The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-02-02
Declaration OF Representative
Townsend Opening Weeks
Discussion.
PLEADS EoRHEPBuRN BILL
Sooner the Railroad. and Their Sup
porters Realize Unalterabie De-
termination Of People, the
Better for All Interests.

up the Hepburn railroad rate bill.
In making q request that speeches
be confined to the subject matter Of
the bill, Mr.. Hepburn stated that red
quests for time on the bill had been
SO numerous that it seemed proper to
confine the debate to the bill.
Williams. the minority leader, OBJ
jected to this restriction, whereupon q!
discussion followed as to whether this
request could be enforced by vote,
Williams remarked: !
I'VE are a body now hat can't do
anything but talk and if this precedent
is made we will even have that priyi-l
lege cut Off"
Not wishing to abridge any GENTLE
mans prerogatives, I will not press the
matter" responded Mr.. hepburn good
naturally. He observed further that
debate it had been his idea that a vote
might be taken on the bill one week
from today. In taking up the bill in,
committee of the whole Vreeland of
New York was selected to preside over
the debate.
Best for the Railroads. !
What promises to be a weeks dis
opened by Mr.. Townsend of Michigan.
who addressed h house for more than!
an hour, touching on and elucidating1
practically avery phrase of the rate
making problem and describing in detail
the terms of the Hepburn bill. Regard1'
ing the question as of the most Inn
portant ever before congress Townsend
advocated the bill as the correct REM
edy for h evils which exist. and pre-
dicted that Notwithstanding the pro-
tests Of the roads greater prosperity,
would come to them under its provis-'
Ions than otherwise.
To s~ubstantiate this he called atten-
ton to the tremendous strides of the
year in the transportation business and,
this in face of legislation which the
last congress initiated and which the
present congress is taking up in some
what more strenuous form. =
Arraigns the Opposition.
While Mr.. Townsend regarded the
question as in no sense political, he ex,
publican party has taken 1t up He
arraigned the employed by the
opposition to rate legislation, saying:
ITO me it has seemed that a system
attic effort has been made to discredit
the administration in various matters
in order to direct attention from this
great question, and I have no doubt de-
lay will be caused, wherever possible,
In a vain hope that something yet will
happen to prevent fnal action. As one
Of h younger and most humble repub-
licans in the house let me admonish
my party associates in both houses that
this question will not down, nor will it
have spoken and every day to us their
demand is more imperative.
Socialism Smiles at Delay.
"Temporizing will bring nothing but
disaster. Already we hea the rum
olings OF discomfort and socialism
smiles with satisfaction with every de-
bay. Regulation of the public servant
Is not a departure from the principles
of popular government but Q. disregard
Of righteous law and indifference to
legal restrictions imposed to protect the
peoples rights Is more than socialism,;
1t is anarchy, and as a railroad agent
instead of the peoples representative,
4 would hail the proposed legislation
as salvation to my master from a fate
which an indignant people is sure to
visit upon corporations who believe,
they are above and beyond the law
and seek to become a Law unto them
selves"
Now Objects Of Suspicion.
Let the aw pass" Townsend con-
cluded. "and let the railroads heed its
provisions, and instead of r%etarding its
instead of being objects of suspicion
and hatred they will be regarded as
instruments of progress and prosperity.
Rate legislation will enter nto history,
and its entry will not be marked by
any business disturbances, but rather
it will indicate the beginning Of an era
Of better feeling between the railroads
and the people-an era of equal rights
and opportunities under just and inn
partial law"
Tribute to Roosevelt.
When Townsend Adamson, of Geor-
gia, followed in support of the bill. He
gave great credit to Roosevelt for his