New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-08-22
Mr.. FORAKER REPLIES.
QUESTIONS FOR MR.. TAFT.
Asks about Tariff and the South
Defends altitude on Rates.


s,ess since the Columbus speech of Secretary
Tai, Senator Foraker before the Chautauqua
Assembly here. to-day discussed his fellow
.ounsrnan's opinions from which he differed in
many particulars.
Quoting freely from the speech OF the Secre-
tsrv Of War and his own remarks. in the debates
,r Congress. Senator Foraker expressed his opin-
ion on the various public questions discussed by
Mr. Taft In his speech Mr.. Foraker said:
Secretary Taft is always able and always in
terestlng. but he has the limitations OF othef
men. He does not always know all the facts,
and he does not always deem il essential to
state all the facts necessary 10 an lntellgenI
comprehension OF his discussion
All the provisions of the Hepburn rate Dill
specifically mentioned by Secretary Taft IN ms
corniY?endation of that measure. except the rate
making provision. were Incorporated into that
tlll by the Senate; most of them with my acuFe
assistance. and some OF them upon my own
motion -
The hill as It came from the house, was very
imperfect measure.
Senate recognized this fact but a majority OF
that committee. acting under instructions ina INA
should never have been given, refused TO a4ioM
any amendment whatever TO be MADE IN the
committee and il only after parllalhe.-
fary contest upon almost every point mat tIe
amendments that finally adopted were
raade in the open Senate.
II the bill had been put through the Senate as
g. was nut through the House and the Senate
cor,rniffee under orders to allow no amendments
whatever Il would have been without any re
deeming feature whatever, except such as tne
friends of that proposition may claim 10 f1nd IN
me provision conferring the rate making power
on the Interstate Commerce Commission II
was 10 that proposition was unalteraoIy op-
posed.
OBJECTION NOT ANSWERED."
The objection to corferring the rate making
mower upon the Interstate Commerce Connnis-
sion is not, IN my opinion. answered by Secre-
tary Taft. He makes no answer 10 the sugges-
non that the three powers of government, the
legislative the executive and the judicial. are
al conferred the commission and that TINS
conningling Of these powers is unprecedented
of the Constitution
/ have contended that so far as 1 have yet
been informed. there has been no lowering or
rates since the Hepburn law was passed where
tv the shippers of Ohio have been benefited
except only such would have been made in
all probability if the Hepburn law had never
been passed. On the contrary, since the Hep
burn rate law was passed the majority OF the
rates have been advanced. Very few, II any,
have been lowered
The purpose OF the Elkins law to give the
shippers Of the country a speedy remedy against
rebates and Determinations of every kind and
character and absolutely 10 break up and de-
strOy such practices
There was much doubt expressed in the Sen
ate committee as TO the wisdom Of following the
recommendation of the interstate commerce
commissioners 20 repeal the imprisonment
clause.
At any rate after nearly twenty years Of
experience. there was no case OF successful
prosecution for any offence punishable by i'm
prisonraenr and there had been no of i'm
Tgisonrnent. The law in that particular a
dead letter All this seemed reason enough for
the change.
Inasr1uch as the Secretary entertains the
views he so expresses TO the difficulty OF con-
victions in such cases. and inasmuch as the IN
terstate commerce connlssloners, Tor preclSeiy
the same reason given By the Secretary, recon-
Tnended the abolition of punishment by lmprls-
anment part of the Elklns law, the chaIee oi
the Secretary. made by implication at least.
that the Elkins law. especially in the matter or
abolsshine Imprisonment, was railroad meas
cT4-frF1 -f7p Sfi
tion. Nobody has ever claimed that the t1lklhs
law was perfect. But while he seeks 70 dis,
parage the EIkins law. yet he admits that all
prosecutions down until this time have been
under II. because these prosecutions were Tor
offences committed prior to the Hepburn rate
law and then says that criminal prosecutions
will continue 10 be under the Elklns law pul dS
amended by the new rate bill
In more than one hundred prosecutlons ths
EIkins law as originally enacted. has been found
eay
ROADS PROFITS FROM LAW.
No amendment OF the ElI1ns law by the pro-
visions OF the Hepburn rate law has been m
vOked in any Of these proceedings IN iact, Clle
most troublesome difficulties of all the cases
under the Elkins law arose and were brought 10
final and successful determination Delofe lhe
Hepburn rate law was enacted
The Secretary also seeks TO create the impress
zion that the railroads unltedIy opposed the
passage Of the Hepburn rate law, and that they
spent a large amount OF money and made great
efforts TO defeat il.
II my recollection be not at Iault, lAe I c4lii-
sylvania Railroad. the New York, New raven
K Hartford Railroad. and perhaps a number OF
other railroads. favored the Hepburn Dill Cut
ting OF passes alone worth millions 10 1he
railroads Positive prohibition OF rebates ana
Determinations worth still other millions
But. however this may be. do not think any
Senator governed by what ne thought any
railroad wanted. but only by what. in his judg-
ment, the best interests Of our common country
required. Suggestions TO the contrary are not
creditable 10 those making them, for If they are
Informed they know better and If they are not
Informed they should not recEIeSsly indulge
even implicitly in such expressions
AS to the further legislation suggested by Sec
tetary Taft by %ay of amendment 10 the inter
state commerce laws. / do not care TO make any
Comment at this time, except only that do not
feel ally keer interest in his discussion of the
question whether a TO the various propositions
mentioned the President, Mr. Bryan. or Mr. Car
field is entitled &c chief credit In my opinion
the day is not far distant when as 10 at least
Of them there viii not be any jealous QlS-
putes about authorship
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TARIFF.
Senator Foraker spoke Of his recent public re-
quests that Secretary Taft give a bill Of par
ticulars as TO his tariff revision views and de-
claring the Columbus speech not sufnclehuy
luminous on this point" continued; -
One who able year ago 10 declare hirl-
self unQualifedly IN favor OF an lmmedlate re-
vision at that time should be able now 10 give
some specifications as 30 what then prompted
him 10 make such a declaration But instead
We told that he merely assumes that the
cost of production in this country has so Tar
diminished since the Dingley law was passed
that the duties now in force are hleHeI ulaii
necessary 10 cover the difference in the cost OF
labor here and abroad. Assuming for the sake
Of argument that he is correct in his conten-
slOn that the difference in labor. and that dif-
Terence alone, should fix the duty ne seems 10
overlook the fact that the duties fixed by the
Dingiey law We're in the judgment or the Con-
gress that enacted that statute no higher when