Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-20

of those there. They seem TO be en-
gagged in hurting galley-west every
| measure proposed by the people l
believe that even that mausoleum OF
good resolutions can not now refuse to
pass the BILL
Then follows three columns OF ex-
tracts from the transcript of the COM
mittee bearing in which the ss-ex-
animation of Cummins is set forth
wherein Cummins was questioned as
to the effects of a distance tariff on the
interests of the Iowa farmer. Turnout
these questions Elkins repeats. Were
these questions hostile?" Then he
sums up his case as follows:
The EIkins Summary.
The rates on farm produce from your
state are reasonable and entirely salts
factory, and the rate on butter and
eggs is unreasonahly low. The farmers
of your state have nothing to complain
Of whatever. You appeared for manu-
factuers only, The aggregate earnings
of the roads are reasonable, and you
would be willing to afford them larger
returns than j. J. Hill thinks necessary.
You would let their present income
stand. You say that the ElkinS law Is
as strong as 1t is possible to make 1t
against rebates and special privileges
to individuals and to prevent discrim-
nations between localities. Under this
bin you say that any person aggreved
in any way can write to the interstate
commerce commission and 1T then be-
comes the duty of this COM
mission to Investigate the matter
and institute proceedings IL neces-
sary to correct the evil, all OF
which is done without expense to the
complainant. A postal card will set
the wheels in motion and the courts will
hear the case summarily. Yet, this law
was prepared in the committee which
you charge with "infamy." and 1t
bears the name of the man whom you
say Is the same as railroad lawyer.
1t was prepared and enacted without
the solicitation from any source, and
yet you refer to the senate which first
passed it as q. cemetery, mausoleum,
and threaten 10 assist in erecting head
stones to Its members. You admit Ii
was the decision OF the interstate COM
merce commission that ruined the
packing houses OF Iowa. and that i;
the railroads had been let alone that
industry would have prospered as it
was prosperous at the time the pro-
ceedings We're commenced, You admit
that the law against rebates and special
privileges would not be strengthened
by the proposed legislation and that
there would be the same temptation
on the part of the railroads to grant
rebates from rates established by the
commission as from rates established
by themselves.
About tho Headstones.
| have no interest in your campaign
for third term, but l am free to ex-
press the opinion that there are few
states where man could perpetuate
himself in office by maligning one
branch of the general government. The
United States senate is expected to be
deliberative body and when the gov
ernor of a great state impugns the mo-
tives of members of that body except
the one in whose town he speaks and
applies to them the opprobious terms
cemetery" and "mausoleum." and
avows his intention to erect headstones
to it's members, it is time for some
one to ask him to be more explicit.
1t would be interesting to know at
whose heads you intend to erect stones.
A few deviations from the facts.
You say the room was filled to over
flowing. The committee agrees that
there was less than twenty visitors
present, and many of these newspaper
men. You say you We're cross examin-
ed for six hours. You had come to in
struct the committee. and the commit
tee was in session as the record shows,
only five hours and a half, allowing the
usual hour for recess. Your statement
covers eleven and a half solid pages
before questions We're asked you, be-
sides three other witnesses testified, all
during the five and one-half hours.
You say what little I know about the
matter 1 could tell, and what l did not
know there was not power enough in
heaven or in that place down there to
extort from me-" Both these PROPOSE
tons are admitted You say the exam
ination was hostile and made for the
purpose of sending you home in dis
gust and humiliation. l defy you to
quote hostile question from the rec
ord. You say that a railroad law
yer sat on my right side so close that
it seemed our arms were interviewed
in loving association and embrace. Sen
ator Cullom sat at my right, as he and
1 and several other members of the
committee remember.
No railroad representative sat where
could see him. You say this railroad
attorney passed score of questions
to me to be put to you. No railroad
attorney suggested the questions / put
to you. You say your indignation
over came your discretion, and you then
declare that so long as God gave you
voice and strength you would denounce
the infamy from one border of our
country to the other. On the contrary
YOU thanked the committee for the
patient and courteous way in which
they had listened to you.
Respectfully yours,
ISignedl STEPHEN B. ELKINS.
Chairman Committee on Interstate
Commerce.
PLAYED ELkINS UP.
Cedar Rapids People Smile at the Re-