The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-16
By any interlocutory

incrcc Commission BY any interlocutory
order.
Il p'rne senate must determine by it's
vote what slnll he iB attitude upon
tho questions Of court review and inter-
locntory suspcnslofls.s
s"rlie whole question Mt 3sspe ns 10 CIV
Ing reIefstto tho producing Interests OF
tho court revolvps aroniid tits feature
or tic bl. NJ my decision of the ST.
trctnc Court shall declare that Congress
IL powcrlcss to grant speedy relief
through n commission II needs no prophet
Stoltcll that an oitburst Of surprise and
Indignation Will sweep oyer tho country"
A Menace to Liberty.
Summing M the situation he said: ut
~ Impossible to deny that this great ne
cunriation OF wealth in the hands of
few ! Is such mennce{ TO liberty that tho
iione,'t patriot stands appalled, by the
outlook
After s.inricntlng MT length upon what
hn declared to bc the existing system
of juggling with railroad properties for
the robbery or the masses Mr.. Till
man said.
"There IS a dangerous provision In this
bill. which, in my Judgment ought to be
stricken out, and that Is in Section Fiji
teen. where the Interstate Commerce
Commission is told TO determine and
bptsGIIDs Stidlt WIZ W.
tho best and reasonable and fairly re-
{niinerative rate, etc.
The last words nre too elastic and ans
sbiguouB and can bo construed to mean
too much that It would be harmful and
dangerous for Congress to enact into n
law. Fairly renumerltive rate on what2
the actual value or the fictitious valuc
of the properties?" Mr.. rilman declared
there can be no Justice in compelling tho
people rs a whole to pay dividends on
watered stock primarily to increase the
fortunes OF men already too rich
Danger to the Producers.
"What ever else Congress does or fails
to do he added, "the producers of the
county sould be relieved from such danger
OF being compelled to make good the
values OF ovcr-capitahzed railroads as
turks In the innocent looking plausi-
BILE provision about fairly remunerative
rates.,
Mr.. Tillman recommend that amend
ments to the bill be adopted which
would give relief to "the anomalous and
outrageous conditions of affairs disclosed
as existing in West Virginia"
Continuing, he said: Vested with Gt,
rights of eminent domain to construct
their lines and granted liberal franchises
and charters. the railroads, designed to
be public carriers for the benefit Of the
whole people. in the last few years have
become rapidly transformed into the veri-
lest band of robbers, highwaymcn, who
do not thrust their pistols in the faces
OF their victims and demand money or
their lives. but who levy tribute in freight
rates. which are as high as the traffic
will bear deny access to market moiisp-
olize with brazen efrrontcry one of tile
prime necessarics of life--coal--and in
every way slow their absolute contempt
for the people and this peoples rights.
"A Word of Caution.
Mr.. Tillman concluded with a word Of
caution to the friends OF the proposed
Legislation. He said: Our full exnecta-
I tons may not be realized at the pres
ient session OF Congress. The opponents
of effective legislation are alert have
had large experience, and are thoroughly
organized. $50
..-rhe demand of the people for relief
from the expressions and the wrongs
they now endure may be thwarted by
the great influence of the railroad cor
por:ltions This influence has hitherto
been paramount and its representatives
in the two houses may feel II rs saie
TO refuse to redress the grievances and
to continue the policy of non-interfer-
ence. They may ignore popular clamor
End either pass no bill at all. or enact
one that will prove wholly inadeauae.
They may palter with us in double
sense-keep the word OF promise TO the
ear and break 1t to the hope. Such ac-
tor on their part viii. In my Judgment.
be VERY llnwlse, and Will only dam up
the water The issue will be. made the
paramount one in the next election,
and those who ARE responsible for delay.
or Inadequate legislation, will find that
when Mt last the fiood-gates of popular
wrath and Indignation are hoisted there
will be some fine grinding done.