St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1910-04-29

ne said that the ultimate purpose OF
the legislation was to allow the rail-
roads to fix their own rates without
first submitting them to the Interstate
Commerce commission. Without the
establishment of rates any traffic
agreement must be vague and of little
effect.
Mr.. Elkins said Mr.. Cummins' con-
tention for approval Of rates In ad-
vance was impracticable and absurd.
He said that from 5000 to 10000
people were now employed by the rail-
road companies in establishing rates
and he asserted that the Interstate
commerce commission must have great
forces Of experts to carry out Mr..
Cummins' idea.
II am not ready TO stand here and
destroy the entire freight traffic struc-
ture Of the railroads." he said, "and I
don't believe that the people demand
we should do so."
He said he did not want the anti
trust law repealed, but he did desire to
assist In relieving the executive off,
cials of the embarrassment they find
themselves under enforcing the law.
The extent Of the Guggenheim con-
troll of transportation and mineral in
terests in Alaska was discussed by
Delegate Wickersham today before the
house committee on territories, In con-
nection with hearing on bills that
would provide for Federal guarantee Of
bonds issued by the Alaska railroads.
Washington, April 20.-In his maid
en- speech In the senate, delivered To-
day on the railroad bill, Senator Pur-
cell, Of North Dakota. sharply criti-
cised the president and the attorney
general. He practically charged q
purpose Of 20 Transforming the Su-
preme court a. 10 insure such construc-
tion Of the proposed law as to supplant
and nullify antagonistic state laws and
state constitutions.
He was dealing with the merger
provision Of the bill, and having stated
that the North Dakota state constitu-
tion prohibited the consolidation of
railroad limos, he contended that under
decisions Of the Supreme court II had
been held that questions Of this charac-
ter were subject TO state control.
The Pickett conservation bill, auth
orixing tho president TO make with
drawsls Of public lands for purposes Of
conservation, was passed by the house
today. No record vote was taken, the
Anal passage Of the bill being unani-
nous.
As passed, the bill is practically In
the form Il was introduced by Mr..
Pickett, Of Iowa, Il being stated that
In that form II had had the approval Of
the president. Under its terms the
president 10 authorised TO withdraw
from location public lands for public
uses, and for examination and classiR-
cation TO determine their character and
value. These Withdrawals. the bill
provides, are TO remain In force until
revoked by the president or by con-
gress.
Representatives Burlsson. Of Texas.
and Lever, Of South Carolina, both
authors Of proposed remedial legisla-
tion In favor Of the oleomargsrine pro-
duct, advocated their measures.
Mr.. Burleson urged repeating the
tax on oleomargarinc and dairy pro-
ducts and substituting an annual H.
cense for manufacturers.
Washington April 10. - The an
nouncement Of the prospective retire.
ment Of Senator Hale from the senate,
following 40 closely on a similar an
nouncement regarding Senator Aldrich.
seemed TO have stunning effect on
the senate. That the oldest of the
senators In point Of service should vol
UNFAIRLY decide TO retire from that
body was scarcely less Of surprise
than that the recognized leader should
have decided upon similar step. Most
Of the senators declined to make any
comment. Mr.. Hale was In the senate
building early In the day, but kept
aloof from other senators and from Wis
itors generally.
"Who will be the leader Of the SEN
ate nowi" was asked Of Senator Dol
liver.
~ suppose the mantle Of the leader
ship win be deposited in the Smithson-
ian Institution, together with other
relics of at discarded and abandoned
system, /" replied the Iowa senaor.
A he was leaving the White House
Speaker Cannon was asked II the re-
tirement Of Senator Aldrich and Sena-
tor Hale would have any influence on
him or other members Of the house.
He declared that the senators had been
Influenced wholly by considerations Of
health. Politics, he believed, did not
enter into their determination.
The river and harbor bill, carrying
an appropriation Of about $50, 500, 900,
was passed by the senate today. There
were no material amendments but
there was considerable debate over
various provisions.
The house military committee, at
the conclusion Of hearing today, was
on the verge Of favorably reporting
Senator Jones' bill directing the sale
of the Walla Walls military reservs-
tion TO Whitman college at $3.50 an
acre, when the chairman received
telegram, signed by John Ankeny and
one johnson, of Walla Wslls, offering
to buy the reservation at $500 per acre.
Negro Soldiers Guilty.
Washington. April 2l.-The mill
tary court Of inquiry has reported a