The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-08-22
FORAKER REPLIES
TO TAFTS SPEECH
Ohio Senator 1'aunts Sec.
retary With His Shift
on Tariff Issue.
ELKINs LAW IS
ALSO DEFENDED
He Dissects Hepburn Act and
Attacks Its Validity-Ar-
raigns Administration for
Silence on Southern Suf-
frage Laws and
New Rebellion"

GEORGETOWN, OHIO. August 21.-
In his first speech since the address
of Secretary Taft. United States sena-
tor Foraker before the Chautauqua as
semhly here to-day discussed his fell
low-townsman's opinion. from which
he differed In many particulars. and
among other things called upon the
secretary to explain his views as to
recent disfranchisement Legislation in
Georgia and the new rebellion that
has broken out in North Carolina and
Alabama. In the course of his speech
Mr.. Foraker said:
"All the provisions Of the Hepburn
rate bill specifically mentioned by Sec
rotary Taft In his commendation OF
that measure. except the rate-making
provision, were incorporated into that
bill by the Senate. Nose of them. witt,
my active assistance and some OF them
upon my own motion.
IF the bill had been put through
the Senate as 1t was put through the
House. and the Senate committee un-
der orders to allow no amendments
whatever, 1T would have been without
any redeem;ng features whatever. ex-
cept such as the friends Of that propo-
sition may claim to ind in the provi-
tion conferrine the rate making power
on the Interstate Commerce Commits
zion.
ut was to that proposition ! was un-
alterably opposed. TIE objection TO
comforting the rate-making power upon
the Interstate Commerce Commission
is not, In my opinion. answered by Sec
retary Taft.
.'He makes no answer to the sugges-
tion that the three powers of gov
ernment-the executive, the legisla-
tive and the judiciaI-are all conferred
ON the commission. and that this COM
rningling OF these powers is unpre-
redented and in violation OF both the
spirit and the letter of the constitu-
ton
Il have contended that SO far as !
Eaye We: been Informed. there has been
no lower range of rates since the Hep
burn rate was passed. whereby tn
tshiprers OF Ohio have been benefited.
except only such as would have peen
made In all probability II the Hepburn
law had never been passed. On the
contrary. since the Hepburn rate law
was passed the majority OF THESE Fates
have been advanced.
SAYS Eikins Inv II Better.
.Inasmuch as the secretary entertains
the views he expresses as TO the dlln-
Guilty of convictions in such cases, ana
inasmuch as the Interstate Commerce
Commissioners. for precisely the same
reason given by the secretary, recon-
mended the abolition Of punishment py'
imprisonment as part of the Elkins
;sw the charge Of the secretary, made
nv Implication at least. that the Elkins
slaw especially in the matter of abollsh-
ing imprisonment. was railroad meas
IRE. Is without the slightest excuse or
iustification Nobody has ever claimed
that the Elkins law was perfect, put
while he seeks to disparage the EiKins
law. yet he admits that all prosecu-
tions down until this time nave oeeh
,,nder It. because these We're ohenses
rommitted prior to the Hepburn rate
law and he then says that criminal
prosecutions will continue to be under
The Elkins law, but as amended py the
new rate bill.
"No amendment of the Elkins law
hv the provisions of the Hepburn rate
bin has been invoked IN any OF these
proceedings"
Tnmnts Taft on Change View.
Senator Foraker spoke of his recent
public requests that Secretary Iait
give a bill of particulars as TO his
tariff revision views and declaring the
Golnmeas coa on thIs hPssea polnt no' s9
zone who was able year ago TO
declare himself unqualifiedly. in favor
of an Immediate revision at that time
should be able now to give some speci-
fications as to what then prompted him
to make such q declaration. But IN
stead, we are told that he merely
assumes that the cost OF production IN
this country has so far diminished
since the Dingley law was passed that
necessary to cover the difference in the
cost of labor here and abroad.
assuming for the sake of sargu-
ment that he is correct In his conten.,
tion that the difference in labors and
that difference alone, should fix the
duty, he seems to overlook the fact
that the duties fixed by the Dingley
law were, in the judgment Of tho
\ higher when they were fixed than was
necessary to cover that differential
and that the duties then fixed, If that
3 rule is to govern, cannot be high
enough now, for it is common know
ledge that the cost of all kinds nt
labor has in the meanwhile advanced
from twenty-five to fifty per cent,1in
this country without any corresponding
advance in foreign countries.
what I contend for. is, that before
any such revision Is entered upon the
people. shall be heard on the subject
and have already suggested that such
step should not be taken until after
we have a chance to consult them In
year.
Senator Foraker called on the secre-
tary to say what In his opinion the
Shief Executive, should do about the
Defiant nuliifcation OF the war amend
such statutes as that passed in Qeor-
sa only q few days. ago. He. Is
properly in. favor Of @ Ding. all in our
pie in the Philippines. who were ,iintil
tecently entire strangers and open
.nemies. But how about the lO.O0O000
liver drew disloyal breath, who are
openly and defia.ntly being denied their
constitutional rights of citizenship Is
iffense against human rights and such
in overthrow Of our organic law?
"Bnt | would know also what the
II views Of an aspirant to the presidency
may he about the new rebellion that