Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-23
RATE QUESTION IN SENATE
Mr.. Clay Advocates Giving more Power to
Interstate Commerce soard.
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP ALTERNATIVE
Mr.. AIdrich Announces that He
Will Oppose Any Measure
Drafted Along Lines
Suggested.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22.-The question of
regulating railroad rates occupied prac-
tlcally all of the time of the senate today
Notwithstanding no bill with that end In
view has been reported from the interstate
commerce committee. The discussion of the
subject was in connection with Mr. Clay's
speech. Messrs, Aldrich. Foraker, Bailey
and Newlands being the principal partici-
pants in addition to Mr.. Clay himself
Mr.. Clay advocated the passage of bill
which would give tho Interstate Commerce
commission power to regulate rates when
complained of and said IL there was not leg
isla ton along that line the country might
count upon agitation of the question of
government ownership. In that connection
he referred 10 the large vote given Mr..
Hearst in the late New York municipal
election as an indication Of the popularity
of municipal ownership Of public utilities.
Mr.. Aldrich indicated a purpose to oppose
such legislation as that outlined and de-
clared that Mr.. Hearst was the author OF
the proposition to confer the rate-making
power on the commission. He also took
occasion to declare that the signs of the
times point to the naming of either Mr..
Hearst or Mr.. Bryan as the next democratic
presidential candidate, but when pressed
to indicate the probabilities in the republic
can party declined to make a prediction
and also avoided answering a query of Mr..
Bailey as to whether the president would
be candidate for a third term.
At the conclusion OF the morning busi-
ness Mr. Clay addressed the senate on his
| resolution relating to governmental power
to fix maximum future charges by railroads.
Mr.. Aldrich asked Mr.. Clay If complaints
| would Increase or decrease, IL the power to
| fix rates were given to a commission. The
| opinion was expressed by Mr.. Clay that IL
| the power were given the commission ma
jority of disputes would be settled by ship
pers and the roads and the complaints
| would diminish
| Mr.. Clay said there seemed to be an idea
that In all instances the Interstate Com
merce commission will decide against the
\ railroads, but he contended that there was
no justification for such contention It was
to be presumed. he said, that the commits
sion would do justice to all parties far more
impartialy than would either the carrier
or the shipper.
| DoIliver Complains of Criticism.
Senator Dolliver interrupted to complain
Of a criticism OF himself in the Washington
| correspondence of a Philadelphia paper, in
| which IL was declared that "a snake had
been discovered in the Dolliver rate bill, a
| trick by means OF which the author of the
| bill. who poses as a supporter of the presi-
| dent is seeking to emasculate the bill so II
| will amount to nothing"
, The provision to which reference was
made Is the section in the bill introduced
by Mr.. Deliver that the commission by
mandamus proceedings in the United States
courts may enforce its orders. This pro-
vision was in addition to the penalty OF
5000 a day against the carrier which might
not comply with an order OF the commits
I sion.
Mr.. Dolliver declared the criticism was ar
attack not upon himself alone, but upon tbs
entire senate, and that 1t was stupid. un
called for and libelous."
He said he had taken the provision criti
cised almost literally from the interstat,
commerce bill in the senate committee Of
interstate commerce. He did not. he said
consider 1t necessary to defend his owl
character from such attacks, but he die
think Il worth while to expose a stupidity
the like of which he had not before seer
perpetrated by a member of the press gal
lery.
Burton Gets His Mileage.
One of the most remarkable procedures
in the history of the senate occurred toda,
in order to avoid a technicalty which pre-
vented Senator Burton of Kansas from
drawing his mileage from the present ses
sion In order to have his requisition hon
ored IL is necessary for some Official OF the
| senate to take oath that he had seen tbs
senator in the chamber; but since the in