Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-05-26
AMENDMENT IS APPROVED.
Senator Elkins' Course on Rate Bill
Meets With Favor.
FRAMED THE PENALTY CLAUSE
Growing Feeling That His Attitude
May Have Bearing on Next
President tai Campaign.
Special Correspondence to The World

Special Correspondence to The World
Washington, d. c.. May 23.-Each
passing day brings new evidence
VI the general approval of the
amendment which Senator Elkins has
secured to the Hepburn bill. There
are many who assert that it is the
most valuable feature Of the whole
hill. And yet. if Senator Elkins had
heeded the counsel of his enemies
and of many Of his friends, those
amendments would not have been
added to the bill. He was convinced
In his own mind of several things.
In the first place he believed that the
evils and abuses his amendments un-
dertook to correct are among the most
serious in the railroad situation. In
the second place he recognized that If
Inc present opportunity was let pass
t would be a long time before he
tould be able to secure the addition
these amendments as an independ-
reasure, Knowing these things,
B had the courage TO do what he
| shoaght was best despite public clam
81, and the result INDICATED his
Icourse with all thinking people. This
is ane of the strongest elements in the
kruakeup of this remark ably strong
n Whether in his private business
III the business of the senate, he
@conditions squarely in the face,
"a inventory of the situation,
S%ith his mind made up as to the
@eurse 10 pursue. pursues it to a
essfui elimination. He has moth
IN the terrorist about him but is
i asely practical. and that is what
4ffs today.
me OF his friends in discussing his
base of the makeup of Senator
clkins' character said in thar connec.
ion
"The eonrse pursuded 10y Senator
,Ihlns in framing the penalty clause
[ Me EIkins law for the suppression
xebates is q keynote of his charac-
II. Theoretically he believes that
fbaters ought to be punished by
(lprisonmert, and he. would prefer
IAte punishment. But he looked owe
4record of the Department of JUS
i. from 1887 to 1908 and found that
all that time there had been but
astance OF imprisonment of a
Ator giving rebates. and this con
Ton vas sot a poor freight agent
no hAu A family to make a living
\ Realizing that it was impossible
beach, under the law on the statute
ldks the man higher up and except
fhis one lone case to reach any one,
uator Elkins set about to devise a
nalty that would be applied, and he
4 nd it in a fine that would be SO
Ny as to make rebating an unpro-
BILE proposition. He was criticised
many for eliminating the imprison-
10 feature, but he took the ground
! g heavy fine penalty rigidly en-.
Ced would do far more to break M
lsting than an Imprisonment PEN
not applied. Aud events since
! have justified the wisdo OF his
zion. There have been man con-
ions. and a great many Indictments
still pending. So e~fieaciens has
the law as enforced that the in
ri ate commission saws
n the rebate evil has about been
III some. aud the Hepburn bill itself
Is that evil NJ having been amply
ided for By the Elkins law. If
b Of our public men would look at
litions as they rsally are instead
thsy think they ought to be our
would be more effective and
Unsatisfactory. 1t took courage on
art of Senator Elkins to do what
Va then. He realized that at the
Ae was going rather counter to
II d sentiment, but he was firm in
onviction that the future would
cate his course. aud it has. as it
Iways done. Our people are to
Engratulated in having to repre-
sem in the United States senate
d who looks at things as they are
hen sets about to meet These con.
as. Few states have such sena-
IRE is a growing feeling that the
3 of Senator Elkins on rate regu-
may have an important bearing
3 next presidential campaign. 1t
% said that he is in no sense a
hate for the nomination, but
is a strong belief that by the
err of 1908 his course on the ques-
h i'll so commend him to tho rank
e OF his party as TO make him