Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-30
DEBATE ON RATE
BILL OPENED TODAY
Representative Townsend Makes
a Telling Speech For the
Proposed Legislation
RAILROADS TO HAVE JUSTICE
Declares, However, That Railroads
Will Bring Disaster Upon Them
selves If They Persist in Violation
Of Laws Of the Country = Hepburn
Ask. That Debate Be Restricted.

Washington, Jan. 30.-According to
snecial order the house today took up
the Hepburn railroad rate bill. In max
ing the request that speeches be con-
f,ned to the subject matter of the Dill
Hepburn stated the requests Tor tiihe
ON the bill had been so numerous II
seemed proper to confine debate 10 the
bill. Williams, minority leader. oe1ect-
ed to this restriction, whereupon
aiscussion followed as to whether this
reouest should be enforced oy Vo'e'
\ vU;lliams remarked: I'VE are a body
IS, / nav that can't do anything but talk'
ana if this precedent is made we WIZ
even have that privilege cut off :"
.Not wishing to abridge any gentie-
mans prerogatives, will not press the
natter" responded Hepburn, good nat
uredly. He observed further tha'
white no time had been set to close de-
note Il had been his idea that a vote
might be taken on the bill one week
from today. In taking up the Dill IN
oor,mittee of the whole vreeland, OF
N.U york. was selected to preside over
the debate. Townsend, of Michigan at
once began the opening speech on the
bill.
washington. Jan. 30.-Opening what
nromises to be weeks discussion on
the railroad rate bill Mr.. Townsend OF
Michigan, addressed the house tor
moro than an hour today. touching on
and elucidating practically every phase
- the rate making problem, ana de-
.cr;h,ng in detail the terms OF the
I1enhurn bill. Regarding the question
10 one Of the most important ever pe-
fore congress-, Townsend advocated
tho hill as a correct remedy for evils
Uhich exist and predicted that not
withstanding the protests of the roads,
greater prosperity would come to them
,,n1er it's provisions than otherwise.
To substantiate this. he called atten-
ton to the tremendous strides OF the
year in transportation business, ana
4hia In the face Of legislation which
the last congress initiated and which
the present congress is taking up IN
somewhat more strenuous form. While
Mr.. Townsend regarded the question
himself as pleased that the republican
party had taken it up. He arraigned
the means employed by the opposition
q rate legislation. "To me it has
seemed" he said, that systematic
effort has been made to discredit the
administration in various matters In
order to direct attention from this
great question, and l have no doubt
delay will be caused wherever posi-
BILE In the vain hope that something yet
will happen to prevent final action. AS
one of the younger and most humble
republicans in the house let me adj
monish my party associates in both
houses that this question will not
down nor will 1t much longer bnook de-
lay The people have spoken and every
day to us their demand is more i'm
perative. The day OF grace may be
passed and the objectionable sign of
trifiing with duty may not be con-
demned even with death-bed repent
ance. Temporizing will bring nothing
but disaster. Already we hear rum
blings of discomfort and socialism
smiles with satisfaction with every
delay. Regulation of public servant
as not departure from the principles
OF popular government, but disregard
of q righteous law and Indifference to
legal restrictions imposed to protect
the peoples rights, is more than So
cialism, 1t is anarchy. and were
railroad agent instead of the peoples
representative would hail the pro-
posed legislation as salvation to my
master from fate which an indignant
people is sure to visit upon corpora
tions who believe they are above and
beyond the law, and seek to become a
law unto themselves.
LET the law pass" Townsend con-
cluded. land let the railroads heed its
provisions, and instead of retarding
Its execution aid in its operation,
md then instead of being objects of
suspicion and hatred, they will regard
ed as instruments of progress and
prosperity. Rate legislation will enter
into history and its entry will not be
marked by any business disturbances
but rather II will indicate the Begin
ming Of an era Of better feeling be-
tween the railroads and the people. an
era Of equal rights and opportunities
under just and impartial law"
When Townsend concluded. Adam
son, of Georgia, followed in support OF
the bill. He gave great credit to
Roosevelt for his course on the rate
control and referred to him as the
"ablest and most honest and fearless
republican president we ever had" He
said the principles OF the bill were en-
bodied in the democratic platform. but
che democrats were glad to accept
such powerful aid as . republican
president has given them"