Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-03-03
SENATOR ELKINS EXPL AIMS
Cannot Get His Amendments into
the Hepburn Bill.
HIS STATE GOES UNDEvELOPED
west Virginia Not In Fear OF Elk
ressive Rates, But Wants Equal
Charge Without Discrimination.

Charge Without Discrimination.
Senator ElRins, being asked what
he thought of the Hepburn bill said
that. as 1t came from the House, while
it had some good provisions, 1t afford
ed little or no relief to the shippers
of West Virginia. That was, he said
the general opinion of his consfitu-
tents. He declared the bill does not
~rorrect substantial abuses complained
Of by tile people, and that the Snip
pers of West Virginia have little Tear
of excessive rates. What they desired
is that all shippers have an equal
wate and no discrimination and II the
Elkins law is enfor ed, lit will compel
equal rates and effectually stop re-
bates and determinations.
Two things tile people of West Vir-
ginia, he says, think very important
in anv rate legislation.
First, that the railroads shall not
be permitted to engage in any busi-
ness other than transportation OF
freight and passengers, and that they
shall not be permitted to sell coal
in competition with coal miners and
coal shippers.
PROVISION OF AMENDMENT.
Second, that railr Dads, as provided
in his amendment, shall put in
switches and make prompt connec-
tions with lateral and branch lines.
The recent decision of the su
preme court covers the FIRST by de-
claring under the law railroads can
NOT sell coal in competition to ship.
pers. As to these abuses, the Hep.
burn bill is absolutely silent and af.
fords no relief whatever and for this
reason he could not consistently vote
for the bill without amendments. He
said he offered time and again to
vote for the bill if his amendment
should be adopted, but this was re.
fused
The senator said that he had urged
his amendment as vigorously as he
possibly could, believing it to be of
vital Importance to the interests of
his constituents, bat without avail.
In discussing the question he said
West Virginia had three great trunk
lines, ana, counting the Pennsylvania
four, crossing the state from east tn
west substantially parallel to each
other that il was hardly to be ex-
pected that another great line reach
ing Philadelphia, Baltimore and New
York could be constructed. The
capital could not be found for SO vast
an enterprise. There were people
in this state. however, who were will
ing to build branch and lateral lines
TO the present trunk lines, and there.
by develope the resources of the state
but il there was no law TO compel
the trunk lines to put in switches or
allow connection it was useless as
well as dangerous TO build them.
STATE GOES UNDEvELOPED.
This being the case, the state,
which has more coal than Pennsyl.
vania, end probably the most extern
sive superior bituminous coal in the
United States, with timber and iron
ore, would remain undeveloped until
it suited the conveniences of the trunk
lines 10 build branch lines.
He was aske ed why it was he could
mot geb two amendments adopted. He
said he could not undersaud why the
Trainers of the Hepburn bill so per
sistently refused in the Interstate
4 Commerce Committee of the senate, as
well as in the House, to correct tie
abuses mentioned He felt that his
people would'not be satisfied with any
bill that did not correct them; that
4 they scarcely had any interest in the
Hepburn bill because ii afforded then
K no substantial relief.
IA How Mica Is Mined.