Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-06-10
bill which have been beneficial to the
country"
Oppose Favorjtism to Railroads.

puDl1c interest which resulted In the
defeat of the Cummins amendment to
the pending rate bill by which the
railroads would not be permitted to
make increases in freight rates with
out the approval of the commission,
and to meet the present conditions
by which the railroads are levying
tribute upon the business in all parts
of the country with constantly in
creasing freight rates, Senator La
Toilette introduced a joint resolu-
ton providing that until October 81
next, unless the Interstate Commerce
commission shall otherwise order,
after application and a hearing, it
shall be unlawful for any common
merce to receive greater cOmpensa-
ton for the transportation of property
than the charge fixed in the lowest
published schedule of rates filed with
the Interstate Commerce commission
and in force upon May 1.
The effect of the La Toilette reso-
luton, provided it becomes law, will
be to nullify the recent advances
which the railroads have made in an
ticipation of the passage of the pend
ing railroad rate bill.
The Progressives are entitled to
amendment which has been adopted.
Their fight for the Cummins amend
ment has been attended by such sue
cess in the way of public support that
senators in both parties were afraid
to vote against it unless something
else were to be submitted. The Pro-
gressives were not elated over such
little as they had won, however They
knew the public interest was sacri-
feed by men who pretend to be sup
porters of the public interest, and
they knew that jugglery and false pre-
tense prevented legislation which
would have been of the greatest bene-
fit to the public.
While the Progressives in the SEN
ate have been perfecting the railroad
bill the Republicans in the house gave
one of the most remarkable exhibit
lions which has ever been staged in
the halls of congress, that, too, with
out attracting any extraordinary pub
lie interest.
For three evenings the Republican
caucus was in session considering the
postal savings bank bill. The bill was
perfected behind closed doors, it's pro-
visions discussed, amendments offered,
and no record made as to the attitude
of any member toward any of it's pro-
visions.
There would be no cause for criti-
cism if the action taken was taken in
conference which, it is we'll recog-
nized in legislative procedure, has no
binding effect, but would merely give
the members of the party free oppor-
tunity to interchange views in regard
to some particular piece of legislation.
Criticism of the present procedure is
based upon the fact that it is a eau
Gus, and under every rule which main
tains and should maintain, those who
enter caucus and remain it it are
bound by it's action. The members
are free to withdraw at any time, but
those who remain to the end will be
bound to support whatever bill may be
agreed upon in this secret gathering,
no matter what defects may be de-
veloped through discussion in the
open house.
A number of the Progressives in the
house, and practically all of the Pro
gressives of the senate regard the
procedure as vicious.
Many Refuse to Be Bound.
Many of those who have partici
pated in the caucus have openly de-
clared that they will not be bound by
the caucus action, should any effort
be made to arrive at an agreement as
to rule to force through the postal
bank bill. They say that while they
are willing to agree upon the terms
of the bill and stand by the bill as it
may be perfected, that they are not
willing to agree to any rule which
will limit the right of the minority to
offer amendments. Fourteen of the
Insurgent Republicans have refused to
participate in any way in the caucus,
holding that this caucus is setting a
precedent which will be used in the
future to put through congress legis-
lation detrimental TO the public in
terests, and that it is establishing a
principle in our legislative system
which will ultimately, if continued, be
subservive of representative govern
ment.
It is said to be the intention OF
President Taft when the Ballinger-
Pinchot controversy is out of the way,
or at least when the congressional
committee has rendered a verdict
which 1t was appointed in January l
to render, and which it has had ready
ever since it was appointed, to name
a commission to report upon all Alas
kan matters to the president before
the next session of congress. At the
opening of the present session one OF
the blanks in the presidents program
was the provision of a government for
Alaska. A bill to carry it into effect
was prepared. it was reported out OF
the senate committee, the disclosures
in regard to the Morgan Guggenheim