The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-03-20

NN ~iI
Partisan Measure and That 9
Cyclone az Passionate Resentment
gress to Meet the Demand for Rate
LegisIation-He Predicts That the
Issue Created Will be Paramount in
the Next Presidential Election
Word of Caution Given to thu
Friends of the Proposed Legislation
Washington, Manh 15.-The senata
today continued consideration of the
railroad rate question by listening to
the reading of a report on the hotke
bill by Mr.. Tillman and to a speech
on that measur by Mir. Nelson.
Mr.. Tillman's report was read II
the request of M. Aldrich who said
that he was curious to hear the opin-
ion of the South Carolina senator.
Brief attention was given to the
message of the president Transmitting
the letter of the secretary of warlrel-
ative to the recent Moro battle. Mr..
Bacon spoke of the killing of the
MOros as slaughter" and Mr.. Lodge
deprecated criticism until the facts
81 should be known.
The house resolution giving the in
Ger-state commerce commission All.
thOrity to administer oaths in con-
nectiOn with its investigation OF
charges of discrimination made agains.
railroads was adopted without ce-
sorting to the formally of requiring
it's reference to committee. Mr.. Stones
resolution directing an inquiry into the
postoffice department ruling on the -ad-
: mission Of college publications TO
the mails as second claSs matter also
was adopted
A large number of private pension
bills and also some other semi-priERte
, bills were passed.
The senate adjourned until Monday.
The report of Mr.. Tillman embodied
the first clear and concise statement
of the differences concerning cOur re.
view features land other proposed
amendments that had made a unai-
nous report from the committee im-
possible.
Without hesitEncy the senator de-
elared it to be his belief that the bill
should be amended, but that amend
ments should not be of a character
to impair or prevent the accomplish
rment of the objects of the legislation
which are set forth best, he says, in
The presidents message to congress. Ike
emphasized the need of regarding the
measure as non-partisan, but predict
ed that the issue created will be par
amount in tn naxt presidential elee-
ton.
Mr.. Tillman pmfaced his report by
speaking of the peculiar circumstances
ruling the commihee's actions on the
house bill, which made it an embar-
raising task to submit views that
would be %concurre6 in by the commit
tee las a whole.
Instead of being amended in COM
mittee, as is usual" the report, he
said, 80 as to command as a whole,
the endorsement a~nGssuppOrt of a ma
jority of its members, the bill was
brought into the senate in a form not
entirely satisfactory 10 more than two
members.
This lack of harmony among he
supporters of the bill-it would be
speaking with more accuracy to say
the supporters of the policy involved
in the bill-brings about the anoma-
Ious situation in which a member of
the minority party in esagress is put
in charge in the senate of proposed
legislation which is generally regarded
throughout the country SIS the cherish
Cd cahpn1O NJ tho nrpSiSpnt with uhncn
general policy and principles that
member is not in accord. AT the same
time the hill is designed to carry into
effect his OWE long cherished convic-
tions and the thrice-refterated de-
mands Of the party to which he be-
longs"
Emphasizing the claim that this ON
dition is without precedent in legisla-
tive history, Mr.. Tillman says it brings
into prominence the fact that the pro-
posed legislation is non-partisan and
is so recognized as a result of the
support given it by the minority in
the house and the few opposing votes
only seventh that entire body.
There would follow a cyclone of
passionate resentment" said Mr.. TIL
man in predicting what would be the
result of failure On the part of on
gress to meet the widespread demand
for railroad rate legislation. He de-
ciared that, "Woe viii be the harvest"
Of any member Of the senate or house
whose work in formulating a bill to
regulate railroads, lacks earnestness or
honesty of purpose, and who shall
seek to belittle the question or kill the
bill by subterfuge and deception. The
constitution gives to congress the pow
er to regulate the railroads. he con-
tended, and there are many wrongs
to right.
The bill as it came from the house,
Mr.. Tillman characterized as loosely
worded and capable of different inter-
pretations.
Mr.. Tillman pointed out that it is
generally supposed that the pending
measure embodies the well digested
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