. and
will in the end enact far more stringent
provisions.
'.The interstate commerce commission will
not dare" he said, ito take any step that
will depreciade the property Of the people
or that will cause any extreme changes In
railroad management or policy The bust
ness interests of the country would not sub
nit to such action. and the courts would
not sanction or tolerate 1t.
Warning to the Railways.
81 would therefore advise the railroads.
and their counsel and their representatives
from the scene OF conflict and let the con-
fict cease. Let a truce go up between the
people and the corporate interests OF the
country; let the corporate interests make
some concessions to the rights of the public.
You depend upon the people for your live
ifhood and your profits. absolutely and en-
ttrely Now, take them into your conf
dence and do not possess yourselves of the
vain deluson that your railroads exist for
the sole benefit of your stockholders and
officers, and that the people have no rights
tat It is your duty to regard. If you fail
to take some such advice this, then /
believe You will rue the day. l have no
fear that the hour will ever come when ig-
norance and anarchy will prevail in this
country; that thought does not disturb me.
What I fear is an economic uprising of the
,ntelligent and substantial property inter
ests Of the country against monopoly and
,YnIa wfuI combinations of centralized
waalth Avoid this strife. Anarchy and
socialism can be regulated by law and put
down by force Intelligence, that Is spread
fng uuon the wings of lightning, can never
he cowed and defeated