Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-04-29


the bill to amend the interstate com
merce act the difficulty of understand
ing the plain intent of the bill is con-
stantly demonstrated. A good illustra
tion of this was given in the adoption
of an amendment proposed by Senator
Elkins, which takes water routes from
under the operation of the interstate
commerce law, unless they are oper
ated in connection with railroad
The effect of the amendment will
be to deny to the coastwise trade on
the Atlantic and Pacific, the Great
Lakes traffic, and the river shipments
the advantage of controlled rates. I'M
less the shipments are made over
lines which are regularly operated as
part of the railroads. Under it the
railroads could not be compelled to
turn over shipments to Independent
shippers, and it makes the railroads
the masters of the water routes. This
was explained to the senate. The SEN
ate could not be made to appreciate
it, and the result was that although
the amendment was vigorously fought
only nine senators went on record
against it.
River and Harhor Bill Hit
Senator Burton of Ohio made an
attack upon the river and harbor bill
which sent the cold shivers down the
backs of representatives and senators
who are relying upon the pork" con-
tanned in that bill for the political
effect which it will have in their dis
tricts and states. 1t was not that the
senator made an exhaustive argument
against the present methods of ap-
propriating money for the improve
ment of rivers and harb0rs and de-
clared himself especially against the
improvement of the inland rivers
that caused the CONSERVATION, but
it was that he read letter from
president Taft in which the presi-
dent plainly indicated his opposi-
ton to some features of the meas
ure. 1t was intimated that the presi-
dent might veto the bill, and this re-
port was given strength by the fact
as wasteful and eXtravagant.
Chief Fault of the Bill.
The river and harbor bill carries
a total appropriation of 100000
The amount of the appropriation was
not condemned by the senator from
Ohio as being exorbitant, but what he
attacked was the "dribbling policy
in making river and harbor appropria-
TONS
In his speech Senator Burton said
that he would protect the water
routes which came in competition
with railroad transportation against
the temporary cuts which railroads
make in order to take the traffic
away from the water carriers and
thus strangle the lines, and when
they are put out of business
the railroads raise the rates and
recoup whatever losses may be
made The public is not benefited by
these temporary reductions, and Mr..
Burton contended that the Interstate
Commerce commission should be en-
powered to fix the minimum rates OF
railroads when necessary to protect
water competition.
Ruled Against CLAWS.
The investigating committee in
curing into the Ballinger-Pinchot
controversy, gave Mr.. Brandeis, the
attorney for L. r. CLAWS, the sharp
edge of the construction Of the rules
under which the inquiry is being pros
ecuted. when they denied him the
right to postpone cross-examination of
Assistant Secretary of the Interior
Pierce until after Mr.. Ballinger has
testified. The entire committee was
not present when this action was ia
ken. Chairman Nelson and Senator
Flint were in attendance upon a ses-
sion Of the senate.
Mr. Brandeis contended that the
committee having denied him the
right to call Mr.. Ballinger as wit
ness, it was not fair to him to compel
the examination of Mr.. Pierce and to
develop the line of questioning which
Mr.. Bal1inger might be expected to
answer. Mr. Root contended that
what Mr.. Brandeis requested was
against the ordinary proceedings in
court Senator Purcell retorted that
he had some experience in court and
saw that practised in many cases. Mr..
Brandeis held tenaciously to his po-
sition. and while the committee would
not permit him to force Mr.. Ballinger
onto the stand he succeeded at least
in getting a postponement until such
time as there would be full attend
ance of the committee to consider the
question.
w. S. Finney, one of the employees
of the interior department, said that
he wrote the opinion which was
signed by Assistant Secretary Pierce,
and which construed the land law of
1908 When Pierce was on the stand
he admitted signing the opinion but
that he had nothing to do with its
preparation. He just assumed that
everything in it was all right. Mr..
Pierce said that he didn't know very