Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-09


Of his speech to a discussion of the pro-
priety of the proposed legislation. which he
contended for On the ground that common
carriers by water as well as by rail are
really public utilities directed by private
capital. The latter part of the speech was
devoted TO a discussion of the political as
poets of the question.
Claimed as Democratic Policy.
On that point Mr.. McLaurin said: we
frequently hear from republicans and read
in republican newspapers of the nom
partisa nness-if / may coin a word-of this
measure. But these republicans and re-
publican newspapers in discussing it speak
OF II as the Presidents policy-as If the
President were the Columbus of It, We
have seen all along accounts of conferences
between the President and republican rep
resentatves and senators In reference to
this measure. but until a very few days
ago. after this fact had excited remark as
appearing to show that there is partisanship
in it, never heard OF a democratic sena-
tor representative being consulted. And
after the able and alert junior senator from
Texas (Mr, Bailey prepared and offered an
amendment TO meet the justice. well as
constitutional obligation, OF opening a door
to the courts and at the same time pro-
tecting the shippers rights and interests
by limiting the courts decree to the final
hearing of the case before decree and pro-
hibiting a preliminary injunction on ex
parte hearing, an amendment not so eX-
piicit but along similar lines, is introduced
by the senator from Kansas tMr. Long,,
and we told by these newspa pers that
this is an amendment prepared by the
President, and that II is desirable that We,
the democrats, go over and help him TO
adopt it, as well as help him carry out his
policy.
IF this is non-political legislation, what
good reason can be given for ignoring the
amendment offered by the senator from
Texas? 1t is far more explicit and better
adapted to do justice and reach the just
policy discovered and copyrighted or pat
ented by the President. IL is a policy
proclaimed and advocated by the demo-
cratic party long since, and opposed by the
President and republican party Mtil less
than a year and a half ago, when the Pres
ident seems to have first seen its beneh-
cence. l say opposed by the President, be-
cause his party opposed 1t, and ] presume
as soon as he saw his party's error he made
the announcement. and that was not made
until December 1901.
Invitation to Republicans.
Now, assuming that the President and
the faction in his party who are willing to
follow him on this measure are sincere, and
earnestly desire legislation here IN the in
terest of the great mass Of plain people OF
the country. let him and them come over
and help US enact law that will be a
sure enough law-one that has meaning suf-
icient to accomplish the good results for
which the entire country is looking. Let
them help US TO enact rate law that will
give relief to the plain people of all walks
and yocetions Let US give the small
farmer who ships his cotton CT -four or
corn or meat a fair rate, and lift the hand
of extortion from him. Let us reduce any
exorbltant rate on the food and fuel that
feeds and warns the laboring man in cities
and towns and villages.
Agr McTallrin also touched upon the far
if SAYING: LET us remove by this bill one
of the curses OF a prohibitive tariff"
He advocated the removal of the duty on
steel rails In order to reduce the cost OF
railroad construction also the removal OF
the duty on iron.
Senator Morgan Speaks.
At 2:30 Mr.. Morgan (AIa.) took the floor
to discuss the railway rate bill. He op-
posed many of its provisions