Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1906-07-06

NOOSeNeltlan stamp, although the Dem
ocrats all along have pointed out that
the president was merely camping
along the trail blazed by their party
platforms. Nevertheless the presidents
party, being in the majority at both
ends of the capitol, has either taken
the credit or been forced to assume re
sponsibility for what was done, even
when aided by Democratic votes.
Railroad Rate Regulation.
The keynote was struck unmistaka-
bly, in the message which congress re-
ceive1 at the opening of the session
namely. the insistence on federal fix
ing of interstate railroad rates as well
as the prevention of rebates or any
kind of special favors. Rate bills of
various kinds and descriptions were
promptly introduced in both senate
and house; but, the house majority be-
ing under better discipline. the bill
was more promptly formulated there,
which was approved at the White
House 1t was fathered by Represent
ative Hepburn of Iowa as chairman of
the committee on interstate commerce..
1t was so modified in the committee as
to come before the house without Dem.
ocratic opposition. and after few
days of perfunctory discussion it was
passed on Feb. by the almost unani-
nous vote of 346 to Z. the seven oppo-
nents all being Republicans. As passed
1t gave the interstate commerce com
mission full power to regulate inter
state freight tariffs without express
recognition of the rights of appeal III
the court. This. however. was only the
foundation of the law that was to 81
to the statute book
In the senate the Hepburn bill was
destined to run the gauntlet of fierce
opposition from a conservative faction
of the Republicans led by Aldrich and
Foraker and become the football of
personal and party chickering's over a
period of three months. The main point
of the dispute was the question of a
broad or narrow court review pro
vision, and at one time, after the presi-
dents political and personal enemy,
Tillman, had been placed in charge Of
the measure there was tacit coalition
between the president and the minority
Later, however, the president accepted
the compromise Allison amendment
upon which his party associates had
agreed, vesting jurisdiction in the cir
cult courts to enjoin. set aside, annul
or suspend any order of the commits
sion on appeal of the carrier concerned.
1t was at this time that the Democratic
leaders charged the president with bad
faith on the strengh of representations
said TO have been made through ex
Senator Chandler. Finally the bill,
with siXty-seven amendments, passed
the senate May Is by vote of II to 3.
Still further changes were made in
conference thereafter. The senate con-
ferees held out against the house pro-
posal to drop the clause placing pipe
lines under federal control. AS this
! was finally agreed to by senate and
house, the pipe lines are to be regard
ed as common carriers, but are not
prohibited from carrying their own
products. Railroad and railway mail
employees are exempted from the anti
p"SS hN PiCSlQChl hi6h-
ID the bill June %.
Investigations and Inspections.
In both branches bills were intro
duced early authorizing investigations
Of the railroad monopolies, and a com
bination of these known as the Tillman-
Gillespie-C Campbell measure passed the
house Jan. % and. though signed by
the president, was sharply criticised by
him for not carrying funds and due au-
thority. The money was appropriated
later and under this authority the In
terstate commerce commission has al
| ready unearthed a vast amount of
graft and crookedness IN railroad and
oil Industries.
The pure food bill, which passed the
senate Feb. 81. SO to 4, was also In
line with this federalizing tendency.
1t did not pass the house until June %,
240 to II, and then with a number of
amendments which endangered its final
passage. In its final shape the pro-
vision affecting state rights or state
and municipal control over the original
package was cut out. AS to blended