Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-04-14
.ELK|NS ADDRESSES SENATE.
IN ACCORD VIII PRESIDENT
His Interest Is on the Side Of the
Shipper as Against the Rail-
roads, He Declares

roads, He Declares
On the floor of the senate Friday
afternoon. Mr.. Elkns, Of West VIr.
ginia. chairman Of the committee on
interstate commerce answered those
who have charged that he was a rail-
way senator; that he had conducted
the hearings of the committee ON the
rate bill in the il terests OF he rail
ways. aud that he was attempting TO
beclond the issue and prevent the EN-.
actment of rate regulating law.
II have no interest that can affect
my judgment or prevent me doing my
duty as senator as see it, = he de-
clared My desire and highest pur-
pose is to secure aud serve the public
interest y
He stated unequivocally that he
was in hearty accord with the presi.
dent on the subject of rate regulation.
He maintained. however, that the
Hepburn bill in ITS present form was
deficient, in that il failed to provide
AGAINST many OF the evils from which
the people were SOLDERING, and that IL
was unconstitutional in that ID con-
tanned no judicial review provision.
Discussing his personal position in
the matter, the senator said
II stand first for the interests OF the
people of m own state. which am
proud to represent in part on this
floor, and after thst for the interes t.
of all the people of the United States
Because IT my supposed interest in
railroads it is charged and believed
that favor the railroad side OF this
question. This has been SO aften re.
peated that am sure il will be par
donable ii say. in Justice to myself,
that my interest on the side of the
shipper is ten times gr alter thsn on
the side of the railroads. and that nv
interest in railroads, is confined to
those in my own state.
The senator then outlined. in a gon.
eral way, his views of the kind of
legislation that should be enacted,
saying:
ENDORSES SPOONER PLAN.
| II b lieve in rate regulation Of in
I rstate commerce by congress in the
interest Of the people. l believe con-
gress has the power to fix rates of in
| t.retata corriore and oan outbrri1a
under proper restrictions subordin-
ate tribunal to carry out its will in
this regard believe In the right OF
review by the court of any order of
the interstate commerce comm ission.
affecting the rights and interests of
carriers, shiDpers. and localities alike
and in the right o suspend the der
of the commission. bv the court, npon
a proper showing; bat this suspension
to be allowed only upon the condition
that the rights and interests of the
shipper shall be absolutely safeguard
ed by requiring denosit of monev 10
the court pending the suspension,
to be paid to the shippers in case the
court sustains tho order of the com.
mission reducing the rate. /"
OF the alleged deficiencies OF the
Hepburn bill. he said:
"The main purpose of the Hepburn
hill. among other things. is to pro.
vide a more efficient remedy against
Excessive rates regret to say, how
ever. that there are evils, injustices
and abuses by railroads for which the
bill does not even attempt to provide
a remedy. 1t makes no provision
"First-To prevent interstate car
riers producing. mining and selling
coal. iron ore aud other products
which thew transport in competition
with shippers, therby expressing and
driving or of business the independ-
ent Up l..s.i DID absorbing his bust.
ness.
"Second-To oblige interstate car
riers, on application of shippers of in
terstate commerce, to put in when
needed, upon reasonable terms,
switches to enable such shippers to
get their products to market. There
are instances where shippers have
spent hundreds of thousand of dollars
IN equipping mines and mills to do
business, and railroads have denied
them switches and connections
"Third-To COMPEL Interstate roads
to make prompt and suitable connec-
tions with connecting branches and
lateral lines, as well as just, fair and
reasonable prorating arrangements
wi h the same and allowances for
originating freight.
EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION.
" fourth-To require interstate car
riers to make fair aud Just distribu-
ton of cars among shippers on their
lines