Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-01-23
59TH CONGRESS,
Senate Talks Over Regu
Iating Railroad Rates.
House Bothered by 8-Aoui
Clause in Canal Item.
Republicans Favor and Democrats Oppose
Joint Statehood Bill.

Washington. Jan. 22.-The question of
regulating railroad rates occupied
practically all of the time of the Sem
ate today Notwithstanding no bill with
that end in view has been reported
from the interstate commerce commit
tee. The discussion Of the subject was
in connection with Mr.. Clay's speech.
/ Messrs. Aldrich, Foraker, Bailey and
NeWiands being the principal rartici-
pants in addition to Mr.. Clay himself.
MIR. Clay advocated the passage OF a
| bill which would give the Interstate
| commerce commission power II regal
| late rates when complained OF and said
| that II there was no legislation along
| the line the country might count upon
| an agitation Of the question of govern
ment ownership. In that connection he
referred to the large vote given Mr..
! Hearst i'll the late New York municipal
election as an indication of the popular
: ity OF municipal ownership of the pub
| lie utilities.
! MIR. Aldrich indicated a purpose to
oppose such legislation as that out
| lined ard declared that Mr Hearst
was tho author Of The proposition to
, confer the rate-nlallinS power on the
| toHi!iiiSSlOil. ne ttlSo look OCCASION 10
declare that the signs of tie times
| point to the naming Of either Mr..
Hearst CT Mr.. Bryan as the next Dem
ocratic Presidential candidate but
| When pressed to indicate the probable
tiles in the Republican party declined
to make a prediction and also avoided
| answering a query of Mr.. Bailey as to
whether the President would be a can
didatc fer third term.
Platt and DepeW were i'm their seats
| when the Senate convened. the first ap-
pcaranca of either for some time Both
were given warm welcomes and were
| heartily congratulated upon their appar-
ent good health.
At the conclusion of the morning busi-
ness Clay addressed the Senate on his
resolution relating to the governmental
power to fix minimum future charges by
| railroads.
| At > o'clock the merchant marine bill
was laid before the Senate and Gallinger
asked the Senate to agree to vote on the
| bill on Feb. -, but Daniel objected on
the ground that the measure had not been
sufficiently considered by the Senate. He
said that he had no purpose to prevent Il
vote on the bill.
Gallinger then suggested the fifth of
March for Il vote, but Mallory objected
on the ground that the bill was subject
to point Of order, and GalIinger said
that in view Of the objections he would
ask the Serate to proceed without mate
rial interruption with the consideration
| of the bill
Clay continued his speech on the rail-
road rate resolution. He said there seem
ed to be an idea that in all intances the
interstate commerce commission would
decide against the railroads. but he con-
tended that there was no justification for
such contention. 1t was to be presumed
he said, that the commission would do
justice to all parties far more impartially
than would either the carrier or the ship
per. He did not contend that Congress
had power to delegate authority TO orig
mate laws, but it had power to fix u basis
: and then authorize body of it's creation
to develop the details.
2I When Clay concluded, Aldrich said:
II was greatly interested in the prayer
Of the senator that we on this side should
| save the Democratic party from Mr.
IIearsts doctrines. whereas the sugges-
tions Of the senator are in support of Il
bill introduced by Mr.. Hearst four years
ago"
Clay said that Aldrich had misintcrnret-
ed Mr.. Hearsts bill and Bailey inter
runted with the suggestion that Clay's
I remarks had been 'alOng the lines laid
! down by the Republican President I" Clay
added that the Republican President had
i adopted a plank of the Dem cratic plat
form.
Aldrich contended that Mr. Hearst could
I not he robbed of the credit for originating
this great ''panacea for the public ills
docs the senator mean to say that the
l Republican President got his scheme from
Mr. Hearst?" Bacon asked.
Aldrich returned to the discussion Of
Hearst. saying that in his position he 50
far overshadows others that it was gener-
ally recognized that he or Mr. Bryan
must be the leader of his party in the
! next campaign.
i Now that the senator has been good
as to tell us who will be the Democratic
l. nominee. will he add the information as
j to who will be the Republican nomtnce?"
+ Bailey asked amid n burst OF laughter
{ and the Rhode Island senator replied that
+ tnere was nc cOnCeflSCS OF opinion on that
point.
II He did not however. reply to n later
: question from Bailey concerning tho
newspaper report that the President was
to be a candidate for a third term in op-
|. position to the money power
Aldrich attacked another feature of
Clay's speech. Referring to the fact that
the Georgia senator had invcighed against
the consolidation of railroads he said that
the plan proposed by him would result in
the monster combination which would re-
suit in the destruction OF the last vestiga
of competition. He denounced this as an
Infamous project and charged the
Democratic party with the desire Of fas-
tenirg it upon the country.
The Senate then. at 457 p. NJ, went into
executive session and at SOS P. NJ ad-
: iourned
IN THE HOUSE.