Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1906-03-30
0OlL|v[R IN
ABLE DEFENSE
Iowa Senator Made the Grea.
Speech Of Present Con-
gress To Date
FIRST WORDS FOR DEFENSE
Heard By Audience That Crowded
the Senate Chambsr--Efforts OF
Presiding Officer Could Not Pre-.
vent Expressions Of Approval.

Des Moines, March "A Washing
ton special to the Register and Lead
er says:
Senator Dolliver yesterday made
what was everywhere accepted as the
great speech of the present congress
to date. It was the opening gun for
the rate regulation forces in the bat.
tie which will be waged in the sen.
ate with little intermission until a
vote is secured. The Iowan inn
mediately followed Senator Foraker,
who on Wednesday delivered the first
important speech for the opposition
to the presidents policy, and it has
been. widely commented that while
,.Idrich, Elkins and other extreme
conservatives insist that they are
for regulation if they can only be
sure that 1t is safe and sane, they
put forward as spokesman of their
side the one man who has declared
himself against all government regu-
iation.
Senator Dolliyer never lacks for
an audience when 1t is known that
ne is to speak; but yesterday he had
the greatest audience that ever listen
ed 10 him in congress. The senate
galleries were crowded and hundreds
were turned away before the session
opened. Senator Foraker who was
indisposed after the exertion Of his
hong speech yesterday. was con-
al ncf hn m ohCpn.
tee among the senate's membership.
Scores Of members of the house came
over to listen to Dolliver, and the
senate floor was thronged by these.
Around all the walls of both chamber
and galleries were continuous lines OF
people, who listened throughout the
two hours that Mr.. Dolliver talked.
The galleries applauded from time to
time, despite the stern disapproyal OF
,.e presiding officer, and at the con-
:iusion Mr.. Dolliver received con-
gratulatisns for a quarter of an hour"
Washington, D. c.. March 2.-That
interest in the railroad rate question
continues undated was made mani
fest again yesterday By the large
audience which greeted Mr.. Dolliver
from the senate galleries when he
rose to speak on the DolliverHep-
burn bill. From the first the Iowa
senator has been the champion Of
the policy Of giving the interstate
commerce commission full authority
and the friends of the house bill
have expected him to take leading
part in pressing the consideration OF
the measure, notwithstanding 1t has
been placed in charge of another
senator. His was the first speech
made in support Of the bill
Mr.. Dolllver began his speech at
1890 p. M, Immediately after the
disposal OF the routine morning bust
ness. That order included the pas
sage OF bills authorizing the DISPOSE
ton OF surplus lands on the Yakima
and Colyille Indian reservations In
Washington.
MT. Deliver spoke without notes.
He began with a compliment to Mr.
sJullom, OF whom he spoke as the
father OF interstate commerce legis.
alton and to Mr.. Nelson, the author
If a bill presented to the last
congress.
The senator then outlined the bill,
pointing out wherein it amends the
existing interstate law, saying that,
after all, the changes were compare
lively few.
INSTEAD OF undermining the law
the bill fortifies it," he said, and he
declared that II the present law had
oeen treated with the reverence and
.anctity it deserved the American
people would have approached the
subject In frame of mind different
from that which now prevails.
He said that the railroad compan'
les we're unable to protect themselves
against the fragrant abuses" OF the
private car companies under section
OF the present law. He had not
favored the abolition OF these cars.
but he did believe that the car com
pan:es should be regulated by max
IN responsible the railroad compan'
les employing them.
Speaking Of the interstate com
alerce commission he discussed Judge
Irosscup's recommendation Tor q
specific court but he did not accept
the theory advanced for the reason
that he considered the present ma
.hinery sufficient for all purposes
He recognized the fact that 1t had
become fashionable to speak slight
ingiy OF the interstate commission
and defended that body against sucf
attacks. He expressed the opinion
that Il the lawyers had dealt as
fairly with the commission as WITT
the courts the result would have
been better
Mr.. Deliver declared he did MOI
expect protracted vendetta between
the railroads and the community. be
iieying that when the law was en-
acted It would be observed by car
rier and shipper alike. He predicted
that within five years there would DC
boards OF arbitration in every traf
fic center of the country SO that ap
meals to the commission would be
the rule rather than the exception.
He recognized the fact that tht
question OF appeal to the courts IRON
the orders of the commission was
the battle-ground and he declared
that as the bill stands 1t leaves the
door to the court open for the> pro
lection Of all constitutional rights
ne temporarily left that point anc
took up the rebate question, SAYING
that he did not agree with either Mr.
Foraker ar Mr.. Bacon that the secre
practices have been abandoned. Ht
did not believe the Elkins bill ade
quate for protection against these
practices.
..The difficulty about rebates IS no