The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-20

to Control Importation of Liquor
in Their TerritOry-Holds Express
Companies Responsible for Evasion
of State IaWS-Aldrich Contends
Sale of Liuunr is Matter nf Com
merce and Not OF Police.
Washington, D. c., December 18.-
In the senate today resolutions were
introduced by Senator Tillman asking
the interstate commerce commission to
report whether any corporation engaS-
ed in interstate commerce is the own
or of the stock of any other corpora
tion transporting passengers and
freight and calling upon the interstate
commerce commission to define the au-
thority of the federal government and
of the states in respect to the control
of the liquor traffic through the opera
ton of the interstate commerce law.
These resolutions proved subject for
considerable debate and were finall.
Areferred to senate committees, though
One of them was transmitted into a
bin.
Senator Culberson spoke on his res
olution calling on the committee on
finance to Investigate and report upon
She cause of the present financial
stringency and to recommend meas
ures for the prevention OF its recur-
renee. The resolution was referee
to the committee on finance.
The report that the Canadian -
cific railroad has succeeded in acG"'.'.
ing a majority of the stock Of SOC
tH
the attention of Senator Tillman he
TODAY introduced the following resolu~
ton:
t'That the interstate commerce COM
mission is directed to inform the SELL
ate whether any corporation engaged
in interstate commerce are the owners
of any of the capital stock of other
corporations which are transporting
passengers and freight; and II so the
commission is further directed u
transmit a statement showing the ex-
tent and details of such ownership so
far as the facts now appear in the OF
flee of the commission and to state IN
what cases the corporation whose stock
so owned have been competitors Tor
traffic with the corporations owning
their stock
Senator Aldrich objected to the pas
sage of this resolution on the ground
that it called for a great deal OF in
formation from the interstate COM
merce commission which would con-
sumo much time and he thought it
should first go to the committee Oh
in
that committee might ascertain how
much work would be involved in 1t.
Senator Tillman remarked that the
senator from Rhode Island seemed t.
be suspicious
81 am always more or less suspl-
cious of a resolution coming from the
senator of South Carolina" retorted
MT Aldrich.
Because he wants to get the facts?
asked Mr.. Tillman.
mo" replied Mr. Aldrich.' because
he may want to get facts fitting into 8
preconceived idea Of what should be
done"
Mr.. Aldrich insisted upon his OBJ
lection and consideration of the res
olution was postponed, which actor
hass tie effect of deferring it until af
ter IL holidays.
Sefator Tillman today introduced
the following resolution on the liquor
traffic:
THAT the committee on interstate
commerce be instructed to conside
and report by bill or otherwise wha
legislation is desirable or necessar.
to enable the states in the exercise
their police powers to control I'll
commerce of liquors and all alcohol
beverages within their borders so a
to aid the cause of temperance an
to prevent the encouragement by tn
United States government Of illlci
dealing in the same"
Explaining his purpose in this mat
ter, MT. Tillman said it was to pre-
vent, if possible, the circumvention
the laws in the interest of prohibitlo
which are being generally enacted i
the southern states. Congress attemu
ted in enacting the Wilson law to pro
tect the people in the enforcement
their state laws, but the courts hav
shaved and shaved down the protectio
until there is practically nothing lei
OF it and I want the committee {