The Washington herald., 1907-07-20
FORAKER'S REASONS.
Thought It ml5piSe.
2-ThoRght 1t unconstitutional.
3-Ih0aght it unnecessary.

) 4 'tCF tsf 90 tftflt OSNt b
Franklin, Ohio. July 19.-senator Fora
ker this afternoon defended his position
on the railway rate bill. and declared that
questions asked him were always regard
ing matters in which he was opposed to
President Roosevelt. The address was de-
livered before the Miami Valley Chautau-
qua Assembly at the fair grounds. near
here.
In spite Of the intensely hot spell OF
weather an immense audience was pres
ent, and the Senator was enthusiastically
greeted and his speech repeatedly ap-
pIauded.
The Senator arrived from Cincinnati
shortly before the time set for the ad-
dress. and left on his return trip soon al
ter its conclusion.
After answering some questions, Sena-
tor Foraker said, in part:
Another calls upon me TO explain why
/ voted against the rate bill have on a
number of occasions spoken AZ length on
this subject. For that reason may be
pardOned for speaking as conciseIy on
this occasion as I can. Undertaking to
speak in this way. I voted against the
rate bill because I thought It unwise. un-
constitutional, and unnecessary.
I thought it was Unwise because ex-
perience has demonstrated that rate
making is 50 difficult that only experts
can do the work satisfactorily. There are
thousands of these experts constantly
busy with this kind of work.
Question Too Big to Handle.
IF we are to fix rates that may be
charged. we must determine how much
revenue a railroad shall be allowed 10
have. and this involves how much It
may expend for the expenses Of opera
ton, what salaries It shall pay TO its
officials, what wages TO its employees. and
how much It may expend for betterments.
for equipment. for maintenance. and for
construction.
But, whether as a matter Of policy It
was wise or unwise TO confer the rate
making power on the Interstate Com
meree Commission, it was, to my mind
clearly unconstitutional TO do so. Under
the Elkins law complete. expeditions
and inexpensive remedy was afforded so
far as rebates and determinations were
concerned. no matter in what form or
under what guise, or by what method or
by what device they might be given.
The Hepburn law went into effect in
August 1906; but until this time. almost
year. there has been no prosecution
under 1t. and not one dollar of fines. or
any kind Of punishment has been inn
posed upon anybody
The Elkins law Is an efficient and
easily enforced statute. Everybody now
recognizes and comedies that fact"
Seeks Motives for Questions.
Mr.. Foraker wanted 10 know wbv his
questioners confined themselves TO in
quiries about legislation and official acts
that were opposed TO Roosevelt policies.
why they asked no questions about the
railway safety appliance law. and others
that had not met with Presidential op-
position. Continuing. he said:
I read. as doubtless all of YOU did. the
announcement published in the newspa-
pers a few weeks ago that John Temple
Graves. distinguished citizen and Dem
ocrat Of the State Of Georgia. said In a
public speech that in his opinion William
J. Bryan should forego his own ambition
TO be President and renominate Theodore
Roosevelt for that high office.
In general way substantially this
same suggestion has been frequently made
by both Democrats and Republicans I
have been charged with voting against
the rate bill, with opposing Joint State
hood, and with trying to secure a hearing
before the American people for the negro
soldier who was discharged without
honor. but I feel thankful that no Demo
crat has ever nominated me for anv Of
fee; not that dislike Democrats as men.
but because I am a Republican and do
not like their principles and politics"
He then proceeded to discuss the tariff
from the protection standpoint, and dwelt
at some length on the dismissal of the
negro soldiers.