Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-04-05
Ie Also Says He Would Not Object to
Government Ownership,
DEFICIENCY BILL is CONSIDERED
Two Delegates Added to PaD-American
Congress at Rio Janei-o.
DANIEL MAKES A PLEA FOR SOUTH
Complaint that This section and
Porto Rico is Not RecORniSed
Sufficiently in Distribution
of HOnOrs.

WASHINGTON, April Ain the senate
today Mr.. Newlands discussed the rail-
road rate bill and Mr. Daniel the question
OF the lack of Representations by the south
eru states in the public service. Mr.. New
lands advocated amendments to tho rate
bill providing FOR the national incorpora-
tion Of railroads and announced himself as
favorable TO the governmental ownership
of those utilities. Mr.. Daniels speech was
based on a provision in the urgent de-
ficiency appropriation bill for the repre-
sentation of the United States at the nexs
Pan-American congress to be held in Rio
Janoiro next July. lie said that the plans
of the State department did not contem-
plate representation of the south or the
far west and then entered upon general
consideration of southern participation in
public affairs, contending that political diff
ferences should not be permitted to pre-
vent such participation on a broader scale
The deficiency bill was amended so as to
provide for more delegates and as amended
was passed.
The bill carries an appropriation of $4,000
for the American delegates to the Pan
American congress at Rio Janeiro.
Senator Daniel, commenting on the fact
from Porto Rico and none from the south.
described the Porto Rican as "a sort of sub
American, brevet American, an American
on the half-shell" and wondered IL the
gentleman from Porto Rico could define tho
relations between that island and the I'm
tied States. The bill was amended to
provide two more commissioners and to
carry an appropriation of $4,000 and In
this form 1t passed.
The railroad rate bill being taken up. Mr..
Newlands addressed the senate.
NewIands Would Limit Profits.
Mr.. Newlands contended that the bill
should fix a maximum percentage of profit
to be allowed to the roads and to this end
he would have the valuation of all railroad
property carefully ascertained.
In addition he would have a national in
corporation act which would be the most
effective safeguard against overcapitalza-
ton. All these regulations would work
automatically in the direction of a reduc-
Ton OF rates.
He argued that the great majority of in
vestors prefer a steady income of from 4
to per cent to speculative enterprises. ami
drew the conclusion that the determination
of profit would not have the effect of re-
stricting railroad extension. This plan
would have the effect of taking the rail-
roads out of politics, most desirable de-
sideratum. in Mr.. Newlands' opinion.
| From national capitalization to national
ownership was but a short step for the
| Nevada senator and nc announced that
he was in no respect averse to that policy.
| He could see no financial obstacle in the
way of the acquisition of existing roads,
but If there should be opposition to this
course he would have the government
enter upon the construction Of a railway
system of its own and he suggested an
experimental line from Norfolk or Charles
| ton to Los Angeles or San Diego Such a
line 5000 miles in length could be built, he
said, for $1OO,OOO,OOO cost not exceeding an
average of $4,000 per mile, which prevails
| on existing lines.
without completing his speech Mr. New
| lands suspended at p. m. and the senate
| Immediately adjourned.