The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-01-25
At MERCY OF RAILROADS
Senator Clay Says Government Rate
Control is Necessary.
PRESENT Law TO PROTECTION
Declares II There &c No Legislation to
Regulate Rates There VIII Be An
Agitation For Government Owner
ship-Rallroad Senators Stirred.

Agitation For Government Owner
ship-Ralro5d Senators Stirred.
Washington. Jan. 23.-Thc question
81 regulating railroad rates occupied
practically all of the time OF the SEN
ate. Notwithstanding no bill with that
end I'm view has been reported from
the interstate commerce commission.
The discussion Of the subject was in
connection with Mr. Clay's speech.
Mossrs Aldrich. Foraker Bailey and
Ncwlands being the principal partici-
pants in addition 20 Mr. Clay himself.
MI CLAY advocated the passage Of
q bill which would give the interstate
commerce commission power 10 regu-
late rates when complained Of. and
said that II there was no legislation
along that line the country might
count upon an agitation Of the ques-
tiou Of government ownership. In that
connection ne referred to the large
vote given Mr. Hearst in the late New
York municipal election as an indica-
ton of the popularity of municipal
roI4Srsll ia-oL IL public utilities. 49,
Mr. Allrich indicated 4 purpose to
oppose such legislation as that out
l'ncd and declared that Mr. Hearst
was the author of the proposition to
confer the rate making power on the
commission. He also took occasion 10
declare that the signs Of the times
point 10 the naming Of either Mr..
Hearst or Nr Bryan as tho next Dem
ocrauc presidential candidate. but
when pressed to indicate the proba-
biliiics in the Republican party do
clincd 10 make a prediction and also
avoided n query of Mr. Bailey rs to
whether the president would be a can
didaie for third term.
Mr.. Clay took issue with the state
mcnts made earlier in the session by
Mr. Foraker in opposition to the con
stiiutional right Of congress to dele
gate its authority 10 regulate inter
state commerce. saying that on ac-
count Of the vast number Of com.
plants liable to arise It would be i'm
possible for congress with its other
pressing business TO give anything
like adequate attention to them. Mr..
CLAY analyzcl the present Jaw and
said that II does not afford adequate
protection 10 the shipper. He said:
Railroads can destroy towns, cities
and private industries by improper
rates. and who will say that power
should not be lodged somewhere to
investigate intclligcntly all complaints,
solely with a view Of doing justice be
tween the roads and the shippers?
The presumption IS that an intelligent.
broad-minded commission will be i'm
partial and sock diligently to do jus
tice 10 both sides
~ would rercal tho law creating the
commission unless that commission is
clothed with tho power both TO inyes-
Hcato and frd what rates are RIA
sonahlo md imperial anl At tho same
time enforce rs findings II IS absurd
to have an interstate commerce com
mission constantly Investigating the
railroad rates. moving at the same
time that wAotovcr may be the rates,
the commission "a without power to
enforce any OF It's findings. The peO-
pie want a commission clothed with
the power to nnI and fix a proper and
reasonable rate and put that rate into
operation. Otherwise the commission
Is useless"
Mr.. Dollivcr took the floor and refuted
an allegation in 2 Philadelphia paper
that there wra n SNAKE" in the Dol
liver bin which was intended To neu
tralize rs erect. Nj Deliver insisted
that the section which provides that
tho commission may 70 into the Unit
cd States courts. and by mandatory
proceeding secure an enforcement Of
its orders was SUBSTANTIALLY the same
as that in tho lii sent to the senate
by tho interstate commerce commits
sion and was for the purpose of
strengthening the commission in Sc
curing a compliance with its orders.