The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1906-03-08
DEFENDS THE RATE BILL.
Senator DolIiver Predicts a Public
Ownership Movement.
CR0WDEDSENATE HEARS SPEECH,

iowa senator Declares That the People
Are Asking Why Some Men Make
Hundreds OF millions. Even over
Hhadowiug the Observation-Disclosures
PrsSident Roosevelt's Policy.
Washington, D. C.-Senator Dolliver,
of Iowa, the chief champion OF the
Hepburn Rate bill. spoke in defense
and explanation of that measure for
Two hours and ten minutes. It had
been announced that he would reply
10 Senator Foraker, who opposed GUvs
eminent rate making in any form, but
he did not go far in that direction.
NJ. Dolliver avoided court opinions
and legal points. He spoke entirely
from memory and did not employ tech
nical phrases. He talked as a repre-
sentative Of the people, not rs a con-
stituti0nal lawyer, holding that 1t
would be wise to pass the Hepburn
bill SO that the courts may pass on the
validity Of the principle involved. A
decision either way as to the powers
of Congress to delegate rate-making
dulhOI1ly WOuUu NC dfudD1C W (AC
people. he said.
MI. Dolliver was greeted by even a
greater audience than that which hon
ored Senator Foraker. A large dele
CATION of Representatives from the
House side listened to the speech.
Senator Foraker was not present. Sen
-ator Lodge was also absent. He is i'll.
Mr.. Dolliyer referred to the fact that
he had been charged with u tendency
toward socialism, only to contradict
it. saying that he did not desire to
have the Government take charge Of
the business interests of the country.
Yet, he, asserted that there is 4 storm
brewing, and that the time is approach
ing when the citizens of the United
States are going TO make an inquiry
into the right by which some men in
q few years make hundreds of millions
of dollars, rendering them capable of
even overshadOwing the National Gov
1ernment,' and he predicted that it Con-
gress did not agree upon a bill for the
regulation Of the railroads the country
would be called upon to face the prob
lem of Government ownership.
The Senator referred to the fact that
Messrs. Foraker and Elkins had for
merly introduced bills giving to the In
CISt0l CO11lL4IC1( &c SOIIlALSSAOA (AC
same powers conferred in the pending
bill.
Instead of undermining the law the
bill fortifies it," he said, and he de-
clared that if the present law had been
treated with the reverence and Sanctity
it deserved, the American people would
have approached it in 8 different frame
of mind than that which prevails. He
recognized the fact that it had become
fashionable to speak s~lightingly of thu
Interstate Commerce Commission. anC
he defended that body against such at
tackS. He expressed the opinion thaI
if the lawyers had dealt as fairly with
the commission as with the courts tAe
result would have been better.
Mr.. Dolliver declared that lie did not
expect a protracted vendetta between
the railroads and the business com,
munity, believing that when the law
was enacted it would be observed by
carrier and shipper alike. He predicted
that within five years there would be
boards. Of arbitration in every traffic
centre of the country. so hat appeals
TO the commission would be the rule
rather than the exception.
Taking up the rebate question, Mr.
DolliVer said that he did not agree with
either Mr.. Foraker or Mr.. Bacon that
the secret practices have been aban'
doned. He did not believe the EIkins
bill adequate for protection against
these practices.
The difficulty about rebates is not in
Furnishing violations of the law" he
said, "but in discovering them, and we
have undertaken to amend the law sc
as to cover that defect.
Whether anyone believes anything
I say here" said MI. Dolliver, 81 would
like my friends to acquit me. of that
most grievous ofense of exploiting my
~prejudices, or those Of anyone else
against the great property interests OF
the country. Not a line in this bill has
been drawn in hostility to the Amer
lean railway system. but it is the
furtherance of a better understanding
between the American people and that
great system.
There never was until yesterday,
when Mr.. Foraker spoke, a shadow
upon our right to regulate interstate
commerce." he went ON. He spoke in
praise of the President. "the most SUI
pcrb moral leader of the generation"
As for himself he was prepared for
Sneers, but" he said, 81 stand in a po-
&itlon l did not seek, but, consulting
my conscience as a citizen and my
honor as a Senator, / cal take no
other" :.
Commenting upon Mr.. Foraker's crit.
icism that the Hepburn bill is uncon'
StttutiOnal, Mr.. Dolliver entered upon
4 line Of argument to show that Mr..
Foraker was mistaken, and that Con
Sress has the power to regulate rates.
Mr.. Dolliver replied to the criticism
mat he was manifesting a disposition
toward democracy by denying it, and
closed with another tribute to President
roosevelt, expressing the conviction
mat the people would ever treasure
IN grateful hearts his blunt platform
OF a square deal for every man."
The Longworths in Cuba.