The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1906-05-24
THE PEOPLE Us. THE RAIL.
ROADS
Which have won in the Fight for
Rate Bill and Canal?-The Presi-
dent Attacked by Bailey and Till
man-Why Bailey Lost His Head
Danger Ahead For Rate Bill
Judge Pritchard Twice Refuses to
Shake Hands With Congressman
Blackburn.
Special to The Caucasian.

Washington, ID. c., May %, 1906
After seventy days of discussion,
the Senate passed the Railroad Rate
Bill on last Friday afternoon. The
Hepburn Bill, as it passed the House
and went to the Senate was consider
ed pretty fair law. 1t has been
amended in several respects by the
Senate. In some respects it has been
much improved and strengthened, viz,
by the amendment to make pipe lines
for oil common carriers and subject
to the terms of the bill, and by the
anti-fine pass amendment; and also
by the amendment prohibiting rail-
roads from owning and operating
coal mines or like industrial enter
priSes, etc.
Amendments to Railroad Bill.
But along with these amendments,
which clearly strengthen and improve
the bill, there are other amendments
of doubtful meaing and effect. The
one defining the court review powers
is claimed by some to be necessary to
make the bill constitutional, and by
others it is charged to be a too great
concession to the railroads, while still
others charge that it is no more than
what was implied by the House bill.
A Danger Still Ahead.
Again it is charged that the rail
road lobby here submitted to some
good amendments being adopted, as
cover under which to get some they
wanted, and that they intend to try
to drop the good ones in conference
committee: There seems to be some
reason for this charge. At any rate,
one thing is certain, and that is that
the bill will not be strengthened any
in conference, if it should go there
and may be weakened.
Hence it would seem the part of
wisdom for the friends of a good
railroad rate bill to get the House
if possible, to adopt the Senate bill
as it is, and not let it take the chances
of going into the mysteries of con,
ference committee.
Bailey and Tillman Attack the Pres
|
Senator Bailey and Senator Till
man tried to create scene In the
Senate last week by making an at
tack upon the President. They charg
ed that the President had been nego
tiating with them and the Democrats
trying to get them help to improve
and pass the rate bill, and that thu
President later accepted the Allison
amendment for a limited court re
view without consulting them.
The adoption of bill to give tn
United States Commerce Commission
power to regulate rates (similar t.
the Railroad Commission law il
North Carolina) is not a partisan
question. 1t is a broad economl
question that should appeal to al
statesmen and patriots. The Presi
dent did right to consult and try t
get the support of Senators OF al
parties. But Tor that reason he Ill
not have to consult Mr.. Bailey an
Mr.. Tillman before he could say t
Senator Allison, the leader OF hl
own party, that an amendment pre-
posed by him met his, the President
approval.
Senator Bailey also lost his tempe
because some newspaper men charge
. that he was into secret deal or III
, derstanding with the railroads. On
thing is certain, there were such II
mors about here, and the rallroa
people thought they understood Bal
: ey.
' The Enemies of the Canal.
The powerful railroad lobby whic
!. has been here, not only fighting a
+ honest rate bill, but also fighting th
building of any canal, has just score
another big point. They have SUI
ceeded in getting the committee
. make a report for the sea level cana
This lobby scored victories ft
j. many years in preventing any acuo
G in favor of a canal But when the
|. could net prevent action any longe
g then they scored a big victory
/ forcing the canal to be dug at Pan
ma-now have scored their last gre;
victory by forcing a sea-level cana
which they don't think can ever
built, and It so after very long TIN
/ and at Il very great cost.
d P-itchard, Blackburn and Holton
The fact that Judge Pritchard pu
! liely refused to shake hands WI
" Congressman Blackburn here fe
! DAYS since has attracted great de
Of attention here as well as III Nor
i Carolina.
1t nas been frequently mention'
!hat it is a part of Judge Pritchard
frank and manly nature to condescel
u 20 shake hands with any man VIII
i once he is thoroughly convinced tn
,s that man is hypoerite and guilty
double dealing and treacherous co
:, duet.
u 1t las also developed that. this
/ the second time that Judge Prltcha
has refused 10 shake hands WI
= Blackburn and the second time til
a. he has told him never to try to spe
To him agaln.
u It is difficult to understand how
L man with ary moral perceptions,