Charlevoix county herald., 1906-01-13
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
HOW THE RATE MAKING QUES-
TON STANDS BEFORE
CONGRESS- TO-DAY.

Bill Is Administration Measure-Th'
Foraker Bill and the ElkinS Bill Al
ternatives.
After it's usual little furry Of bust
ness before Christmas, followed by the
holiday period, Congress is now ready
to settle down to the serious work OF
the session. Probable debate looms
up large on the Panama Canal ques'
ton, the railroad rate issue and the
tariff. OF these the railroad question
is undoubtedly the most important, at
least it is the newest subject; and
while no legislation may be desired
on the other issues, II railroad rate
bill is to be passed, as is the an
nounced desire of the leaders and the
President. practically unlimited debate
will ensue. 1t has been stated that
the House would likely act promptly,
as it did last year, but it Is something
of a problem as to what will be the
procedure in the Senate. The Inter-
state Commerce Commission rate bill
appears to have taken the place Of the
Esch-Townsend bill of last session.
Technically there is to be no Admins
tration bill, which designation was ac-
corded the Esch-Townsend measure,
but with the members of the Inter
state Commerce Commission in hearty
accord with the President. it is I'M
derstood that the Commissions bill
contains the basis of the Administra-
tons demands.
On the other hand, the Foraker rate
bill and the Elhins bill are the prin-
cipal alternative measures before
Congress
The issues, then, would be thus
joined, and the two houses would
II. -. Il "a O.,
ton of the session, with the probable
ity that in the end compromise
would be reached. This contemplates
some notifications of the Presidents
measure, which will not necessarily
mean defeat for him or give him cause
for embarrassment. 1t is conceded,
even by those who are avowedly sup
porting President Roosevelt's railroad
rate policy, that he is too stanch a
partisan to embroil his party in dan
gerous strife on the verge Of a general
Congressional election that will be
fraught with unusual Importance to
other policies which the President
heartily desires should be carried out
as Administration measures backed by
a practically solid Republican support.
Tariff revision, or REIMBURSEMENT"
is one of those policies which is said
to be close to the Presidential heart,
and new and practical assertion Of
the Monroe Doctrine. particularly
with relation to such threatening
muddles as that in Santo Domingo, is
said to be another.
Protests From Shippers.
A rather peculiar development OF
the railroad question is the action OF
great numbers of large shippers who
theoretically are the very men who
should favor stringent rate legislation,
but who are vigorously expressing
themselves as adverse to radical &C
ton. Since Congress met, great num-
Ders OF letters and protests have been
received from shippers all over the
country declaring that they are ad-
verse to giving the rate-making power
to the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, or to any other political tribunal.
The protests coming from shippers to
members of Congress are very eff
fective, since the shippers are usually
among the most influential men in
Congressional districts.
, The situation is full OF possible
complexities and changes, the only
apparent developments thus far being
a less radical public view of railroad
matters, which is being reflected in
the more conservative attitude on the
part Of the thoughtful Members or
Congress and Senators. There seems
to be a growing recognition OF the
fact that the subject is one full OF
intricate and complex conditions
which make final action inadvisable
without very full understanding or
what the practical effect Of any pro-
posed legislation would be, not only
fran int n
on the hundreds of thousands of peo-
pie throughout the country who con-
stitute the shippers.
Democrats to Support President.
There has been such a stampede OF |
Democratic Representatives and Sen |
ators to the support of ANY rate bill |
which the President may want" on |
the ground that any rate bill is good |
Democratic doctrine, that many of the |
Presidents political advisers are |
warning him that he may be in the |
position of having to dodge an alliance |
with the Democrats, which is exactly |
what the President does not want.
While it is generally believed that |
the House will promptly pass the |
Administration" bill, yet Speaker |
Cannon said not long ago that while |
At was impossible to say what Con- |
gress would do, he felt convinced that |
the House would not again pass the |
Esch-Townsend bill. Yet the Inter |
state Commerce Commission bill is a |
much more radical measure and in |
every way is more far-reaching. |
Whether this is to be made the basis |
Of a compromise or whether the Pres
ident will insist that a commission |
appointed by him shall be invested
with this plenary power of constitu-
tional government-legisla judic- |
ial and executives q matter Of some
conjecture.
In connection with the foreign and |
domestic policies above mentioned, 1t |
is said alike by friends and critics Of |
the President that he is facing a cru
cial period, not only in his own career, |
but also in that Of his own party. !
Party harmony, to the end of con-
tinued party control, is known to be |
quite as inspiring a motive with Pres |
tdant Roosevelt aS are those great /