Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-05-20
evening, following severe spell Of
asthma. He was in his eighty third
year.
WASHINGTON LETTER

WAsH|NGT0 LETTER
From our regular correspondent.
Washington, D. c., May 1S.-The
administration railroad bill, adopted
after three weeks discussion, has been
the most important Legislative event
of the week, or perhaps of the session.
There is much discussion in politi-
cal and legislative groups with refer
ence to the effect of the bill. The
regular republicans insist that it re-.
enacts the present law in regard to
the long and short haul. The demo-
Gratis see in it much progress in the
right direction. The insurgents are
evidently disappointed with the bill as
passed. 1t is, however, evident from
the bill that the burden is shifted from
the shipper to the railroad in the mat
ter of long and short haul rates. Tn
der the terms of the bill as passed, the
railroad will have to satisfy the In
terstate Commerce Commission that
the rates are equitable and not un-
duly discriminatory. Under the pres
ent law, this burden has been upon
the shipper, who has had to oppose
the long and short haul rates upon
the ground Of their unreasonableness.
The insurgents are satisfied with
| this feature of the bill and are claim
ing a victory as far as it goes. The
| long and short haul feature of the bill
was introduced by Senator Dixon OF
Montana and his amendment made it
unlawful for any common carrier to
charge more for short haul than for
a long haul when the short Eaul is
included within the long haul.
There was, however, clause to
the effect that by application to the
Interstate Commerce Commission, the
common carrier might in some cases
be authorized by the Commerce Com
mission to charge less for longer
than for shorter distance. The pas
sage of this amendment emphasizes
what has long been evident with refer
ence to all legislation, that little di-
rect and positive progress can be made
and that all enactments in closely
contested bills are the result of a SER
les of compromises and that livery sell
dom'radical or important changes are
1nacted.
There is now good prospect that
congress will pass bill changing in
auguration date from the proverbiallJ
1 inclement March the 4th to the las
Thursday in April, nearly two months
later, and to time of year more suit
able for great outdoor pageant. Thu
bill will be called up next week b.
Congressman Parker of the Judiciar.
Committee, who has it in charge, AM
put upon its. passage under suspension
of the rules. Mr.. Henry, who is tn
) author of the bill, says that there i
but one possible obstacle to its pas
! sage and submission to the states 70
: ratification-he is afraid of indiffer
ence in congress and not in the stat
, legislatures after the measure has re
e ceived the approval of the nationa
t congress. 1t is known that the ney
: bill would assure good weather, or a
t least tolerable weather for the grea
J public function which occurs once il
= four years, the immigration of a presi
dent, and which attracts now quar-
E ter of million people to Washington
/ and which in good weather will at
/ tract still larger number. The bill
E or amendment. if adopted, will go in
to effect January lst, 1918, which j
after the term of the present congress
and it arranges that the terms of til
president and vice president then il
office shall be extended to the las
) Thursday in April and that all subse
quent terms of the president, vic
president and members of congress
shall end on that day It is believed
that if it once receives by congress
! Iional approval, the proposition will
receive ratification by at least tire
J fourth of the states of the uni on
which will make it law It is no
/ torious that owing to the inclemen
! weather peculiar to the early days o
March, lives of distinguished mel
! have been lost, that the health o
others has been impaired and it i
doubtless the case that many other
less distinguished have met thei
death through visiting Washington il
the inclement weather peculiar to the
tn of March, Inauguration Day.