The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-15
PLATT SAT ALONE
While Edward Everett Hale Ad-
dressed the Throne Of Grace
At the Opening Of the Session
Of the Senate.
CHAMBER WAS FILLED.
When Senator TiIIman Reported
the Railroad Bill.
Senator Newland Offers Reasons
for Some Such Law.

Washington. March 15-'T say unto
you here, love your enemies - said DR..
Edward Everett Hale, in beginning his
prayer opening the senate today. but
Mr.. Platt was the only senator present
to listen to the admonition The ab-
sence Of senators did not, however. de-
ter the venerable chaplain from pro
oeeding with his invocation, which was
a prayer for general cooperation among
individuals, corporations and nations.
A bill was passed repeating the pro
vision Of the tonnage law Of 1884 auth
or1zing- the president to suspend its op=
Grafton.
The senate chamber soon filled and
by the time Mr.. Tillman took the Hoo,
to present his report on the railroad bill
there was an average attendance. The
report was awarded the unusual distinc-
ton OF being read at length In pre-
senting the document the South Caro-
lima senator stated that the report con-
tained only his views and was not there
fore report in the ordinary sense
Let the senator's views be read
said Mr.. Aldrich. Mr.. Tillman at first
demurred but Mr.. Aldrich replied thal
he had real curiosity to know what Mr..
Tillmans views were and other soma
tors joining in the demand. he yielded
and the clerk proceeded with the read-
ing.
When. as the reading progressed. tha
a message by the president, Mr.. Till
man objected.
1T is the most important part" he
caid.
Newlands' Views.
Mr.. Newlands said that while he has
joined in the report on the Hepburn
bill and is in sympathy with its general
purposes he thought that il Is incofn-
plete and fragmentary. He expressed
his belief that the legislation would not
be as effective as it should be unless it
added to the pending measure proFts-
ions for the national Incorporation cf
railways engaged in interstate com
merce guarding against overcapitaIiz1-
tiOn, fixing with certainty the rules nt
taxation of such railway property Oy
the states and prescribing fixed limit
for dividends
: such LEGISLATION, he contended, should
not simply cover the interests Of The
shippers and the common carrisrs-it
should embrace the interests OF labor Py
providing for an Insurance. fund asal1st
accidents and old age and for conciiia-
tion OF disputes between carriers aud
their employees.
Senator Newlands discussed corpor-
ate activity IN politics, saying Il has
been Increasing since 1895. Corpora
tions are in politics, the senator de-
clared, because they feel that their
property may at any time be the suD-
iect Of attacks either by legislatures or
by administrative officers he salo
that when he introduced resolution
creating a commission to frame na-
tfonaI incorporation act for railroads ne
believed it unnecessary to seek the
other corporation or the consent or
the states But today he said upon
reflection he was convinced It was
wiser to secure the co-operatiou Oh
both the United States and the states
National incorporation, he confenoed'
contemplated a general law for the in
corporation Of national railways en-
gagged in interstate commerce.
To Keep Out Water.
s.rTnis.'' he thought, should limit
stock and bond issues to the cash paid
in or to the value Of the properly ac-
ouired and no issue permitted save
with the approval of the intersta-e
commerce commission
Senator Newlands said it is plain the
people are restive under existing condl-
tions. They realize, he said, that men
prominent in the great industrial cor
poratfons are getting control over the
transportation Of the county, and un-
less we unity and simplify this control
in a few thoroughly controiled s1eal
national corporations, whose nnances
and operations can be easily under
stood and whose functions win pc en-
tirelv taken out of politics they viii
drift to national ownership as eils
easiest solution.
Senator Newlands suggested that
the argument in support of national
ownership was a simple and taking
one.
presents no difficulties either consti-
t1tfonal or practical except possibly
the difficulty of honest and efficient ad-
rninistrat ton and the country viii DRIFT
TO it unless the existing abuses OF un-
controlled monopoly. over capllalaza-
ton, of accomplished union between
tbe producing and transportation IN
terests of political control and OF un-
lust preferences and Determinations
are done away with. I believe the
policy I am advocating would give TO
YOU all the benefits Of government
ownership with none Of It's dangers. It
would abolish the evils which nave
arisen from unrestricted monopoly. pat
the railroads out OF politics, close -he
door against the entrance O. over 4
million men into the political patron
age and retain the management Of the
able men whose genius created or
present efficient system Of transports
ton out of the crude conditions that
prevailed generation ago
Townsend Resolution Passed
washington. March 15-The Town
send resolution comforting additional
power on the interstate commerce
commission to make the special in
vestigation authorized in the Iillman-
Gillespie resolution, regarding the re-
latfon between certain railroads and
the coal and oil industry was passed
by the house today
The resolution was amended by
striking out the $1,000 appropriation
on the statement of Mr.. Tawney that
the commission was to submit an esti-
mate which probably would aggregate
s15O.O00.
The resolution meets the presidents
suggestion in a special message on the
subject