Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-07-05
AN EVENTFIL SESSION OF con-
GRESS.

RovolutiCrs are of two kinds. those
those which are bloodless. When the I'M
'prejudced historian sits down to write or
the first session of the Fifty Ninth Con-
gress, which closed on Saturday, II Will
undoubtedly he characterized as marking
one of Americas greatest bloodl"s rev
buttons. During tho session just closed
Congress not only worked harder and APP
propriated more money than ever before.
but it also came under the influence of
the executive more than any preceding
body of national lawmakers. The most
noteworthy feature OF the record. however,
Is the manner in which laws were passed
BY Congress revolutonizing the attitude
Of the administration party toward great
corporations that have developed into
monopolos.
In the last national campaign the de-
mocratic platform declared republicans in
effect to be the friends and champions of
trusts. IA view of the acts passed by
The Fifty-N Congress and the appica-
ton of anti-trust measures to different
Illegal monopolics by President Roosevelt s
administration, he will be bold democrat
who proposes in his partys next ma
nional council to arraign the administra-
ttion party AS the protector of trusts. In
deed there would seem to be little left for
st1le democrats except to sock to arraisll
Republicans for constant attacks upon
illegal combinations in Industry and COM
t1nerce. Democracys leader is already adj
Wertisinc himself as a conservative, and
NE may discover considerable ground fol
fthe claim that republicans have now be-
come the raGica! party III the United
Estates.
Whatever opinions one may hold regard
jlnG the relative attitude of the two great
parties as a result of the political and
Legislative events of the past year. no one
will have the hardihood to assert that the
net results is not tremendous gain fol
the rights and Interests Of the people Th,
acts Of Congress which stand out mos
conSpicuousIy in this connection ar,
the MEASURE providing for the regulation
of rates OF transportation and pure food.
The Hepburn law regulating rai!roat
rates broadens the term common carrier
10 include express companies az well a
railroads and toat lines, under a com
mon management which may be engaged il
interstate or foreign commerce, either pas
senger or freight. 1t provides that all rate
shall be just and reasonable whcthe
through or joint rates. 1t increases tn
number of interstate commerce commits
sioners to seven. their TENS OF office t
be seven years and their salaries $1,000
per annum, and no more than four of tn
members can be on one political part,
The commission is given full power upo
complaint and after a fun hearing to Fl
maximum rate which shall take effeC
years unless changed by the commission, {
after review. by the federal courts.
Common carriers are required With
Geason to make switch connections wit
lateral branches and private side track
Dnd to furnish cars without DISCERNING
fion. They are required to file with IL
Interstate commission as public doc,
ments and 10 conspicuousy post alon
jtheir lines all charges of rates and far,
Alnder which they operate and no change
can be made without thirty days mott,
to the commission and the shipper excel
upon permission from the former. r
bates and determinations of all Kinds a.
prohibited ana evs-H nerson o. corpor;