St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-07-29

said Commission shall con-
sist of nine members, one for
and from each judicial circuit
of the United States"
It was seen at a glance, and gen
orally understood in the Senate, that
this provision if adopted. would
even, if not SO intended, promptly
| legislate Mr.. Prouty out of Office. in
asmuch as the first judicial circuit
comprised the states OF Connecticut.
New York and Vermont, and the
Honorable Martin A. Knapp of New
York, who was then Chairman of the
Commission, would undoubtedly be
appointed to the new commission. if
established.
The matter was deemed of such
Importance that early on the follow
ing morning l was visited at my
hotel by Mr.. Moseley, then secretary
of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, who freely discussed the dang
er with which Mr.. Prouty was threat
ened, and the means by which it
might be avoided. Secretary Nose
ley furnished me with maps indicat-
ing the territorial area of the differ
ent judicial circuits, which, If sub
mitted to senators from the middle
and extreme west, might naturally
lead them to antagonize the propos-
ed change.
Armed with this material, / spent
the morning interviewing senators,
using the material thus furnished
me, with the result that when the
amendment came before the Senate
for action it was assailed on all
sides-first by Senator Foraker of
Ohio, who in the course of his re-
marks, among other things said:
Il have another proposition
If we are going to indulge in
the square DEAL let us look
at the map for a minute.
do not know who prepared it,
but if these Commissioners are
to be distributed according to
judicial circuits
Mr.. Dillingham;: Will the Senator
allow me to interrupt him for lust
moment? l brought that map into
the Senate. 1t was furnished me by
the Secretary of the Interstate Com
merce Commission at my request.
Mr.. Foraker: did not know
where it came from, but it presents
just what l wanted to call attention
to.
Mr.. Dillingham;: Here is a state
ment of mileage in each of the cir
cults and the population.
Mr.. Foraker: If the Senator will
allow me, l will beg the Senator to
present it.
Mr.. Dillingham;: I hand it to the
Senator to use.
Mr.. Foraker: I thank the Sena-
tor, though / did not want to take
else's ammunition 1 would
be glad if he would use it. Mr.
President: want Senators to look
at these judicial circuits. One, two,
three, and four are practically in
New England"
Senator Foraker then proceeded
with his argument, and he was fol-
lowed by many others. The matter
went over until the next day, when
Mr.. Lodge withdrew his original
and offered a substitute
therefor, which on motion of Sena-
tor Nelson was permanently dispos-
ed of by being laid on the table
l helped to defeat this amend
ment because of my strong personal
for Mr. Prouty, my be-
lief in his ability to creditably fill
the position, and because of my
objection to the enactment of any
legislation which might be construed |
rs an intention to, or which would |
n fact, eliminate him from member
ship on the Interstate Commere /
Commission
A day or two thereafter / receiv-
ID from Mr.. Prouty a courteous note
If thanks which he is at liberty to
publish if he so desires.
Physical Valuation of Railroads.
During the consideration of this
Measure Senator Lafollette of Wis
onsin, offered an amendment pro-
Tiding for the physical valuation of
ailroads. 1t was admitted by every
me that there was much merit in
he proposition, but until the COM
mission should have had full OPP
'ortunity to test out and demon
trate the practicability of the
broader jurisdiction and increased
covers which the bill imposed, a
,reat majority of the Senate felt
hat it would be premature to en-
ark upon an undertaking of such
magnitude.
That proposition was no part of H
he bill presented, and when as an
it had been fully debat-
ID and considered, and was placed Il
lpon it's passage, it received the H
vote of only five republican sena-
ors, viz: Senator Lafollette, it's au-
hor, and Senators Burkett, Dolliver,
1lkins and Gamble.
I was one of 40 senators who vot-
ID against this proposition at that |
ime, and il may be that this is the |
Incident that Mr.. Prouty had in |
mind when he said that 'facted with |
hat coterie of Senators who have !
)een known as the champions of II
special interests" in opposing meas
Tres of railroad regulation which he /
advocated and about which he says
he specially knew.
Advised Not to Do More.
The estimate placed by President
Roosevelt upon the value of the leg
Station to which reference is made,
Is well as other progressive legis-
alton to which I had given my sup
'ort, may be found in the message
which he sent to the Congress the H
ollowing December, in which he
aid: