The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-23
DISCUSSION IN
 THE SENATE Freight Rate Regulation
 IS Debated. HEARST AND ROOSEVELT Comparison of Their Ideas on the
 Matter. Aidrich Intimates His Intention to op- pose the Passage of BiII
 Granting Increased Pow
 CTS to Commission. 


 CTS to Commission.
 Washington, Jan. 22-The question of regulating railroad rates occupied practically all of the time of the Sem ate today. notwithstanding no bill to that end ever has been reported from the Interstate Commerce Committee. The discussion Of tho subject was in connection with Mir. Ciay's speech, Messrs .Aldrich. Foraker. Bailey and Newlands being the principal partici- pants in addition to Mir. Clay himself.
 Mir. Clay advocated the passage of a. bill which would give the Interstate Commerce Commission power to regu- late rates when complained of and said If there was no legislation along that line the country might count upon agitation of the question of government ownership. In that connection he rec ferred to the large vote given Mir. Hearst In the late New York municipal election as an indication of the popu- larity of municipal ownership of the public utilities.
 Mir. Aldrich indicated purpose to SRPpaS 0AGA AGEASA4LAOH dS Lndt ouL~ lined, and declared that Mr. Hearst was the author of the proposition to confer the rate making power on the commit tee. He also took occasion to declare that the signs of the times point to the naming of either Mir. Hearst or Mir Bryan as the next Democratic Rresiden- tial candidate, but when pressed 10 in- dicate the probabilities in the Republi- can party. declined to make a predic- tion and also avoided answering Q query of MT. Bailey as to whether the President would be q candidate for a third term.
 AIdrieh and Clay.
 At the conclusion of the morning business Mir. Clay addressed the sen- ate on his resolution relating to the governmental power to fix maximum freight charges by railroads.
 Mfr Aidrioh asked MT Clay If com plaints would increase or decrease if the power to fix rates were given to a commission. The opinlon was express ed by Mi. Clay thar if the power were given the commission q majority of disputes would be settled by shippers and the roads and complaints would therefore be diminished in number.
 At 2 o'clock the merchant marine bill was laid before the Senate and Mir Gallinger asked the Senate to agree to a vote on the bill on February 2, but Mir. Daniel objected on the ground that the measure had not been sufficiently covered by the Senate. He said that he had no purpose to prevent a vote on the bill. Mir. Gallinger suggested the 5th of March for a vote, but Mfr. Mall lory objected on the ground that the bill was subject to a point of order and Mir. Gallinger said that in view of the objections he would ask the Senate to proceed without material interruption with the consideration of the bill Mir. Teller replied that no advantage would he gained by such pressure and said that there should be notice in advance of such a move. "I accept with due humility the lecture from the Senator from Colorado" Mir. Gallinger respond ed, adding that Such lectures are not unusual"
 Mir. Teller disavowed any intention to deliver a lecture and said he was contending only for the rights of those who did not agree with the New Hamp- shire Senator concerning the bill The bill was then laid aside temporarily.
 Clay Continues His Speech.
 MT. Clay continued his speech on the railroad rate resolution. He said there seemed to be an idea that in all in stances the interstate commerce com mission would decide against the rail- roads. but he contended that there was no Justification for such contention. It was to be presumed. he said. that the commission would do justice to all par ties, far more impartially than would either the carrier or tho shipper He did not contend that Congress had power to delegate authority to origin ate laws but 1t had power to fix basis and then authorize body of It's crea- tion to deyelop the details
 Senator Deliver interrupted to com plain of a criticism of himself in the Washington correspondence of a Phil- adelphia paper in which it was declared that a snake had been discovered in the Deliver rate bill. trick by means of which the author of the bill. who noses as A supporter of tho President. is seeking to emasculate the bill so that 1t will amount to nothing.
 The provision to which reference was made is the section of the bill intro- duced by Mir Deliver which provides that the commission bY mandamus pro- ceedInRs in the United States Courts may enforce It's orders This provis- ion was in addition 10 the penalty of s5, 900 day against the carrier. which might not comply with an order of tho commission.
 "stupId and LibeIIoua.''
 Mir. Deliver declared the criticism was an attack not upon himself alone hut the entire Senate and that IL was stupid. uncalled for and libellous" He said he took the provision criti- rized almost literally from the inter state commerce commission bill sent to the Senate committee on interstate commerce. He did not he said. con. sider it necessary to defend his own character from such attacks but he did think 1t worth while to expose a stu pidty tho like of which he had not be- fore seen perpetrated by member of the press gallery"
 When Mir. Clay concluded Mir. Aldricb said
 'T was greatly interested in the prayer of the senator that we on this side should save the Democratic party from Mir. Hearst's doctrines where- as the suggestions of the senator are in support of q bill introduced by Mir. Hearst four years ago.
 Mir. Clay said that MT. Aldrich had | Mir Hearsts bill and Mir Bailey interrupted with the sug- pestion that MT. Clays remarks had ncen along tho lines laid down by the president"
 Mir Clay added that the Republican President had adopted a plank Of the Democratic platform.
 Mir. Aldrich contended that Mr. Hearst eoUl6 not be robbed of the credit