The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-02-19
SENATOR .E....LINS
AND THERAT'E
QUESTION
WILLING TO STAND
ON HLSRECORD.
,eeiaI "a the Wett VIruinian.)

Especial to the West Nlr9intanil q
WASHINGTON, FEB. Rearing
upon the altitude of Senator Elkins
towards the railroads and the rate
question, there has been a great deal.
81 Misunderstanding and m'srePre,
sentatfon. He has never taken notiee
Of these things, but let his record
stand for him rather than speak for
himself. The people Of West vir
alnla and the country should under.
stand the facts. Going back, Senator
Elklns had passed what is known as
the EIkins law, to which there was
great objection by the railroads. out
this Iaw has been considered one Of
the best ever put on the statute books
in the direction Of correcting rebates,
determinations and other abuses.
A few days ago when West Virginia
was attacked as being in disgrace and
moi having laws to compel railroad
connections, Senator Elk'ns denied
this was the case, and la:er on intro
duced stringent statute on the sub
ect and had It printed in tne record.
When the letter Of Governor Dawson
setting forth the abuses and wrongs
.h,. (vee+ virninis interests have suf.
fsred vas Introduced Senator Eikins
at once moved that the eon,muniea-
dion Of the governor, which was off
eiaI in character, should be referred
TO the interstate Commerce Commit
tee, Of which he is chairman, which
was promptly done, ano on the same
day this communication from the gov.
ernor reached his committee and at
III. same meeting, a loInt resolution
was unanimously adopted by the com
mIttee ordering an Ihyessigation Of all
the things set forth in the governors
Ietts. and rany more This FesoIa--
tIon was tic resolution Of The commit
tee and no Individual Senator. Az
though ii was reported by Senator
TIlIn,an, It had never been Introduced
In the Senate. II Senator EIkins or
the interstate Commerce Committee
had been SO disposed, trey could have
delayed its. passage for months, per,
haps indefinitely, but there was no
disposition on bis part or that Of the
committee to delay the matter, but
on the contrary everything was done
to facilitate II. This resolution is al.
most drastic in its character and calls
for the most rigid and far-tsaching in
yestIsation Of every abuse by railroads
In the state, In the matter Of trans
porting coal and other products, dis.
trIbutlon Of cars and other things.
This action Of Senator sikIns Opeaks
louder than words and should show to
the people Of West Virginia and ship.
psrs lust how he feels on the subject
Of abuses and transportation inter
ests in his state. Senator EIkins dur
IND his two terms In the Senate I'ss
stood for West Virginia interests and
tn. people Of West Virginia tisst, last
and all the time.
This action Of his should put at rest
forever the question about his favor
Ina railroads and their interests,
Ills attitude on the rate question
has been constantly mlsrspresented;
he has tried to get a conservative and
fair bill, fair not only to the people
but 10 the railroads, which In the end
is owned by the people and the great
est factor in our commercial develop.
mont. He has been In hearsy accord
with the President In all he has done,
and in framing a bill has tried to meet
the Presidents wishes and at tie
same time do what Is best for the
whole country. He has favored some
amendments to the Hepburn Bill which
he thinks In the interest Of all the peo'
pie,