Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-02
RAILROAD BILL
HOTLY DEBATED
OPPOSED BY Mr.. SlBLEY OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Representatives Knapp Of New York
and ShackIeford Of Missouri
Speak In Defense of
the Measure
BY Associated Press.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-The dis.
cussion of the railroad rate bill was
taken up and prosecuted with vigoi
throughout the day. SO many speak
ers have come to the front on this
measure that the house agreed to meet
at II o'clock hereafter until the de-
bate is ended. The feature of the de-
bate was the lengthy speech of Mr.
Sibley of Pennsylvania, who arraigned
the legislation with arguments OIL
varied character, all of which tended
to give his reasons for being unalter-
ably opposed to the bill.
When he charged that the legisla-
tion was Socialistic in its nature ana
was O step toward government owner
ship and the dream of Bryan and
Hearst, Mr.. James of Kentucky asked
what the reason was for the right
about-face of the Republican party in
the direction sof the Bryan leadership.
IL will gracefully place the RESPONSE
bility on my colleagues of broader
shoulders" retorted Mr.. Stbley. MI.
Sibley said he would advocate larger
salaries for the members of the inter-
state commerce commission and would
content himself with voting against
the bill.
Mr.. Knapp of New York spoke for
the measure and Mr.. Shackleford OF
-
ing the present bill A speech by Mr..
Hefiin of Alabama also favoring the
bill concluded the days debate.
The resolution of Mr.. Burton of Ohio
looking to the preservation of Niagara
Falls was agreed to without discus
sion.
Before proceeding to the discussion
of the rate bill the house agreed to the
resolution of Mr.. Hepburn to meet at
II n'rIOrIx each 6aV during the QcDa IL
OH his bill.
Mr.. Knapp of New York opened the
discussion, speaking for the bill.
Support to the bill was pledged by
Mr.. Shackleford of Missouri. How
ever Mr.. Shackleford will at the
proper time move to include in the
bill control of express companies and
jurisdiction to regulate the long ana
short haul.
Contending that the commission
sought authority over the long and
short haul problem, Mr.. Shackleford
threw in as a rarenthesis:
II want to say this about the COM
mission: 1t has rendered five deci-
sions for the people for every one
against the railroads, and when it gets
increased power, am fearful what the
result will be-
Sibley Opposes Bill
When Mr.. Shackleford concluded. the
floor was yielded to Mr.. Siloley of.Penn-
sylvania who, taking a positive posi-
tion against the bill, declared that
raraphrasing Horace Greeley, he would
not say that all men are Socialists and
anarchists who support it, none the
less 1t can be truthfully said that
every Socialist and anarchist indorses
this measure"
Characterizing the new policy. being
inaugurated as political rate making
and business by lawsuit Mr.. Sibley
said it had received the high official
Endorsement of Bryan as a distinct ad-
vance toward government ownership.
"Why should not the government also
fix the price of bread?" he asked In
Washington, he said, we are not with
out striking example of a government
engaged i'll manufacturing and bust-
ness.
In the government printing office,
he continued, the prices average from
two to three times higher than the
same work done by individuals, firms
or corporations. At our navy yards
the cost of building vessels had been
greatly increased, he said, and the
product was of greatly inferior char
acter, compared with that of contract
work.
TT would seem," said Mr.. Sibley 1--WE
have at present in the Panama canal
an object lesson of sufficient magni-
tude to afford cause for deliberation." i"
Cleaned from conversation with mem
bers, he asserted, it was the settled
belief that the canal must be built
by private contract.
Reverting to the rate question he
granted there We're abuses to be cor
rected, but asked how men could be
held to stricter accountability than un-
der the Elkns law against rebates.
IF there is Il dereliction at pres
ent," he asked, chow will this meas
ure prevent or cure future evasion Of
duty?''
Could Cure Rebate Evil
At this point MIR. Sibley dictated
a measure which he suggested could in
ten lines cure the rebate evil. He
would strike out all after the enacting
clause in the Hepburn bill and insert:
THAT any corporation which shall
give secret rate or rebate to any in
dividual, firm or corpora tion rendering
TO him or them a service on different
terms or conditions than rendered to
any other shipper under similar con-
ditions, constitutes a crime; and that
any official or employe who has guilty