Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-04
Council Bluffs
SMITH OFF FOR WASHINGTON
Congressman Returns to Capital
After Spending Holiday at Home.
HOPEFUL OF RECONCILIATION
says His Duties VIII Keep Him Out
Of District and He VIII Depend
Upon Friends to Cam
pRiEn for Him.

Congressman Walter 1. Smith. who re-
turned to Washington last evening after
spending the holidays with his family in
this city, viii. on account OF his work In
congress be unable to take an active part
IN the approaching political campaign in
the Ninth Iowa district. Despite the
claims OF the supporters Of Attorney Cen
eral II. w. Byers, who has announced him
self as a candidate for the congressional
nomination in the Ninth district, Judge
Smith is very hopeful of denomination. but
as he Is likely to be compelled to remain
in washington until near the date Of his
primary election In June, his interests will
have to be looked after by his friends.
Referring to the report that Mr.. Byers
would propose to resign as attorney gem
eral II he would resign as a member OF
congress, Judge Smith said yesterday that
he doubted II Mr.. Byers was responsible
for such a suggestion, and explained that
the attorney generals office could be filled
by appointment, while the office of mem
Der OF congress could not, and II he re-
signed the result would be a special cleo
tivn to fill his place within a month.
lac added that 1t had taken his utmost
efforts during his entire service in congress
10 acquire his present places as member OF
the committee on rules, member OF the
committtc on appropriations, chairman OF
the coianhttee on sea-coast Qualifications,
luI kins member OF the committee on the
Sunury civil bill chairman of one confer
ence committee with the senate and mem
Der OF another, member OF the house build
ing commission, and member of the joint
commission of the two houses of congress
on the bonding OF government officials.
IF Mr.. Byers made the proposition at
tpIhItad IN him - said Iudpa smith 't
was a mild suggestion that 1 should resign
all these places earned By years of service
and which wo~., - once be filled by
others and then q. reelected start again
at the foot OF u.e ladder. No, l shall not
resign neither AAall L neglect my duties
in Washington even IL they take time l
would like to use in the primary campaign.
l am exceedingly hopeful of denomination
and reelection, but my official duties re-
quire that l leave largely to my friends
work l should be glad to relieve them of.
Regarding the work Of congress Judge
Smith expresseG the belief that material
amendments will be made to the antitrust
law ana to the Interstate CONNIE law.
"The nineteen years OF experience under
the antitrust law and the various de-
cisions under t, have thrown light upon
the subject that the law can now be i'm
proved in several respects he said.
When the Hepburn Interstate commerce
law was passed. while 1t covered a num-
Der OF subjects. the principal object was
to confer the rate making power on the
commission. Other features have since
risen to importance. Conspicuous among
these is the question Of how best to con-
troll the capitalization Of transportation
companies. Then the shipper should be
given enlarged power to control the routing
OF his goods,
The decision in the scent fare case
and the threat 70 raise the rates by with
drawing the commutatlon tickets, illus
trates the need for a law TO require COM
panies to obtain the approval OF the Inter
state Commerce commission before raising
rates. '