New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-13
CULBERSON ON RATES.
DEMOCRATS TO CONFER.
TiHman attacks President for Crit
ciang inquiry Resolution.
TFrom The tribune Bureau

amendment 10 the Railway Rate bill so care
full are the promoters Of this project to avoid the
appearance of a caucus. 10 which there certainty
/ would be vigorous objectica by many or their
colleagues that the meeting will not even ne
/ held al the Capitol but in some Senator's home.
/ The exact date will depend the return of Sen
/ ator Bailey, who is now In the South at MS
fathers sickbed. Some modification of Senator
Bailey's views on judicial review, TO meet the
ideas of some of his colleagues. will be urged
this gathering.
An endeavor will be made to agree on an
amendment TO provide for review by the
courts. giving the court power to determine
whether the rate fixed by the Interstate Com
merce Commission affords just compensation to
the railroad. Many Democratic Senators Will
contend that the courts should not be limited to
the question whether the rate was confscatory.
II is insisted there would be great difficulty in
proving that single rate had this effect The
contention will be made that the Hepburn bill
does not sufficiently cover this branch of the
subject
This proposed meeting will demonstrate how
the Democratic Senators are likely TO divide
the question Of judicial review. and VIII give the
advocates OF the administrations plans some
idea Of how far they depend the Demo-
Gratis for support
Senator Tillman will make his report to-mor-
row or Wednesday on the Hepburn bill. and that
measure Will then remain before the Senate con-
tinually until finally passed The leading
lawyers in the Senate will speak on the meas
ure first. and the orators with campaigns In
mind will follow
Senator Culberson. OF Texas voiced in the
Senate this afternoon the radical Democratic
sentiment IN favor Of railway rate legislation.
His speech was listened 20 by Republicans and
II.
is the author Of the most pronounced state law
in favor OF such rate legislation which has been
passed. and the attorney general Of Texas
who subsequently, defended IT,
MR.. TILLMAN ON THE PRESIDENT
Before Mr.. Culberson's speech there was a
sharp division Of opinion over the question
whether the Tillman- Gillespie resolution in
structing the Interstate Commerce Commission
to inquire into railroads and their relations to
the coal and oil industries justified the Presi-
dents message regarding it. Senator Tillman
complained that the President had charged Con-
gress with insncerity, pretence and ignorance,
and Senators Lodge and Spooner took the posi-
ton that the charge OF ignorance was war
ranted.
Il deprecate the necessity Of criicising this
most extraordinary document" said Mr.. Tinman.
I'm taking up the Presidents message. Fate
has enlisted me as an ally of the President in
getting ar adequate railway rate bill. and 1 re-
gret very much to have anything up which
would cause any disruption of the amicabe re-
Iations that now exist. or appear to exist. be-
tween US"
This statement greeted with smiles and
chuckles from other Senator'S
But there are some things that, as a Senator
I cannot put up with patiently" Mr.. Tillman
went on. He said that the Executive contempt
and ridicule" of the resolution seemed to charge
that he had been ignorant Of what he was doing
in offering the resolution.
Now, that is going a great way in a very lit
tie while. That is pretty big contract the
President has taken himself to justify such a
sweeping charge"
There can be no good reason" he added, for
the President to scold US in a manner that is
almost insulting by charging us with insincerity,
pnetence and ignorance. The only reason I can
see is that he must have been mserabIy advised
am not a lawyer-only a farmer-but 1 have
better common sense than that"
Mr. Tillman went extensively into the subject
OF appropriating money for the purposes of the
resolution, declaring that It could be taken care
OF in the Sundry Civil bill He closed with a
protest against the President lightly and flip
PANTY insulting the Senate. He said he could
pardon many things on account of the great
burdens on the President and because of his i'm
petuosity
MR.. LODGE REPLIES
In reply MT Lodge said: 81 have noticed that
those most ready i'm criticism are most sensitive
when criticised themselves" He then took IN
the resolution and said he did not see how the
President could treat it other than he did. He
said he thought the resolution was OF n class
passed because Of having caught the fancy NJ a
moment He said that from statements made
quoting IRON Mr.. Tillman, II seemed that Con
gress had put itself in the foolish position or
re-enacting egislation-that is if there was r,,f
hcient law already TO carry on the PROPOSED
examination
Mr. Lodge thought too. there WAS M occo.,o,,
10 resent criticism Of Congress, because no one
could question the Presidents right 70 veto
legislation. And what is a veto axcs,+ e.
seVerest kind OF criticism - he asked and oor
unulng. said that the President had acted with
Congress in signing the resolution
MT FORAKER said that after the MASSAGE =,
the resolution the Interstate Commerce CO..
mission through the President could ask +o-
the necessary funds He resented the sta+an,or+
mat the resolution was adopted because ~ now,
lar fancy and without any sincere purpose He
saiu tla' the senate committee had treated the
seriously for the reason that he thought
'here was a demand that railroads cease their
ownership Of coal and oil lands Mr.. Lodge so,d
that he agreed with Mr.. Foraker on that nrono-
sition. f''P'-
THINKS RESOLUTION DEFECTIVE
MT Spooner said an examination OF the raso-
Iuuoh proved that II had been hurriedly dealt
WIN lie said there should not be discourtesies
SHOWN by the President and the Senate TO each
other. but he believed the Senate had bo -