The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-03-29
PRAISES KNOX FUR
 RATE BILL SPEECH
Senator is Warmly COngratu-
 lated by Colleagues
BILL UNCONSTITUTIONAL
He Thinks the Court Feature Neces- sary In Order to Make the Bill Stand-lndan Lands Mat
 tsr Is Discussed.

Washington. March 2S.-Mr Knox made hls first set speech in the Senate today. He spoke on the railroad rate ques- ton and dealt almost exclusively with the legal features of the problem. He indicated several provisions of the House bill which he considers unconstitutional and expressed the opinion that MT. Bail ey's amendment depriving the United States circuit courts of the power to grant temporary injunctions would not stand the test of the courts. The speech was awarded the most careful attention, and at It's close the speaker was very generally congratulated by his colleagues
 When MT. Knox concluded the Senate entered upon the consideration of the conference report on the bill. regulating the final disposition of the affairs of the five civilized tribes of Indians and much objection was expressed to many changes Some of these were criticised on the ground that the conference committee had transeended it's authority by the in- sertion of new matter. There was a re- newal of the discussion of the disposal of the coal lands in Indian Territory and several senators, including Lafol- lette, Clark of Wyoming, and Tillman expressed dlsapproVal of the conference provision authorizing the secretary of the interior to lease lands.
 Lodge Offers Amendment.
 When the Senate met today MT. Lodge offered an amendment to the railroad bill making it apply to pipe lines for the transportation of oil.
 MT. Daniel presented an amendment to the same bill making railroads liable for damage to employees
 MT. Tillman presented his daily com plaint of discrimination by railroad com panies. The complaint in this instance was against the Kanawha and Michigan Railroad company and the Hooking Val ley road in West Virginia, which it was declared had prevented the development of other mines than their own.
 The resolution presented yesterday by Mir Tilman calling on the interstate commerce commission for information rel atiye to free transportation including tickets issued to newspapers in pay for advertising, was passed without opposi- tion.
 Knox on Rate Bill.
 The railroad rate bill was then taken up and MT. Knox presented his views. This was MT. Knox s first sustained ef- fort in the Senate and he was accorded close attention by a well-hlled cham Der.
 At the outset MT. Knox said he agreed with senators who have contended that the power to fix railroad tolls for trans portauon is legislative power and that when the legislature has laid down a rule for the establishment of rates the application of such rule to specific cases is a matter of. administration which may be delegated to a commissions and that the power to investigate the reasonable ness of a proposed rate and to fix q rate for future observance is q non-iudicial power, which cannot be conferred upon courts exercising the judicial power of the United States.
 Mir. Knox then set forth by generous citations from supreme0ssurt decisions the powers and duties of' the interstate commerce commission it now possesses and performs under the act to regulate commerce, and he declared that his re- view showed that the commission has abundant power to seek and discover de- viatons from the great purpose of the act to secure equality of rights for all. but it wholly lacks power to enforce its orders and decrees and that its orders and decrees do not have the force of law until made so by judicial decree
 Refers to Former Utterances.
 After reciting a portion of the Presi- dents message calling attention to the advisabilty of expanding the powers of the commission. the senator referred to some of his CMr. KnoX's) formal utter ances and requested that the efforts of the government to check concentration of power under the provisions of exist ing laws should be supplemented by leg islation which will prevent the abuse of