The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-04-17

speech by Mr.. Latimer in support Of
the house railroad rate bill, Mr.. For
aker today took the floor on that mea-
sure and consumed practically all Of
the remainder Of the session. He spent
SOM time in the discussion of some
Of the amendments he has suggested
TO the bill and then entered upon the
consideration of the entire question of
railroad rate regulation, urging again
the unconstitutionality Of the pending
bill from various points Of view. He
was frequently interrupted by other
senators. Mr.. Lodge spoke briefly in
support of the practice of granting
lower rates on goods intended for ex-
port than ON those used in domestic
consumption. Mr.. Latimer in his
speech said that at the present time
seven corporations control practically
all of the railroads of the country, and
no argument is necessary to convince
a thinking man that this consolidation
means the elimination of competition
and the placing of despotic power in
the hands of a few men.
Charging that consolidation Of trans
portatiOn facilities has reached a eli
max where the people are powerless
to prevent abuse Of railroad power, he
said he would be glad to see the pend
ing bill pass with an amendment dis
tinctly forbidding any interference by
! the courts with the work of the COM
: mission. Whether a measure Of that
character would be unconstitutional he
believed would have to be decided by
the supreme court. He thought that
any restriction of the authority of the
commission would impair its work,
and that it would be better to pass a
law giving authority to the commission
and let the supreme court Of the Unit
ed States pass upon it and then reach
the situation as it may develop by con-
,stitutiOnal amendment, or by modifca-
ton Of the law, if need be.
Summarizing what he believed to be
the legislative situation of the pending
measure, Mr.. Latimer said:
Il am lead to believe, however,
from the discussions that have taken
place here in the house, that we will
be unable to pass the pending bill
without providing for a review by the
courts. This being true, we should
pass the bill in such form as will as
nearly as possible accomplish the de-
sired end. 1t is of the highest import
ance that we should enact a law at
this session of congress. The people
are demanding immediate relief. and.
not being able to secure what l believe
the conditions demand, l shall vote for
the pending bill with such amend
nents as tend to throw safeguards
around the work of the commission
"If the courts are to have the power
10 review the findings of the commits
SION" said Mr.. Latimer. II am in favor
of limiting that power by denying them
the right to issue interlocutory orders"
While Mr.. Foraker was speaking Mr..
Tfllman said there were still several
speeches to be made on the bill. He
thought the last of these would be de-
hyered some time next week. that
then a day for voting could be agreed
upon. He again said that he would
ask that some time in advance of the
final vote be given to the consideration
of the bill section by section.
Mr.. Foraker then discussed his
amendment giving compliments the
alternative of taking their cases into
the courts in preference to the inter-
state commission. He de-
ciared that the pending bill was not
satisfactory to any N and that if not
amended it would present many con-
stitutional difficulties
In reply to Mr.. Macon, Mr.. Foraker
said hat when a case gets before q
I court it will become necessary to go
into the entire case. He would have
a broad review.
Does the senator mean that in the
end the courts, instead of the commis-
sion would in effect fix the ratesY'