The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-03
No Apparent AppreheIl-
sion Regarding Fate
of the Rate Bill.
MAY BE MEMBERS
WISH THEY HADN'T.
That Is, Wish They Hal Been
More Passive, AS the Pass
ing of the Passes Makes
Their Expense Ac-
count Most
Massive.
(From our Regular Corrasnnndeut.1

| (F'rom Our Regular Correspondents
| WASHINGTON. ID. c., January a.-Ths
question OF regulation OF railway rates
by the government is being forced into
the background as much as possible by
the opponents of legislation OF that char
acter, but 1t is bounded to the great aues-
tlon Tor the lawmakers at this session.
While there are indications that the
railroad feel pretty easy over the mat
ter and believe they have the sisuation
well in hand. 1t is possible they 10 not
feel as safe as they would have TIE pub
| lie to believe. .3
There Is little doubt that the senate
Is all right SO far as the roaIg are con-
cerned. While it Is pretty certain that
t.every democratic Senator will vote for
any reasonable bill which proposes to con-
| Ter on a governmental commission the
power to fix rates. the leading Republi-
| cans of that body are believed to be OPP
| opsed to the Presidents attitude, or,
what WAS his attitude when he wrote his
message In December, 1904. declaring for
legislation giving commission power to
make railway rates. The message of
the President this year was not so clear
on the subject as was that of the year
before If not precisely ambiguous. his
| language indicated that he did not advo-
cate legislation OF such Il radical char
acter as that which he urged the year
previous. The Republican Senator'S OF
| the Elkins type have taken heart from
| the apparently changed attitude of the
| President and are more outspoken in their
| opposition to rate bill The opposition
| to rate legislation is led by Senator Elk
ins, whose fortune is largely invested N
railnoad stocks and bonds. Other infiu-
! entail men ON the Republican side are
| backing up Elkins, and the roads have
| a right to, expect almost solid Repubii-5
can opposition in the Senate to a bill
which really regulates rates.
Rate Bill Safe in House. e.
The chances of n rate bill In the House
are better than in the Senate. 1t is pret
! ty we'll settled that Il bill of some char
| acter will pass the House, whether in II
| form to satisfy the advocates of real leg
! islation remains to be seen. Affusion was
made in this correspondence some weeks
| ago to an agreement entered into be-
| tween the President. on tho one hand
| and Speaker Cannon and other standpat-
ters on the tariff on the other, by which
a rate bill was to pass the House on con-
| dition that there should be no urging
| of tariff legislation at this session, or.
| rather. that the only agitation for tariff
/ reversion should proceed from message
| on the subject to be sent to the Presi-
! dent so late in the session that action
J on Its suggestions wiuld be impossible.
There is no doubt OF such an agreement
/ having been made, but there is a possf-
| bility of the opponents of rate legislation
! having discovered that a bill which would
not be extremely hurtful to the railroad
could be got through the House. while
faith would still be kept with the Fresi-
4 dent.
The Esch-Townsend bill. which passed
the last House and failed in the Senate,
coming over too late for action, was not
1 at all satisfactory to the men who were
! original advocate of rate regulation by
the government. It is safe to predict
that the bill which will pass the House
this year will be less radical, even. than
J the Esch-Townsend bill. And every fea-
+ ture which may appear ut all drastic
will be carefully eliminated by the Senate
7before 1t gets to the White House.
From which the advocates of the re-
4 Eulation of railway charges by the
I government may infer that they are
not likely to receive any great comfort
I, from Congress at this session. And the
| shippers that they will not receive
great measure Of relief. Honesty compels
to say that both inferences are probably
| correct. And the world will always be
/ In doubt concerning just how great a.
/ measure or relief the President wanted
the Congress to undertake to grant.
Removing of the Velvet"
The abolition by the railroads of the
E#custom of giving passes to Senators and
4 present active. has been much discussed
/ In Washington. While It has been the
| subject of more or less jocuar remark. it
/ Is admitted that 1t Is q serious matter.
| Members of Congress who reside thous-
il.,., Frnp naI IN
have found 1t u great convenience to 8
| show to train conductors little paste
| board in stead of having to buy tickets
] like ordinary mortals.' But every member
| of Congress receives twenty certs q
! nile going and coming from his home
which Is called mileage The mileage
of the delegate from Hawaii. Prince Kali
! anianole. is something like five thousand
dollars every session. His actual outlay
for transportation is very little.
There are representatives and Senator'S
who do not ride on passes One of these
said u few days ago he was considering
bringing to the attention OF the House the
subject of complimentary transportation
which was then being enjoyed by thr
members, with the hope OF being able to-
obtain a list of those who rode on passes
and drew mileage at the Same time.
Tho occasion for such Inquiry has passed.
with the abolition of the passes for the 4
makers of the laws, However, mileage
at the rate Of twenty cents for every
! mile travelled, ought to enable Senator'S
and representatives to travel IN a style
entirely commensurate With their dignity.
Ii is said that the action OF he Pennsyls8
vnnia, In set..ng the pace for the other
roads by abolishing ali passes, was due
to the.alleged attitude of Congress on the
rate question.
President Losing His Grip. @
A Republican representative from Chic,
Who has reached the city after spending
tho Christmas holidays at home. infor,n-
ed Tho .IimessD Dispatch correspondent
fhis narninu that hA II Rhznlutely