The Cairo bulletin., 1908-12-09
LAST MESSAGE
TO U S.cONCRFSS
BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT AS
ESlDENT HOLDS ATTENTION
OF BOTH HOUSES.
TO AMEND RAE BILL.
Shippers May Protest Against In
crosse of Rates-Unrouted Freight
te Go ByCheapest Route-New
Battleships.

Batteships.
Washington, Dec. S-The business
Of both houses of congress was con
fined largely to listening to the read
} ing OF the presidents message. but in
addition few bills were introduced
in both houses. In the house a mum
In addition the speaker announced
the appointment of Mr. Higgins, Of
Connecticut. TO the committee on ju-
4 dietary in the place of Mr.. Littlefield,
and Of Mr. Martin to the committe.
on Indian fairs in the place of Mr.
Parker, deceased.
For the first time during the pres
ent congress there was a call of the
committees Of the house, but no
measure was reported by any of them
The miscellaneous work of the sen
ate consisted in the main of refee.
ences of the executive session OF
about l,500 recess nominations which
were today reported to the senate by
the president, and the adoption OF
resolutions of regret on account Of
| the death of members of the house
who have passed away since the all
journment last May The senate ad.
iourned for day at o'clock and the
house at 2:35.
Among the nominations sent to the
senate by the president today was
William l.. Distin, of Quincy, ILL.,, to
be surveyor general of Alaska IRE
appointed
For Inauguration.
concurrent resolution was intro
III ~ :" 80 rorate today by Senator
Knox providing for the appointment.
t.. 49, -,..~.eis and three represei,.
tatives to make necessary arrange
ments for the Inauguration of Presl,
dent elect Taft. The resolution was
adopted.
Tarf, Hearings.
An executive meeting was held by
the ways and means committee of the |
house today, presumably for the pur |
pose of selecting names of those wi. |
nesses whom ii is proposed to sub |
poena to appear at the tariff hearings |
before committee.
A short hearing was held by the |
committee today and another has |
been set for Thursday. In order to
get an early start on the considera
tion of the new tariff bill. it is be.
lieved that majority of the mem
bers of the committee will meet to-
morrow as a subcommittee to take
the first active steps in framing the
bilt
Rate Bill Amendment
Several important amendments -
the Hepburn railroad rate law were
propc sed in bills introduced today by
Mr.. Townsend, of Michigan, one of
the most active advocates of remedial
legis alton along interstate commerce
lines One of the bills given the in
terstate commerce commission the
power to prohibit the taking effect
of an advance in rates in cases in
which shippers individually or collect
ively protest against the advance
prior, to the expiration of the legal
thirty days notice. ....
Tha bin places the 'bhrden on the
carrier TO show at subsequent hear
Ings on the proposed rates that in.
creased rates are just and reason
able.
Mr. Townsend WOULD also give the
ship ers the right and privilege of
routing and prescribing the connect
ng mes shipment shall take.
He would have the law declare that
n case the shipper designates no
quite, the lowest published rate be- 7
ween the points of origin and of des-
ination should apply. Another amend +,
nent provides that carriers shall !
Iuote rates in writing upon applica-
ion and give rates upon bills of fal Ii
ng upon request and that rates be a
therefrom. In the eevnt of n
,rTor in these rates il is provided n
hat claims for recovery shall he {
made only through The interstate }
commerce commission. ly
Responsibility Fer Estimates. D
81 the bill which Representative {
;mith. of Iowa, today Introduced. be- I
.omes a law. more responsibility fc-tl
for appropriations would be u
'ut upon the executive officials. l.
Tha bill provides that in case the u
Inhual estimates for appropriations a
o meet the running expenses Of the :
-ove nment exceed the sum estim8- ="
ed by the secretary Of the treasury :,
8 probable revenues for that year. !,
9th sets Of estimates shah be sub
1itted to the president. to the end
bat the latter may give his advice
S to how the estimates can best be 4
educed OF how additional revenues a
tCVneladed IN TIhh Paes)