New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-03
SPEAK ON RATE BILL.
House Entertained By Messrs. nc
Call and Russell.

Washington. Feb. 2--oratory on the Railway
Rate bill held the attention of the House for six
hours to-day. The speeches Of Burton. OF Ohio;
Mccall of Massachusetts, and Russell, Of Texas.
were features. while Thomas OF North Carolina;
Burke of South Dakota and Goulden, OF New
York took up particular and specific topics
Mr.. Burton discussed the broad field OF proper
national ideas and growth of industry OF cor
poration DEVELOPMENT and traffic increase; Mr.
Mccall made an attack on the BILL opposing IT'S
fundamental features. and making as he knew
a vain effort TO have the power TO regulate rail-
road rates administered by the courts Point
after point he made TO show what he contended
were the weakness and evil of government rate
making, illustrating by records OF foreign coun-
tries Mr.. Russell argued for the measure. He
spoke as Democrat and gave that party credit
for sustained effort and for careful scrutiny in
the perfecting of the measure.
Mr.. Burke. a member of the committee in
which the bill originated, explained its details.
Mr. Thomas, who represents the strawberry belt
OF North Carolina, exulted In what he regarded
as the relief in sight for his constituents. while
Mr. Goulden praised the bill as the best yet
produced on the subject
Mr. Mccall said the bill delegated legislative
as well as judicial power to the commission.
You might as we'll delegate tariff legislation
TO h commission" he declared.
Mr. Mccall presented an extensive argument
in opposition to government rate making. TO
be an elective response to public demand on the
railroad question the pending bill ought, he
said 70 deal pa rticularly with rebates. This
y as what public opinion demanded until d.
verified to an utterly irrational and haphazard
remedy" The evil complained OF was the VIC
lation Of the wight OF equal treatment These
evils the Flkns law against rebates sought TO
fa 70 =
broadened and made more specific If this had
heen done last year, he suggested. public senti-
r1ent would Rave been satisfied. He quoted an
English railroad authority as saying that the
bill of last year, If enacted. would have done no
more to stop rebates than the re-enactment OF
the Magma Charta-
AT the rate we are now going Mr.. Mccall
continued lit Will not be long before we regu-
late everything and everybody from Washing
ton You cannot govern the whole universe
from a single point and have a shred of liberty
survive
Although Mr.. Mccall stands with the minority
on the bill, his speech was listened TO intently.
When he finished his hand shaken by the
majority of the members present.
Mr.. Russell. Of Texas. who followed. vas
heartily applauded when he said, while L do
not agree with the conclusions reached by the
gentleman who has just taken his seat, the
magnidcence of his address. its splendid logic
and the rhetoric in which it was framed, in my
judgment add dignity and honor TO the entire
membership of the House" Both Mr.. Mccall and
Mr. Sibley who spoke against the bill yester-
day, Mr.. Russell SAID, had set up straw men
and he proceeded TO demolish them Mr.. Sib-
leys picture of dire disaster. Mr.. Russell added,
had led him to mistrust that the gentleman had
INDUCED the night previous in Welsh rarebt.
The House adjourned at SIS o'clock until II
a. m. tomorrow.