Omaha daily bee., 1906-02-13


very. limited right. A rate may not be
absolutely confscatory, and yet may be in
the highest degree unjust and unreason-
able, and, indeed, well nigh ruinous. l am
not sure that It would be possible to de-
prive a citizen by legislation of the right
to appeal TO the courts as to the justice
and reasonableness of a given rate, which
is purely judicial question. But no at
TEMPT ought to be made: either directly or
destroy. this privilege. or, rather. this
from which, l hope, great good may come,
but one which In its operation will affect
the property and interest of millions of
our fellow citizens. II should be guarded
with scrupulous care, but above all Ii
should provide that no man should be de-
prived OF his opportunity to go to the
courts in defense of his rights IL he thinks
these rights are invaded.
Mr.. Lodge spoke for two hours He was
congratulated by many of his colleagues.
When he concluded Mr. Perkins asked Mr..
Lodge to define his attitude toward the
pooling systems
The Massachusetts, senator replied by ex-
pressing the opinion that the operation of
the economic forces would compel a proper
regulation OF pooling problems.
Tuman Calls MP Resolution.
Mr.. Tillman then called up his resolution
regarding railroad discrimination with a
view to asking immediate consideration of
it. Before doing he explained the reso-
luton by saying that It was very com
prehensive and covered a wide field He
said that the language OF the resolution
was largely the same that Of the res
olution presented in the house a few days
since by Mr.. Gillespie.
Giving his reasons for asking for the in
quiry, he said that he was convinced that
evils existed In connection with the rail-
road system of the country. He said that
he had no desire to do injustice to the
railroads and he believed they should have
a fair return on the money invested. I'VE
| find, however. a system Of combination in
stead of the old system of competition, re-
sulting in trusts which are grinding the
| people to death" He believed there should
be a remedy, but added that the present
| proceeding in congress Is a stupendous
! farce. Every paper you read" he said,
| brings assurance that the president has
won his fight and yet when you examine
| further you find that the presidents two
| principal advisers are Elihu Root, who has
been the closest adviser of the railway
| magnates of New York, who are at the
root of the devilment, and Mr. Knox, the
| junior senator from Pennsylvania, who
has been for I don't know how many
railroad and its closest friend and coun-
sellor.
when you lock farther you find the
PENNSYLVANIA railroad at the head of the
| list Of the oppressors of the people"
! Hence he contended that the people were
| being ''bamboozled" by the talk of pro-
| tecting the masses against the classes. He
confessed that with such cooks he was
inclined TO sniff at the dish that is set
| before u.s.
| There was he declared much evidence
that those charged with the execution Of
the laws were not sincere. because. he
said they had long been aware Of the eva
sion Of these laws.
| Denial from MIR. Knox.
Mr.. Knox was not in the senate cham
Der when reference was made to him. but
he came In before the South Carolina SEN
ator had proceeded far. He Immediately
! interrupted Mr.. Tfllman to say to him
that he had been entirely mistaken in say
ing he had been an attorney for the Penn
! sylvania railroad. 81 never sustained that
relationship either permanently or tenn
porarily. directly or indirectly, at any time
during my career he said. He added that
/ he would not consider such connection at
| all improper.
Mr. Tillman expressed satisfaction over
the denial. saying to Mr.. Knox that he
would respect him more for the balance of
| his life.
Continuing the South Carolina senator
| said that the three principal lines of road
south of the Potomac were in a merger
which was controlled by the Pennsylvania
and the New York Central.
| He then spoke of the conditions in West
| Virginia and said that. Notwithstanding
Governor Dawson's predecessor had called
attention to the violation of law In that
state, the attorney general had done moth
! ing about 1t. The people were, however,
coming around. Even the poor. besotted
| Pennsylvania legislature, owned body and
soul by the Pennsylvania and the Reading
had shown signs of life by adopting reso-
luton as to the/control of the coal output
by the railroads, as IL everybody did not
know that the anthracite output Is and has
been for years controlled both as to guam
tity and price. He declared the Pennsyl-
vania road to be the head devil in the
whole policy of monopoly" and referring tc
the Baltimore & Ohio's policy in West Vir-
ginia he said that road had practically told
| the public that II might be damned" He
said that very strenuous efforts had beer
brought TO bear on the president to grant
| the railroads the privilege or appeal to the
courts before the orders of the Interstate
! Commerce commission go into effect. He
| had even heard that threats were being
made that the president must yield IF he
stands firm and does not yield, then will
have more confidence" he added.
He declared that the Hepburn bill had q
loophoIe in It that a freight train might be
driven through, and added:
You'll never stop the devilment till you
put some millionaire in prison and put the
stripes on him."
He said that he had asked the Interstate
| Commerce commission to make the inquiry
called for by his resolution, because. for one
| reason the senate has not the time. and
because I'VE know better how not to do II
than anybody on Gods green earth"
Honor of Senate at Stake.
| Mr.. Tillman concluded:
| So we have a condition in this country
| today which should make every thoughtful
| man pause to see whether or not II is DOS
| sble that the members of the senate hav,
| the saving grace of patriotism and re
gard for their obligations of office, the OATH
they took, to take up all these questions re
!ating to the public welfare this railwa!
rate business, this railway discrimination
this railway monopoly business, this de.
| Etr1CtiOn of DriVata prODertV without dnf