New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-02
THE RATE BILL ~ THE SENATE.

The debate on the railroad rate bill, begun
on Wednesday by Senator Foraker. will be help
full in many ways-in none more so than III
enabling the public TO put clearer valuation
on the opposition hitherto encountered in the
Senate by the Hepburn measure. That oppoSl-
lion has been to some extent evasve and mys-
tifying-mOre concerned apparently, about Jug
Cling with phrases and man9uvring for polil-
cal advantage than about meeting the demand
of the country for legislation dealing in a
straightforward manner with known abuses
in railroad administration. Open discussion In
the Senate will do what secret discussion in
the Senate Committee on Interstate Commerce
failed TO do. 1t will show, at least on what
grounds the opposition rests its case and to
what extent that opposition is united in deny
ing the constitutionality. the efficacy or the
political expediency of the legislation recon-
mended by the President and Endorsed with
practical unanimity by the House of Repre-
sentatives.
1t cannot be said that the opposition strength
ened itself by the first move In its campaign TO
defeat the Hepburn bill. BY voting TO put that
measure in Mr. Tillmans charge and justifying
such action on the ground that a Democratic
measure should be champoned on the floor of
the Senate by a Democrat" certain Republi-
cans on the committee laid themselves open TO
the suspicion Of playing petty politics and of try
ing 10 humiliate and embarrass the President
We do not impute such motives 10 the Senators
in question. but If any such intention existed.
IL promptly defeated itself We see no reason
why the administration or any of its supporters
should be dismayed because Mr.. Tillman has
been pushed forward the leader on the floor
of the Senate of the forces which oppose an
emasculation OF the House measure. The Presi-
dents prestige can be in no way injured be-
cause the Democrats in both houses have rallied
the support of legislation for which he has
long and earnestly cOntended. If a railroad
rate bill passes the country will give him full
credit for its passage Nor has the Republican
party anything to lose because OF joint action
IN the two houses on measure for which it
cannot avoid accepting political responsibility.
1t can afford 10 welcome the aid of Mr.. Till
man and of every other Democrat willing to
lift the rate regulation question above the level
of partisan politics, and 10 solve it-as IL should
be sOved-with an eye single TO the public wei
fare
Mr. Tillman has given evidence Of his inten-
ton TO conduct the rate regulation struggle
along nOn-partiSan lines. He is thoroughly hon
est in his wish TO see some check put upon rail-
road traffic abuses. and he has too much intel
ngence and sincerity 10 lend himself TO any
scheme TO make cheap partisan capital out of
situation created by Senators unfriendly 10 the
rate bill. There is neither comedy nor tragedy
in that situation. the Republican opponents
Of the measure were at first disposed to think
There will be full, free and. we trust, an
Illuminating debate in the Senate on the whole
rate question. From this debate the country
may learn something more about the problem
OF rate regulation; il will also learn good deal
more about the Senate From either point of
view the discussion just begun will be a wei
come contribution to popular knowledge and
political progress