The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-02-02

of the railroad rate bill continued in
the House today Incident to it, two
speeches, the efforts of Mr. Campbell
(Kan.) and Martin IS. d. took a wild
er range and swept the horizon of
"trust evils" generally.
Mr.. Bartlett (Ga.), a minority men,
ber Of the committee reporting the
bill, made a two hours speech in
which he discussed the legal and con-
stitutional questions involved, and adj
vocated the passage of the bill as a
proper remedy for an intolerable con-
dition. The first speech in opposition
to the bill, which concluded the days
discussion, was made by Mr. Perkins
On. ". He based his opinion to gov
ernment control of business enterprise.
Red tape and fixed conditions. he said,
were an inseparable part of govern
ment action on any matter.
A bill was passed granting federal
charter to the Carnegie foundation tor
the advancement Oh teaching. The
fund consists of S10,000,000, the income
of which is to furnish a pension to
retired educators.
With the avOwed intention of reach
ing the Standard Oil Company, Mr.
Campbell (Kan.) offered an amend
ment, which he will press later, author
izing the placing of all private car and
transportation facilities under the
res. llaton of the Interstate commerce
commission. He quoted from the tes-
timony of railroad officials showing
that the beef packers practically make
their own rates; the Standard Oil Com
pany had dictated in the same manner;
poultry, fruit and dairy produce were
subject to the same control.
Mr.. Bartlett said the railroads had
access to the constitution to escape
regulation by the states, and were now
appealing to the same document to es-
cape federal control He limited the
credit due the President, saying,
"While it is true the President in two
messages has urged legislation of this
character, he is not entitled to the
credit of having originated the propos
ed legislation
Citing an instance of where a repre-
sentative of corporation snapped his
fingers at the courts in New York re-
Gently, Mr.. Bartlett asserted thar this
general disregard of the laws must be
stopped.
The argument that regulation of
rates would work harIships TO the
railroad employees, he believed was not
based on good foundation. On this
point he declared the railroads had
within the past six years increased
freight rates So per cent, and ye1 had
not raised the wages of employees.
Touching on his principles regarding
the right of the states, Mr. Bartlett
said:
'I believe in the rights of the states
as much as anyone; | would not de-
stroy one particle of the power they
have, but I insist as Democrat, devot-
ed to the constitution. and careful to
uphold and protect from infringement
by the general government any right
of the states. that the powe- delegat-
ed in the constitution to the United
States Congress tc regulate interstate
commerce. 1t Is true that most or the
railroads engaged in interstate CON-
merce are creatures of the state leSis-
latures, but whenever railroad elects
to enter into the carriage of Interstate
freight, by participating IN through
rates. and charges, and agreeing In
consideration thereof to transport
freight from other states over its own
line. it becomes a party to an arrange
ment for a continuous carriage or ship
ment from one state TO another, and is
subject to the provisions of the con-
stitution, and can be reached by Con-
gress.
Mr.. Bartlett also endorsed tho provi-
sions of the bill striking at the private
car and terminal charge evil.
He concluded:
"The suggestions that have been
made In the press, and in various COM
munications and petitions which |,
among others, have received, that the
granting Of the power to the inter-
state commerce commission to fix a
rate when complained Of as unjust and
unreasonable, will injure the employees