Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-10

enlisted man in the Philippines when COM
PEELED to pay his own transportation to
Pay the American soldier an adequate
compensation" replied Mr.. McCumber.
land let him do as he pleases with his
money. but don't try to do something Tor
rectly."
The hardships Of the army officer were
pointed out by Senator Spooner. One Of
the greatest of these was that he was al
ways subject to the orders of another and
must go where he was sent.
Referring to the rate bill, Mr.. Spo0ner
remarked: 81 think n we could have pro-
ceeded to the enactment Of the rate legfs-
lation in the usual senatorial way, with less
of friction and more Of conference and dis
cussion such as Is usual when the Senate
acts within itself, perhaps some provisions
Of the rate bill which are today found OBJ
jectionable and others the objections to
which have not yet been discovered would
not be found existing in it. But IL there Is
anything in the rate bill so far as army
officers are concerned which is not just, it
ought to be eliminated, and this is q good
place to eliminate IT.
Opposed to the Principle Involved.
The difficulty Mr.. Aldrich saw in the
amendment was entirely disconnected from
the question Of the pay of army officers
The proposition is, he said, that the gov
eminent of the United States is to ask the
TdllTOduS 10 carry pfAclT IudtcIAdiS dAA0 oAAA-
GERS for one-half of the published rates.
He regarded it to be the purpose Of the
rate legislation that every man should
stand equal in the matter of rates.
Mr.. Fulton interrupted to state that a
special rate to the government was in the
interest of the whole people.
To carry that argument out, Mr.. Aldrich
replied. Congress ought to provide that all
government transportation should be free.
But he contended this would of necessity
f1,a rnfe oil To fn
pay the actual cost of the government
transportation.
Mr. Spooner commended that the PROPOSE
ton in the bill was Mt gratuity from the
roads to the government because the gov
eminent had given these roads hundreds of
millions of dollars in land grants.
Mr.. Aldrich replied that the proposition
would reduce the roads which had no land
grants to the level of those which had re-
ceived such grants. It was not compulsory,
replied Mr.. Spooner, 1.-The roads may grant
the reduced rates; they are not compelled
to do So"
But it violates the principle we estab-
lished," persisted Mr.. Aldrich.
rs there any evidence here" interposed
Mr.. Tillman, "of these transcontinental
roads competing against the land-grant
roads, with which the government has al
ready performed it's contract-are any OF
these roads asking the privilege of handling
government material at one-haf rates? If
that is so. it is overwhelming proof, an I'M
anSwerable argument for reduction OF
railroad rates all over the country.
I'VE have here established principle and
at the very next session We are asked to
abrogate that principle on behalf of the
government.
81 don't know of a single railroad or
single railroad man., answered Senator
Warren, that has even mentioned the mat
ter. 1 am approaching it from the side of
the War Department and more especially
the officers themselves.
1,ox& h. sv,fa pscta 10
commerce commission will not rule that
the railroads can make reduced rates to the
government"
This remark caused an exclamation of
surprise from Mr.. Aldrich and Mr.. Tillman
simultaneously.
Ibid you say the commission held 1t had
power to make such a ruling?' was the
question asked. Mr.. Warren could only
..guess" that the commission had the power
It this point further consideration of the
bill was postponed until tomorrow.