The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-04-14
ATTACKS R. R. BILL.
Senator LdfOIlette Scores
Attorney General.
TAXES B.TTERFllN6 AT MORGAN
Charges Wiekersham With Undu,
Haste in Diminishing Boston &
Maine Suit-Mann Defends
Bill in House.

toilette took the senate foor for the
purpose of making his long Promised
speech IN opposition 20 the admins
tration railroad lin. The speech was q
severe arraignment OF the department
OF Justice
The Wisconsin senator's remarks
we're largely devoted to the provisions
Of the bill authorizing the acquisition
OF the stock OF one company bv an
other aud he used the merger of the
Boston q Maine company With the
New York. New Haven 4 Hartford as
the basis Of his accusations
Charging the attorney general with
undue haste in disseminating the suit
begun 10y the Roosevelt administration
against the roads ne declared that
Judging by what that Official did in
that case. 3, was not a violent assump
tion To state that II the pending hnl
had been ieu. "ho would have entered
into a stipulation with the New Haven
road that the roads proposed 10 be
acquired We're not directly and sub
stantially competitive. that upon such
stipulation Judgment would have been
rendered Dr. the court OF commerce in
accordance with the stipulation. there.
by estopp'ng the government forever
from making any claim that such nc.
QUESTIONS were in violation OF the
sherman antitrust act
Mr. Lafollette declared that every
proper effort had been made bv the
Roosevelt administration 10 prosecute
the merger suit against the two com.
panies ana expressed horror over At.
toruey General Understands prompt
dismissal of She case within three
months after he came into office
Speaking of President Mellen and
Vice President Byrnes. OF the New
York New Haven & Hartford rail
road. Senator Lafouetto said:
The mask Is or We have an Of
us done Injustice 90 Mr.. Mcilen. gross
injustice Nor is Mr.. Bvrnes. in his
private capacity or IN alv capacity
except rs corporation employe the
trucu.ent hrac-art that be- seems 10
De In Tie press reports o. railroad
hearings
Roth o. these men and others Of
their kind are hut hir.l mcgaphones
through which a baefy red-faced.
thicknecked financial bully. drunk
with wealth and power bawls his OF.
ders 90 stock markets. directors.
courts. governments ana nations.
We have been listening To- Mr..
Morgan"
Mann Defends Bill In House.
Tn contrast with Senator Lafouotte's
attack on the railroad bin was tho
speech OF Mr. Mann OF Illinois chair.
man OF the Interstate commerce com
mittee. who opened the battle on the
measure tn the house with n speech
defending lis provisions The commit
tee had made a thorough revision OF
the text the hin having originally
been introduced ny Mt Townsend OF
Michigan
Mr.. Mann declared that railroad
transportation Is a necessity and not
a mere convenience.
Mr.. Mann said the bill would give
greater expedition 90 justice. greater
advantages on even terms to an ship
pers greater security 20. those who
cared TO invest their money in rail
way stocks OF bonds ana greater PRO
lection to those railroads whose man
agements desired 20 operate them ef-
hciently In the interest OF the people
and the stockholders.
He summarized the propositions in
volyed in the pending bin under three
general heads. These We're:
First-Speedy determination OF dis.
putes by the creation OF the com
merce court. with expert judges hav.
Ing no greater jurisdiction than the
circuit courts now have.
Second -Enlarglng the statutory du-
ties of the railways and the rights OF
shippers and increasing the powers Of
the interstate commerce commission
so that classifcations. regulations and
practices shall be just and reasonable
and enforceable as much. whether ar
fecting the rates charged OF not.
Third-Regulating the consolidation
OF railroads and their issues Of stocks
and bonds so that competition may be
Kept open as far as possible and rates
shall not be maintained unreasonably
high in order to pay returns upon CAPT
tai nominaily though not really invest
ed either in the construction or equip.
ment of road
Mr.. Mann analysed the bill In de-
tail. He said that il elim.pated secret
agreements between raj b1ads as toI
classifications and rates by requiring
the filing Of such agreements. but by
not authorizing advance approval oil
them by the commission it avoided
having approval constructed as a de
cision favoring the rates.