The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-02-21
LAMAR URGES
GREATER POWER
Interstate Commerce Com
mission Should Be Allow
ed to Suspend Rates.

Representative Lamar Of Florida TO-
day delivered a vigorous speech on
the necessity for early revision of the
interstate commerce law, directing
himself to three features, says the
Washington Times of February 18th.
He said the law is practically worth
less. and the commission of seven
$4,000 commissioners are hardly
more than ornamental till more pow
ers are granted. He demanded;
That the commission be given pow
or to suspend effectiveness of a rate
announced by a railroad. pending in
vestigatiOn of its reasOnableneSs.
That a physical valuation of the
railroads be authorized at once.
That the commission be given pow
err over railroad cIassifcations, so it
can. if desired make a complete
classification.
Mr. Lamar has been able, as an at
torney general of his state. to gain
intimate knowledge of the workings of
railroad laws, state and federal, and
he told much from his experience
which was highly enlightening- He
called attention TO the fact that
though he voted for 1t he denounced
the Hepburn bill as a ''delusiOn and
a snare
Reform in Congress,
After outlining his proposed amend
ment, he added:
Mr.. Chairman, there should be war
between the people and their agents,
the federal congress, until the peO-
pie get their rights And before this
great legislative reform can come IL
Is necessary, in my opinion, that there
should be reform in the congress of
he o
bare outlines of this vital legislative
reform.
"Ffrst-No man should hold the Of
fee Of United States senator OF mem
Der Of the house of representatives,
who holds and owns stocks and bonds
in the railroads Of the United States.
"SecOnd-No person should be a
member of the senate or the house OF
Representatives who is the retained
counsel and attorney of such a rail-
road or railroads.
"Third-No person should be a
member of the senate or of the ma
tioDal house Of Representatives, who
practices as attorney at law in the
courts Of the country, either state or
federal, in behalf CT the railroads,
even though they are not the general.
retained attorneys Of such railroads
"FOuTth-That no member of the
senate or of the house of representa-
tives shall be an attorney, either gen
eTal or special. of an industrial, or
manufacturing or commercial trust OF
the United States.
Rates Increased
Within the past few days in an
sweT 10 a resolution OF this house, the
Interstate Commerce Commission re
ports that within two years, last past,
and since the passage of the Hepburn
railroad rate bill. the interstate rail-
roads of the country have largely in
creased their then existing freight
rates, and that this increase has been
done both by direct raise Of rates and
by change OF classification.
The congress has not shown any
desire since the passage Of the Hep
burn bill 10 justify and fully protect
the public from unjust railway rates.
And the senate committee on inter
state commerce has just sounded the
death kneu Of remedial railroad rate
legislation, for q long time, unless
the American people compel TeVer-
cal of their position l believe the at
titude of the senate committee voices
the controlling sentiment OF this