The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1906-07-19
.HODABLY more new and ex.
- traordinary questions have been
under consideration by the con.


under consideration by the con.
gress which began its legislative
life Dec. 4 last than by any previous
session of our national lawmaking
body. Not counting the many acts ia.
vorably reported to or passed by either
branch and left in a state Of suspended
animation. their fate to be determined
by the cext session. the amount and
character OF aew laws enacted make
the Fifty-ninth congress the milestone
OF new ga ID the history Of Amer!.
can Institutions
The day oe the nat:o2 las come;
state and loca. powers ara oc the wans
or in small favor. Commercial and in
dustrial concentration having brought
about new opportunities for abuse Of
privilege, and the muck rakers having
walked up the public mind to the vari-
GUS existing evils, President Roosevelt
found in this congress workable soil
for the growth of federal powers in
dealing with those evils. The impress
of the presidents mind was given to
all the more important remedies adopt
ed. Neither friend nor foe in the polit-
ical arena will question the statement
that the work of the session bears the
Kooseveltian stamp, although the Dem
Ocrats all along have pointed out that
the president was merely camping
along the trail blaZed by their party
platforms. Nevertheless the presidents
party, being in the majority at both
ends of the capitol, has either taken
the credit or been forced to assume re-
sponsibility for what was done, even
when aided by Democratic votes.
Railroad Rate Regulation.
The keynote was struck unmistaka-
bly, in the message which congress re-
ceived at the opening Of the session
namely, the insistence on federal fix
ing of interstate railroad rates as we'll
as the prevention of rebates or any
kind of special favors. Rate bills of
various kinds and descriptions were
promptly introduced in both senate
and house; but, the house majority be-
ing under better discipline. the bill
was more promptly formulated there,
which was approved at the White
House 1t was fathered by Represent
ative Hepburn of Iowa as chairman of
the committee on interstate commerce
1t was so modified in the committee as
to come before the house without Dem
Ocratic opposition, and after few
days Of perfunctory discussion it was
passed on Feb. 8 by the almost unani-
nous vote of 346 to Z. the seven Oppo-
nents all being Republicans. AS passed
it gave the interstate commerce COM
mission full power to regulate inter
state freight tariffs without express
recognition of the rights of appeal in
the court. This, however. was only the
foundation of the law that was to go
to the statute book.
In the senate the Hepburn bill was
destined to run the gantlet of fierce
opposition from conservative faction
of the Republicans led by Aldrich and
Foraker and become the football Of
personal and party chickering's over ii
period of three months. The main point
of the dispute was the question of n
broad or narrow court review pro-
vision, and 1t one time after the preSi-
dents political and personal enemy,
Tillman. had been placed in charge Of
the measure there was Il tacit coalition
between the president anl the minority.
Later. however. the president accepted
the compromise Allison amendment,
upon which his party associates had
agreed. vesting jurisdiction in the cir
cult courts to enjo;n. set aside, annul
oS fIn &c,
sion OF appeal of the carrier concerned.
1t WAS IT t:li.; tine that the Democratic
lcltcr CHARGED the president with bad
faith ( Il the strcn"il of representations
sail h.;v" been us;ii;' through ex-
Senat : Chln!lcG Finally the bill,
with ixty seven amendments. passed
the ,its' Ny Is by Il vote Of II to 3.
Still .urth,. c.::E"'S Wee made in
CON reNce thereafter. I.lc senate con-
fer =; held ont against thr house pro-
DO / to ,r-p t.. CLAUSE i;larin" pipe
| lii q; uIi'.er federal control. as this
-; finally ;i"recl to by senate and
| ,use, the pipe lines are - be regard
| as COMMON carriers. but are not
| prohibited from carrying their own
| p.
| employees are exempted from the anti
pass amendment. The president sign
ed the bill June 90
| Investisa lions and Inspections.
| In both brlliche; bills were intro
| duced early authorizing investigations
| of the railroad mOnopolies. and COM
| bination Of these known as the Tillman
| GillespieCampbell measure passed ths
house Jan. 23 aud, though signed by
| the president, was sharply criticised BY
him for not carrying funds and due au
| thority. The money was appropriated
later, and under this authority the in
| terstate commerce commission has al
1 ready unearthed vast amount OF
graft and crookedness In railroad anl
oil industries.
The pure food bill, which passed tht
| senate Feb. 81, 63 to 4, was also II
line with this federalizing tendency
1t did not pass the house until June %
240 to II, and then with a number o
amendments which endangered it's fina
passage. In its final shape the pro
vision affecting state rights or stat,
and nun;cii'a! control over the origina
package WAS cut out. AS to blendei
whlsk!es IL. .ackage must be iabele'
blended" o, mixed" The senate
provision remained requiring labels (
state TIE amount .. alcohol containe,
In food packages. but not In bottles
) drugs. This favors the patent medicin
/ people. Ii IS made nisdemeanor 10
e any person TO manufacture or. sell an,
i food, drug. medicine or liquor whIc
!. - adulterated or misbranded or whic