The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-13

cullBuleiung, He called attention to the
fact that though he voted for it DE.
denounced the Hepburn bill as de
fusion and snare" He continued in
part:
Reform in Congress.
After outlining his proposed amend
meut ne added.
Mr.. Chairman, there should be war
/ between the people and their agents,
the Feqeral Congress, until the people
set their rights. And before this great
legislative reform can come il is nee
essaTN IN my opinion. that there should
ue reform m the Congress of the United
states Let me sketch the bare outlines
/ OF this vital legislative reform.
fFSt-\O man should hold the Office
OF United states Senator. or member Of
/ the House of Representative VIII
holds and owns stock and bonds in the
railroads of the United States
'Second-NO person should he menl-
Der or the Senate or the House Of Rep
resentatiyes who is the retained counsel
and attorney Of such a railroad or rail-
Third, no person should be a mem
/ Der OF the Senate, or Of the national
/ House OF Representatives, who practices
as attorney at law in the courts of the
country, either State or Federal. i'm be-
halt OF railroads, even though they are
not the general, retained attorneys of
such railroads.
Fourth, that no member Of the Sen
ate or of the House of Representatives
shall be an attorney, either general or
special, Of am Industrial. or manufac-
. turing, or commercial trust Of the
/ United States.
Rates Increased.
within She past few days. In answer
to a resolution Of this House. the Inter
state Commission reports that within
two years, last past, and since the
passage of the Hepburn Railroad Rate
Bill the interstate railroads of the
country have largely increased their
then existing freight rates. and that this
increase has been done both BY direct
GCatiou.
THE Congress has not shown auv de-
sire since the passage Of the Hepburn
bin 60 Justify and fully protect the pub
Tic from unjust railway rates.
ana The Senate Committee on Inter
state Commerce has just sounded the
death kneU of remedial railroad rate
legislation, for a long timeh. unless the
American people compel a reversal of
their position. ] believe the attitude of
/ lhe senate committee voices the con-
/ trolling sentiment Of this House upon
the subject o. railroad rare regiSlatiou.
Mr.. Chairman, the attitude Of the
Senate committee operates 10 the inter
est OF the railroads and not of the pub
/ lt.s Air fItIL OF l-tlt report lI ell
oorsed by tho Senate and House of
/ Representatives. will he to leave the
/ larger public, their constituents who
. produce consume and ship the products
/ OF the country, TO the tender mercies Of
the railroads
The producers. the consumers. ana the
Shippers generally should al once, and
with FlgoT, join issue with the attj-
/ tude or the Senate and the House Of
Representative upon this great Fed
eTal question.
His Experience.
"I had the honor 90 hold the office
. Of attorney general I'm my State for
fourteen years. In that long time ]
/ had many conflicts iu the courts as
/ attorney general with the railroads i'm
/ the State Of Florida These legal con-
/ teutlOus grew uut Of resistance on the
part Of the railroads iu The State or
I Florida, 20 the rates prescribed by its
/ state railroad commission
/ Wherever me railroads challenged The
/ business and reasOua JIeues- GE the State
/ commission prescribed rate or rates,
/ their one plea t4at they relied upon was
! chat the particular rate SD -TesCr. bed
hE its State Railroad Commission. or
/ that the whole series OF rates prescribed
/ by the State Railway Commission, iu ei-
feet were e0UfsgatOTE, and SO diminish
I cd the profits of the company on OpCTat-
/ ing ITS railroad as not TO permit the
/ company 20 make a reasonable prOit
/ upon it's investment
Some of Tins litigation, o.. At least
litigation of similar character. IS
pending today i'm the courts Iu the State
/ OF Florida The issue rs between the
. Pensacola ana Atlanta. division of the
+ Louis EiIe and Nashville railroad and
4 railroad commission To support the
+ Contention OF the railroad company, and
( Co support It's plea, my Information Is
/ that the company has placed iu evil
I#H rH Il.