Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-07-06

traordinary questions have been
under consideration by the con-
gress which began its legislative
life Dec. A last than by any previous
session of opr national lawmaking
body. Not counting the many acts ia
vorably reported to or passed by either
branch and left in a state of suspended
animation, their fate to be determined
by the next session, the amount and
character of new laws enacted make
the Fifty-ninth congress the milestone
can institutions.
The day of the nation has come;
state and local powers are on the wane
or in small favor. Commercial and In
dustrial concentration having brought
about new opportunities for abuse of
privilege, and the muck rakers having
walked up the public mind to the vari-
GUS existing evils, President Roosevelt
found in this congress workable soil
for the growth Of federal powers in
dealing with those evils. The impress
of the presidents mind was given to
all the more important remedies adopt
ed. Neither friend nor foe In the polit-
ical arena will question the statement
that the work of the session bears the
Rooseveltian stamp, although the Dem
ocrats all along have pointed out that
the president was merely camping
along the trail blazed by their party
platforms. Nevertheless the presidents
party, being in the majority at both
ends of the CAPITOL has either taken
the credit or been forced to assume re-
sponsibllity for what was done, even
when aided by Democratic votes.
Railroad Rate Regulation.
The keynote was struck unmistaka-
bly, in the message which congress re-
ceived at the opening of the session
namely, the insistence on federal fix
ing of interstate railroad rates as well
as the prevention of rebates or any
kind of special favors. Rate bills of
various kinds and descriptions were
promptly introduced in both senate
and house; but, the house majority be-
ing under better discipline, the bill
was more promptly formulated there,
which was approved at the White
House. 1t was fathered by Represent
alive Hepburn Of Iowa as chairman of
the committee on Interstate commerce.
1t was so modified in the committee as
to come before the house without Dem
ocratic opposition, and after a few
days of perfunctory discussion it wa
passed on Feb. 8 by the almost unani-
nous vote of 346 to z, the seven oDpo-
nents all being Republicans. AS passed
it gave the interstate commerce com
mission full power. to regulate inter-
state freight tariffs without express
recognition of the rights of appeal in
the court. This, however, was only the
foundation of the law that was to go
to the statute book.
In the senate the Hepburn bill was
destined to run the gauntlet of fierce
opposition from a conservative faction
of the Republicans led by Aldrich and
Foraker and become the football of
personal and party chickering's w a
period of three months. The main point
Of the dispute was the question Of a
broad or narrow court review pro-
vision, and at one time, after the presi-
dents political and personal enemy,
Tillman, had been placed in charge of
the measure, there was a taeit coalition
between the president and the minority.
Later, however, the president accepted
the compromise Allison amendment,
upon which his party associates had
agreed, vesting jurisdiction in the cir
cult courts to enjoin, set aside, annul
or suspend any order of the commits
sion ON appeal of the carrier concerned.
1t was at this time that the Democratic
leaders charged the president with Bad
faith on the strength of representations
said to have been made through ex-
Senator Chandler. Finally the bill,
with sixty-seven amendments, passed
the senate May IS by a vote of II to 3.
Still further changes were made in
conference thereafter. The senate con-
ferees held out against the house pro-
posal to drop the clause placing pipe
lines under federal control. AS this
was finally agreed to by senate and
house, the pipe lines are to be regard
ed as common carriers, but are not
prohibited from carrying their own
products. Railroad and railway mail
employees are exempted from the anti
pass amendment. The president sign
ed the bill June 90.
Investigations and Inspections.
In both branches bills were intro
duced early authorizing Investigations
of the railroad monopolies, and q com-
blnation of these known as the Tillman-
Gillespie Campbell Measure passed the
house Jan. % and, though signed by
the president, was sharply criticised by
him for not carrying funds and due au-
thority. The money was appropriated
later, and under this authority the in
terstate commerce commission has al
ready unearthed a vast amount of
graft and cr~ookedness in railroad and