Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-04-14
Senator Ha|e's Attitude
on Rate Regulation.
The Fight for the Shipping
Subsidy Bill.
Many Maine People Are introduced 10
President Roosevelt.

Washington. ID. c., April 13.-(Spe
oinD.-Senator Hales timely interrupt
ton Of Senator Eailey in the course Of
the !2tter's able speech on railroad rate
legislation, was heralded in certain un-
informed quarters as an indication that
Mr.. Hale had yielded on the question
of nnn-SuSpcnsion of commissioner made
railroad rates. The contrary was quite
tfc case. Mr. Hale agreed with Pres
ident Roosevelt months ago that it was
Imperative to keep the courts from
susLending rates by injunction, prior
10 the final judgment as TO whether the
rate should stand
His interruption of Mr.. Bailey, which
occurred at 4 very dramatic period in
the speech, was not due 50 much to a
desire to emphasize his accord with
Mr.. Bailey on the non-Suspension doe
trihe as to emphasize the fact that Mr.
Bailey believes and advocates the
broad review of rates by the courts In
doing that Mr.. Hale executed a coup
likely to speed the day for Il vote on
the rate bill.
His Republican colleagues in the
Senate We're much pleased at the man.
ner in which ne brought out Mr.
Bailey's reply. 1t was not the Texans
intention to touch upon the question of
ample court review. He wanted to talk
solely about his non-suspensiOn prcvi-
sion which Senator SpOOner Of WiScon-
sin had asSailed and which Mr.. Spoon
er announced soon after Mr.. Bailey had
concluded, that he intended to speak
ON again. But the fight over the rate
bill has centered very largely on the
question of broad review, esDeciaIly
with the New England senators, who
do not want to put ii in the power Of
the Interstate commerce commission to
max" rates that will work to the in
jury # the manufacturing cities of
New England. Some weeks ago Senator
Aldrich put the question t. Mr. Bailey
to ascertain his attitude on review. The
answer Mr.. Bailey returned at that
time was less satisfactory than the an
swer he returned to Mr.. Hale. which
was comprehensive as any of the New
England senators desired
Many Maine people who come to
Washington nowadays find as much in
tercst in the merchant marine commit
tee as anywhere else. 1t is because in
that committee are being fought out
''Iilt '.tttiSS tlleit silt ol great import
ancc TO the cities and towns along the |
Maine coast
The committee room is under the |
terrace big rectangular room. with |
plenty of light coming in from win
doWs to the west. Gen. Charles w. |
GroSvenOr of Ohio, the chairman. who |
has cften stumred Maine during the
campaigns of the last 20 years, is not |
attending much these days. But Rep
reSentative f.. $. Minor of Wisconsin,. !
a great friend Of shipping because he
has been Intimately associated with the |
shipping industry. sits at the head or |
the table. Half day down the room is |
seated Representative I.ittlctield Of |
Maine. who has been fighting for some |
kind of shipping legislation every scs-
sion since he came to Congress- Gen
orally close by Mr. LittlCfieid ana |
watching every word Of the testimony, |
pro and con, is +. :. Pendlcton, presi- |
dent of the Atlantic Carriers Associa-
ton, who is Maine man and who is |
known al along the Maine coast. Often |
toe +. c. Plummer OF Bath. secretary
OF the Atlantic Carriers Association. is
there and lie watches the proceedings
as closely as any others ana suggests
questions.
Men closely allied to the seafarjng
life are accoSted to giving and taking
hard blows. In dealing with seafaring
questions IN this committee hard blows
are undoubtedly given and taken so
that these hearings of this session have
come to be known around the CAPITOL
as stormy affairs:
Sometimes the lie passes and there is
a show of fight. That was the ease
some months ago when the bill for the
abolition of compulsory pilotage was
being given hearings. The contcnding
forces fought every inch Of the ground
a!id Maine men and those with them
won out. as far. as the committee was
concerned. Then the fight was traas-
1errcf to the House and the prepara-
TONS have been in progress for the test
Continued on Page Seven.)