Ladysmith news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1906-1907, 1906-07-07

w Washing COIl, II. W, July l. -EVoH oII
the last day of the session Senator La
Follette's presence was felt and his
persistent efforts to secure action regu-
/ lating the hours of train service were
finally rewarded by an agreement that
a vote should be taken on the bill Jan.
10. He prevented the bill from being
killed He held the senate to the point
that it must either displace the bill or
agree to bring it to a vote. The Gate
is not SO soon as he wished, but when
congress meets again no SO excuse for
delay as was made in the closing hours
of the session can be urged and the
senate will be obliged to meet squarely
the question and it's members will be
obliged to put themselves on record.
There can be little doubt that this just
measure, alike due to the railway en-
ployes and to the safety of the public
will become law
Senator La Toilette in this session
has certainly destroyed for all time the
precedent that a new member must be
silent, that he must wait until half his
term is out before he can have any ssart
in legislation or receive any recognition
from his colleagues.
He not only made a set speech with
out recognizing any period of probation.
but he went into the general discussion
of many important measures. He has
already impressed himself on the SEN
ate as no other senator has done in
many years. Here is the record in
brief:
Sworn in as senator Jan. 4, 1906. Out
of the senate for more than month be-
cause of sickness.
Exposed and stopped the sale and
leasing of coal and asphalt lands in the
Indian territory.
Led fight which prevented the making
of the records of the Dawes commission
final, and compelled the extension of
the tribal relations of the five civilized
tribes until there can be full investi-
cation of the Indian territory CRAFTS.
Delivered the most exhaustive speech
on the rate bill, demonstrating the
weakness of the Hepburn bill.
Made fight to strengthen the bill.
Lost on every amendment he offered,
but compelled the senate to take a
record vote on every important PROPOSE
ton. The important amendments he
offered were:
l. To restore imprisonment features
for violations or interstate commerce
law. Lodges modification adopted.
2. To strike out two-years limitation
on orders of the commission.
3. When different testimony is offered
in court to that given before the COM
mission to refer the new testimony back
to the commission for action, before the
court could proceed to determine the
cause.
4. To give the commission authority
to issue orders upon its own motion; to
fix maximum rate; to fix a dltferentla
and prescribe both a maximum and
minimum rate; to change the classical
ton; to determine what regulation or
practic in respect to transportation is
reasonable.
5. To forbid any federal judge who
owns stock or bonds of any common
carrier or who uses free pass, from
hearing or deciding any case brought
under the interstate commerce act.
6. Providing that upon trial of any
action to set aside any order of the com
mission copy of the evidence introduce
ed by the plaintiff shall, upon motion
of the commission, be transmitted to
the commission, the proceeding stayed
for fifteen days ana the commission
authorized to modify it's order in keep
ing with the new evidence and the
amended order to take the place OF the
original.
7. That the commission shall ascer-
tain the fair value of the property Of
every railroad used by it for the con-
venience of the public.
8. To compel railroads to adopt the
block system.
9. For the adoption of the railway
employers liability amendment for the
protection of railway employees.
introduced and forced the passage OF
a seperate bill defining the liability of
common carriers to employees because of
injury caused by the negligence Of a
fellow servant, the question of the de-
gree of negligence to be for the jury to
decide in every case.
Defeated in an effort to compel the
payment to allotted Indians of money
derived from the sale of timber off their
allotments.
introduced and forced the passage of
a resolution directing the interstate
commerce commission to investigate
the control which the elevator trust has
over the grain products of the country
and the connection of the railroads with
this trust.
Secured passage of bill giving to
- M AnL@r