The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-01-29

| WASHINGTON, Jan. Ex-senator
Beveridge occupied the attention of the
senate throughout the day with a con-
tinuatiOn of his argument in behalf
of his child labor bill. He had only
reported the legal and constitutional
phases of the question after speaking
for more than four hours. and arrange
ment was made whereby he will con-
clude tomorrow. In taking the posi-
ton that as to power congress could
exercise any restraint it saw fit in in
terstate commerce, Mr.. Beveridge met
a fusillade of questions by his COL
leagues, and his progress in the argu-
ment was slow. While he said power
to regulate was absolute, he maintain
ed that the question of policy would
tions
The senate adopted resolution di-
recting the interstate commerce COM
mission to report as to the position
IN its employ held by c. S. Hanks, who
| recently stated before the Boston
| chamber of commerce that railroad
rates could be reduced 10 per cent
without impairing dividends. The
resolution also asks for the facts on
which this statement was based. Both
houses today adopted joint resclu-
ton continuing the Joint postal COM
mission until it's affairs can be wound
up
A spirited colloquy resulted between
Senators Spooner and Beveridge when
the former asked if it was the position
of the Indiana senator that congress
had power to enact, under the COM
merce clause of the constitution. a law
which would prevent child labor in
the states. Mr.. Beveridge replied that
he so held. Mr.. Spooner indicated that
he should later have something to say
against that position, whereupon Mr.
Beveridge retOrted that the senator
could issue fiat" if he saw fit. indi-
eating at the same time that. this fiat
would be from the senate judiciary
committee. Il issue the fiat for. my
SELF" retorted Mr.. Spooner
'You did give a fiat yourself" con-
tinued Mr.. Beveridge, when you in
troduced resolution directing the jul
dietary committee to advise the senate |
on the constitutionality of the oues- |
ton involved" He then said that the |
effect of the resolution was to make |
Senator SpoOner chairman Of the sub |
committee who would report on the
matter.
Mr.. Spooner replied that he had
been member of the senate for some
time, somewhat longer than the SEN
ator from Indiana, but he, added, he
did not expect to be a senator as long
as the senator from Indiana, and that
senate to refer matter to the judi
ciary committee for a report as to the
power of congress to act on a given
matter. "The fiat lay in the adoption
of the resolution" he concluded
Mr.. Beverage then remarked that
he had yielded to the senator and that
he had announced when the senator
was not in the chamber that he would
be glad to answer any question. To
this Senator Spooner replied that the
committee would be glad to get in
from the senator on the
question and that he should be glad to
do so.
"Of course" retorted Mr.. Beveridge.
<rsxy l
nor can anybody else" He then add
ed, well. I might, but the senator
1Oes not think So"
Mr.. Beveridge closed the incident by
that it might be well to
postpone action until the supreme ,
court had pronounced a decision.
Put there seers to be here he
added, "a junior supreme court with
desire to relieve the supreme court =
If the United States Of constitutional
questions and constitutional response I
'ility, and above all. 1 think this prac-
ice is extremely dangerous"
Senator Beveridge continued his re- 6
marks until o'clock, when he sus- t
pended until tomorrow. His position
S that the power of congress to enact (
he legislation is ample, but when q
lsked by Mr.. Raynor if this power t
Ould be exercised to absolutely pro- /
libit commerce between the states he
eplied that the question was an inn t
possible one L
TWENTY BILLS PASSED