Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-03-31
WASHINGTON NEWS.

Las week Senator Hepburn and Con-
gressu,ap French introduced a bill in
the senate and house, granting permits
sion to the Chicago, Milwaukee and st.
Paul Railway company to construct
bridge across the Snake river at or
near Lewiston, Idaho. This is mere
matter of form and the bin will pass
within a short time. This bill oc-
casioned much interest in Washington
especially among people FROM the North
west, as it is recognized as one of the
first definite moves of Importance in
the construction of another great high
way through the west. 4
Senator Hepburn is taking very
prominent part in the discussion of the
rate bill, and in this great piece of CON
structive legislation in which so many
intricate legal questions are involved,
his legal ability is being recognized by
the foremost lawyers in the senate. 1t
seems to be very difficult matter to
draft bill that will stand the scrutiny
Eof the supreme court and at the same
time be of substantial service to the
people, consequently every scheme pre-
sented to meet this requirement must
pass the careful and critical examina-
ton of such lawyers as Bailey, Dolliver,
Fulton, .Spooner, Hepburn, Culberson,
Bacon and others, and whatever plan is
finally agreed upon will doubtless be
the very best that can be had. Senator
Hepburn, as well as a majority of SEN
ators, is in hearty accord with the gen
eral plan of the Administration on this
bill. Every one seems to be in favor
of rate regulation. The matters con-
Stunning SO much time, however, are
more of procedure and detail than of
substance. On this question, the pfesi-
dent is receiving the unanimous support
of the entire delegation from Idaho.
Senator Heyburn's position, is of
course, well known. Senator Dubois
is in favor of the bill although he has
not made speech on. it and probably
will not, as he is not lawyer. Con-
gresham French, it will be remember
ed, delivered a very interesting address
in the house on this measure for which
he received the congratulations of many
of the older and leading members.
Quite discussion is now going on in
the newspapers all over the country as
to the real father of the rate bill. This
discussion is to certain extent agitat-
ing both houses of congress, and is
liable to play an important part in the
final consideration of the bill 1.-The re-
publicans claim that Hepburn should
have credit for the bill, while the demo-
Gratis claim that it belongs to Ben Till
man. Tillman, himself says. that the
'kid don't know who its daddy is. -
4 The Representatives. lapp- Tillman
bill is, however, in reality the Roose-
welt bill las surely as it is anything.
Suppose even that, Hepburn introduced
it in the house and had charge of.its
passage there; what if Deliver forced
a report upon it from the committee on
interstates commerce into the senate
and what, if Aldrieh manipulated the
scheme that put "Pitchfork Tillman''
in charge of it; and suppose Tillmar
pilots it through strong opposition
and finally secures its passage? Every.
body knows that there would haze beer
no rate bill but for the president. II
would not have passed the house in its
present form had the administration
not been behind it. So why not give
credit where credit is due and where il
belongs. Every one will give credit t.
Deliver, Clapp, Townsend and Tillmat
for the able work they have done il
fighting for the regulation of rates, bu
those who know how things are don,
: now know that the president has beef
!; the real power behind the movement.
/ By vote of 25 to % the senate las
! week struck out that. portion of tn
army appropriation bill which provide,
S600.00 for the fertilization of tn
Philippine islands, ard the surprisin,
/ feature of the vote Was that Senator
Allison and Lodge, close friends of tn
president, voted with those opposing
, fertilization of the Islands. 1t ha
I been known ever since the Philippin
: committee killed the Philippine tari1
f bill that there was quite sentiment i
!. the senate that favored giving up thes
particular islands, but it was nc
9 Thought that there, was not senoug
l. ~