Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-03-02

law ana cOntcnueu LOT It's Nallully IfOin
a constitutional point of view. predict
ing that government ownership of the
railroads would be forced upon the
country if Congress did not meet the
present demand for regulation.
Mr. Dolliver was not questioned and
when he concluded the remainder of
the day was devoted to the bill pro-
viding for the settlement of the affairs
of the five civilized tribes of Indians
after the termination of their tribal
relations.
A large audience greeted DOlliVer
from the Senate galleries today when
he rose to speak on the Dolliver-Hep-
burn railroad rate bill. The Iowa sena-
tor has been the champion of the pol
icy of giving the interstate commerce
commission full authority and the
friends Of the House bill have expected
him to take a leading part in pressing
the consideration of the measure. not
withstanding it has been placed in
charge of another senator. His was the
first speech made in support of the
bill.
Dollivcr began his speech after the
tlol'Sui VI iouliilt III 'pofNC
without notes. He began with d compli-
mcnt to Cullom of whom he spoke as
the father of interstate commerce leg
islation. He also referred to the fact
that McsSrS Foraker and ElkinS had
formerly introduced bills giving to the
interstate commerce commission the
same powers conferred in the pending
| bill. 81 do this" he said, 'for the
double purpose of giving credit where
credit is due and to protect us against
| the sncers that one hears in the Sem
| ate corridors over the acceptance of
| TIE bill hastily forced upon us by the
House.
The senator then outlined the bill,
pointing out wherein it amends the eX-
| listing interstate law. saying that after
all, the changes were comparatively
| few
"Instcad of undermining the law the
bill fOrtifies it," he said and he de-
clarcd that if the present law had been
| treated with the reverence it deserved.
the American people would have ap-
preached it in different frame of
| mind than that which prevails.
DolIiver said that the railroad COM
panicS were unable to protect them
| selves against the fragrant abuses" of
| the private car companies under the
present law. He believed that the car
| companies should he regulated by
| making responsible the railroad COM
| ranies employing them. DOliver be-
| lieved that when the law was enacted
| il would be observed by carrier and
| shipper alike. He then took up the re-
bate question. saying that he did not
| agree with either Foraker or Bacon
that tho secret practices have been
| aba ndoncd.
| On the question Of appeals. DoiIivcr
said that the power the commission
would exercise in preventing recourse
| to courts was about aS great as the
Il power of my friends who are tiptoe-
ing about this chamber talking Of the
II day in court"
II He said tla: no Congress that would
ever assemble would pass a law that
would take the market away from the
Il railroads that have created them and
turn them over To rival rivalry that
would be harmful to advancement.
II Not line in this blu has been
drawn in hostility to the American rail
way SYSTEM said Dolliver. but it is
to the futhcrcnce Of q better under
standing between the American people
and that great system"
Doiiiver referred to the recent maya
zine article by EX-Sec. Olney and said
II that he was the man upon whose ad-
III vice President Cleveland had sent ar
army to Chicago "in the face of the
protests of panic-stricken mayors and
screaming governors
There was perceptiblc stir in the
Schsate when Doliver referred to one
investigator. who had to unload his
railroad securities to give him the spir.
itual preparation for the work"
He also referred to the recent re.
search into ancient Transportation
made by some senator's and to show
that he had not been slothful in thai
respect quoted the transportation sec.
ton from the laws of Hammurabi o.
Babylon. showing the necessity for ar
advertising agent for that ancient soy.
erign. He also went back TO the tim,
of Queen Anne of England, when. ht
said. then systematic stimulation o.
the receipts shaved a combinatio,
making restriction necessary.
Ill DOlliver made a broad plea for tn,
right TO regulate the railroads but sal,
that this right did not come from tn,
fact that the railroads enjoy frann
chise. 1t is because of the business j,
which they are engaged" he aid. an,
added that ''it would save much tim
if the railroad managers could h.
brought to Il realizing sense Of tha
fact" Yet he thought that the over
sight exercised should be generous an.
that the capital invested i'm the r,,d