Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-03-24
He REPLIES TO A CRITIC
Senator Elkins Answers Iowa
Governors Campaign Speech.
DENIES CUmMlN'S STATEMENT
says There are Few Statement Where
Man Can Perpetuate Himself In
Office BY Attacking Government

q Man Can Perpetuate 6ilnSsII In
Office BY Attacking Government
Senator Stephen B. Elkins, chairman
OF the committee on interstats com
mefce, made public letter which he
wrote 70 Governor A. B. Cummins.
Of Iowa, March 10, replying to criti-
cisms reported to have been made by
the governor at various points in Iowa
where he delivered speeches. Senator
Elkins quotes from Governor Cum
Minis address at Fort Dodge, in
which he said, referring to bis ap-
pearance before the interstate COM
merce committees hearings last sum-
mer:
II honestly believe that | was the
only man in the room, unless it was
the members Of the senate. WHO mad
not gone there on pass and upon the
linstigation Of the railroads.
And again: "They crosse examined
me for six hours, and except the
questions put to me by Senator Dolli-
ver-and thew were very few-there
was not one single question put to me
from friendly standpoint.
Senator Elkins refers to Governor
Cummins' statement that tho "chair.
man of that committee cross examined
me for more than four hours. and
every inquiry that las made Of me was
made fer the purpose OF overthrowiug
what / said. and sending ms home in
di gust q id humiliation.
QUOTES CUMMrNs' SPEECH.
Again. Governor Cummins is re.
| ported to have said Sitting on tie
right hand side Of tie chairman Of tie
Interstate commerce committee, so
close to HIM that it seemed to me their
aims were intertwined IN loving as.
ISOLATION and embrace, was the gen.
eral coanssl, as / was informed, for
all the railways Of the country, en-
ployed for the specific purpose Of oh.
structing aud defeating the measure
that had been recommended by the
president.
Further along Governor Cumminsi
is quoted as saying l saw that mau
pass up to the cnaiman score of
questions to be rut to me, F."
Senator Elkins' reply to Governor
Oummins' structures includes about
{. 900 words Much of it is repro
duotion of the governors testimony,
taken from the printed reDorts Of the
hearings, produced to show thaG Gov
ernor Cummins was treated fairly by
the committee and that the questions
propounded to him wire eminently
fair and proper.
Senator Elkins says:
"If this was the attack OF Albert Il.
Cummins, would not notice it, but
you are the governor of great state,
and our wholesale denunciation of
the United States senate as body,
with the single exception of the
junior senator from your state, must
not GO unanswered. J"
Mr. Elkins refers to the fact that
Governor Cummins requested to be
heard, and that he was advertised
as the star witness for the people. -
Every manufacturer in your state,
according to your own. testimony,
the senator continued was notified
that YOU would appear and the time
Of your appearance You came to
Washington and gave an interview
announcing your presence. The hear
ing was open All who desired so to
do could attend. You made a speech,
and the committee listened attentively
and respectfully. "
Referring to the alleged cross-exam-
ination, Senator Eklips quotes the
following question aud answer;
90 Do you think the law, as it
stands now, is about as effective and
strong as it can be drawn to prev ent
determinations and rebates?"
"A. / do
RATES TO MANUFACTURERS.
0GAhbOi lAAhAAp HNObOo wv q u VI
Cummins' testimony further 10 show
that he said he was not complaining
of the rates charged the farmers, but
only the rates charged the manufact-
urers. He quotes him in another place
in reply to the following question:
90. Is it your judgment that the
commission should bs left with power
to fix finally a substitute rate without
appeal?"
"A. Not in the term you state.
My view is that congress ought to
confer upon the commission the power
to fix a rate. Then. If the railroad
company believes that the commits
sion has enacted unlawfully, it may
file an appeal in any court of COM
netent jurisdiction aud if the error of
the commission is so manifest as to
warrant temporary injunction. the