The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1909-03-05

M.I. HNI0M NN.Aa. TT. "a N-airN
interest b all our people.
Reprssentalive Lamar o. Florida t.
dag delivered q vigorous speech o. the
necessity foF early reFislon Of the inter. I
ntato commerce. law, directing himself /
"a three features He asId the Law ID
uraetienIlv worthless. and the eommie-
zion ~ seven $4,000 commissioners |
hardly more than ornamental tiIl more
pOvefs are granted. He demanded.
That the commission BE- given power
10 ulapenf effectiveness Of q rate an
nounced By 3 railroad. pending lnveoti'
cation 81 its FeasOnableneeg.
That 4 physical valuation Of the rail-
roads BE- authorized at once.
That the commission BE- given p0WOT
over railroad classification, 20 II can ii
desired, make 3 complste classification.
Mr. Lamar has been able, as attorney
general for his State, 20 gain intimate
knowledge Of the workings Of railroad
Avs. State and Federal, and be told
much from bis experience which was
highly sniightening. He called atteB.
ton 70 the fact that though be voted
Tor ID he denounced the Hepburn bin as
a "deusion and snare. He continued
IN part;
REFORh ~ CONGRESS-.
After outlining bis proposed amend
mant, be- added;
"Nr' Chalrman. there should be war
between the people and their agents,
the Federal Congress, until the people
get their rights. And before this great
feeisl.firs. - 49, Can cOfne ~ % neces
ny, 1h my opinion, that there should
be reform IN the Congress Of the United
States LET me sketch the bare out
lines OF this vital legislative reform.
First No man should hold the Office
Of United States Senator. or member Of
the HOUSE Of Representatives, who
holds and owns stock and bonds in the
railroads Of the United States.
Second No person should be q
member Of the Senate or the House Of
Representatives who Is the retained
counsel and attorney Of such a railroad
or railroads.
"Third-No person should be a mem
Der Of The Senate OF Of the national
House Of Representative who prac-
tees a. attorney at law In the courts
Of the country, either State or Federal,
In behalf OF railroads, even though they
are not the general, retained attorneys
Of Rnch railroads.
Fourth no member Of the
Senate orHOuse Representative shall
be an attorney. either general Or8peCial,
Of ~ Industrial or manufacturing, or
commercial trust Of the United States.
RATES INCREASED.
within the past few days, IN an
gwer 10 q resolution Of this House, the
interstate commission reports that With
IN two years, last past. and since the
passage Of the Hepburn Railroad Rate
Bllb Che interstate railroads OF the
country have largely increased their
then existing freight rates, add that
this increase has Oeen done both bv di- /
rect raise Of rates and change Of classi. /
hcaiiOn.
'"fhe Congress has not shown any De. |
sire since the passage Of the Hepburn /
bill 10 justify and fully protect the pub. /
JIG from unjust railway rates
And che Senate COMMITTEES on Inter. /
state Commerce has just sounded the /
death knell of remedial railroad rate /
legislation Tor q long time. unless the /
American people compel q reversal Of /
their position. believe the attitude OF /
the Senate committee voices the con. /
trolling sentiment Of this House upon
The subject Of railroad rate legislation. /
'Mr. Chairman, the attitude Of the /
Senate COMMITTEES operates % the inter.
eata Of the railroads and not Of che pub
lic. The effect % their report, u en-.
dOrHed By the Senate and House OF
Representatives, will Be 10 leave The
berger public their constituents who pro-
duce, consume. and ship the products Of
the country. 20 thu tender mercies Of
the raiifoada
The producers, the consumers, and
The ahlppsfa generally should at once,
and with ylgor, join issue with the no
tliude OF che Senate and The House Of
Representative upon tins great Fed
eral question.
MS EXPERIENCES.
"a AID tie honor 10 hold the Office Q
attorney general IN my State for four.
teen years In that long time had
many conflicts In the courts a. attorney
general with the railroads IN the State
Of Florida. These legal contentious
grew out OF resistence on the part Of
The railroads. In the State Of Florida, 70
the rates prescribed By its State rail
road commission.
Wherever the railroads challenged
the business and reaaonablencss % the
State commlasirn'a prescribed rate or
fatos, their one plea that they relied
uron WAS that the particular rate su
pfeaerlhed BY the State Railroad Com
mission, o. that the whole series Of
reles prescribed hy The State Z ,iiWsy
Commission ln effect. were c0aGsra.
tory And ID oi1int had the Drunta oil