The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1906-07-04
SUMMARY or The
WORK IN CONGRESS
Session Just Closed Has Been
One of Extraordinary
Interest.
EXTENSION OF FEDERAL POWERS
Railway Rate Bill One Of the
Most Important Before
the Congress.
Meat Inspection Amendment to the
Agricultural Appropriation Bill
New Star Added to
the Flag.
EXTENSION OF FEDERAL POWERS
tBy Edwin s. Potter.1

tBy Edwin s. Potter.1
Probably more new and extraordi-
nary questions We're under consider
alton by the congress which began its
legislative life Dec. 4 last, than by
any previous session of our national
hwmaking body. Not counting the
many acts favorably reported to or
passed by either branch and left in a
state of suspended animation, their
fate to be determined by the next ses-
sion, the amount and character of new
laws enacted makes the Fifty-Ninth
congress the milestone of new era in
the history OF American institutions.
The day of the nation has come;
state and local powers are on the wane
or in small favor Commercial and in
dustrial concentration having brought
about new opportunities for abuse of
privilege and the "muck rakers'' hay
ing walked up the public mind to the
various existing evils, President Roose-
welt found in this congress workable
soil for the growth of federal powers
in dealing with those evils. The i'm
press of the presidents mind was
given to all the more important rene
dies adopted. Neither friend nor foe
In the political arena will question the
statement flat the work of the session
bears the Rooseveltian stamp, although
the Democrats all along have pointed
out that the president was merely
camping along the trail blazed by their
party platforms. Nevertheless the
presidents party, being in the majority
at both ends of the capitol, has either
taken the credit or been forced to as
sume responsibility for what was done,
even when aided by Democratic votes.
Railroad Rate Regulation.
The keynote was struck unmistak-
ably in the message which congress re-
ce!ved at the opening of the session.
namely the fnsstence on federal fixing
of interstate railroad rates as we'll as
the prevention of rebates, or any kind
of special favors. Rate bills of vari-
GUS kinds and descriptions were
promptly introduced in both senate and
house but, the house majority being
under better discipline, the bill was
more promptly formulated there which
was approved at the White House. It
was fathered by Representative Hep
burn, as chairman of the committee on
interstate commerce. It was so modi-
fed in the committee as to come before
the house without Democratic opposi-
ton and after few days of perfume
tory discussion, it was passed on Feb.
by the almost UNANIMOUS vote of
346 to Z, the seven opponents all be-
ing Republicans. AS passed it gave
the interstate commerce commission
full power to regulate interstate freight
tariffs without express recognition of
the rights of appeal in the courts This
however, was only the foundation of
the law that was to go to the statute
book
In the senate the Hepburn bill was
d. stined to run the gauntlet of fierce
opposition from conservative faction
Of the Republicans, led by Aldrich and
Foraker, and become the football of
personal and party chickering's over I.
period of three months. The main
point of the dispute was the question
of a broad or narrow court review pro.
vision, and at one time after the Dresi-
dents political and personal enemy,
Tillman, had been placed in charge of
the measure there was tacit coalition
between the president and the minor
ity. Later however, the president ac-
cepted the compromise Allison amend,
ment upon which his party associates
had agreed, vesting Jurisdiction in the
circuit courts to enjoin, set aside, an
null or suspend any order of the Commits
sion on appeal of the carrier concerned.
1t was at this time that the Democratic
leaders charged the president with bad
faith on the strength of representations
said to have been made through ex-
Senator Chandler. Finally the bill
with sixty seven amendments passed
the senate May IS by vote of II to
g. Still further changes were made
in conference thereafter.
The senate conferrees held out stub
,bornly against the house proposal to
drop the clause placing pipe lines under
federal control. AS this was finally
agreed to by senate and house, the pipe
lines are to be regarded as common
carriers, but are not prohibited from
carrying their own products Railroad
and railway mail employees are ex-
empted from the anti-pass amendment,
Investigations and Inspections.
In both branches bills were intro
duced early, authorizing investigations
of the railroad monopolies and COM
bination Of these known as the Till
man-G illespie- Campbell measure was
passed by the house Jan. % and
though signed by the president, was
sharply criticised by him for not carry
Ing funds and due authority. The