The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1906-01-18
RAILROAD LEGISLATION,
BOW THE RATE MAKING CUES.
TON STANDS BEFORE =
CONGRESS- TO-DAY.

Bill Is Administration MeaSure-Ih
Foraker Bill and the EIkins Bill Al
:. ternatives.
After its usual little furry OF bus
ness before Christmas, followed by tn
holiday period, Congress is now read
to settle down to the serious work o
the session. Probable debate loom
up large on the Panama Canal Ques
ton, the railroad rate issue and III,
tariff. OF these the railroad question
is undoubtedly the most important, a
least il Is the newest subject; ant
while no legislation may be desired
on the other issues, IL railroad rate
bill is to be passed, as is the an
nounced desire Of the leaders and the
President, practically unlimited debate
will ensue. II has been stated that
the House would likely act promptly,
as II did last year, but II is something
Of q 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
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. II is un-
derstood that the Commissions bill
contains the basis of the Administra.
tons demands.
On the other hand, the Foraker rate
bill and the Elkins bill are the prin-
cipal alternative measures before
Congress.
The issues, then, would be thus
Joined, and the two houses would
likely struggle with it for large por.
ton of the session, with the probabil.
ity that In the end a 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 Rooseyelts 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
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-
bers 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 ef-
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
. less radical public view Of railroad
matters, which is being reflected in
the more conservative attitude on the
part Of the thoughtful Members Of
Congress and Senators. There seems |
to be 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 Of
what the practical effect Of any pro- |
posed legislation would be, not only |
upon transportation interests, but up |
on the hundreds of thousands of peo- |
pie throughout the country who con-
etitute 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
che House will promptly pass the
Administration" bill, yet Speaker
Cannon said not long ago that while
q was impossible to say what Con-
gress would do, he felt convinced that
the House would not again pass the
GscA- Townsend bill. Yet the Inter-
state Commerce Commission bill Is
much more radical measure and In
every way IL more far.reaching.
Whether this Is to be made the basis
a Q compromise or whether the Pres.
ldsnt will insist that q commission
appointed By him shall be invested
With this plenary power Of constitu.
ttuaal government-legislative, judic-
~ and executives matter OF some
conjecture.
IN connection with the foreign and
1omestic policies above mentioned, It
= said alike BY friends and critics Of
he President that he Is facing . cru
olol period, not only In his own career,
Ut also In that Of hiD own party. |
1nFfy harmony. to the end az CON- L