West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-08-30
OUR washington LETTER
The Records Drawn on Senator Ell.
klnS and His Vote In Congress
on Important Bills Are
Shown Up.
From Our Resul., Correspondence.

moved from this city to Oyster Bay
and New York City, about all the
leading Republican officials have
left also, so the political market
may be quoted as quiet with few
transactions. IL it was not that the
Democratic headquarters were here
the newspaper correspondents would
have nothing to write about.
have been taking advantage Of
the lack of general news to look up
Senator Elkins' record in Congress.
so that the voters OF West Virginia
can determine il he has honestly
represented their interests. As rail.
road rate regulation was considered
the mos, important legislation, and
as Sepator Elkins voted for ,he bill,
it is most important 10 know how
he voted on the vital amendments
that would really have helped ship
pers and the general public if
adopted.
find upon investigating the Con
gressional Record the following
facts Elk;ns voted agains, the
Bailey amendment to the railroad
rate bill, the object of which was to
prohibit the abrogation or suspen.
sion of any order of the Interstate
Commerce Commission by any pre-
liminary or interlocuto-y decree or
order OF any court or judge.-CoN-
gressional Record for May 10, 1000.
p, 6874.
Elkins also voted against the Gull
berson amendment to the rate bill,
which, among other things, pro.
vided that in determining what is
just and reasonable rate, no con-
sideration should be given to fc,i-
tious stock issued by corporation,
or to bonds or other obligations
issued by il in excess of the fair
value of It's property. Gong. Rec
ord. p. 6875.
Elkins voted against tabling the
La Toilette amendment 10 the same
bill, involving the same principle of
valuation as that of the Culberson
amendment.-Cong. Record, page
7oI4. In these two votes he was
inconsistent, and manifested a de.
sign to carry water on both shoul-
ders.
Elkins voted against the La Fol.
lette amendment which provided a
judge owning stock or bonds of a
railroad, or accepting or using free
passes or other privileges should be
disqualified from presiding at any
trial arising under the provisions of
the rate bill.-Cong Record, p.
6o73.
Elkins voted against the Morgan
amendment to the rate bill which
was intended to preserve the right
of individuals to sue railroad com
panies in any State court or Federal
oourt.--Cong. Record, p. 7oI7.
Elkins voted against the La Fol.
lette amendment which provided
that common carriers should be
liable for all injuries, whether result
ing in death or not, sustained by any
of It's employees, where the injury
was caused by any defect in any
locomotive, engine, car, rail, track
road bed, machinery, or appliance
used by the carrier, whenever the
injury was caused wholly or in
greater part by the negligence oi
any other employe. Gong. Record,
p. 1917.
Elkins lodged the vote on The
Aldrich resolution requiring all ma
terials and equipment for the con
struction Of the Panama Canal lC
be purchased by the government II
this country ~ Cong. Record, p
| 1859.
Elklns voted for the bill 70 ap
propriate Sas, 900 a year for tht
Presidents travelling expenses, anc
the travelling expenses Of his invite,
guests Gong. Record, p. oz39.
As many Senators are oftci
absent from the Senate and paired
1t IS important to investigate OF
whic side they arc paired on I'm
poftant bills to arrive at a Just con
clusion Of their public position Of
such issues. What is known a
the ship-subsidy bill which provide,
that that large sums should be par
annually out Of the United State
Teasury to the steam ship trust wa
very important bill as it woul
cost the tax payers Of the Unite
States millions each pear. II is