News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1914-08-19
Dillingham; Replies to Prouty

| three and one-h half column letter from
Senator Dillingham; to Fred A. Rowland
of Montpelier, which answers Charles A.
Prouty's letter in which he charged that
Senator Dillingham; acted with that CO.
terie of Senators who have been known
as the champions of special interests"
and claimed that they opposed measures
of railroad legislation which he advocat-
ed until further opposition would have
been political suicide.
Mr.. Dillingham; points out in the first
place, that he supported the Elkin's bill,
soon after his election to Congress, which
enlarged the powers of the Interstate
Commerce Commission of which Mr..
Prouty was member, to widen author
ity beyond Investigations.
Two months later, in 1908, the Hep
burn bill was passed and Mr.. Dilling-
ham says he was on record as voting up
on amendment offered during the entire
consideration of these measures, and vot-
ed for the bill on it's passage, and it could
not be said that he "httery opposed it,"
Three months later he saved Mr.
Prouty from being legisated out of office
by the Lodge amendment which provid-
ed that the commission should consist of
nine members, one for and from each
| judicial circuit of the United States
Hon. Martin A. Knapp of New York City,
then chairman, would undoubtedly be
appointed to the new commission estab-
| lished. The First judicial Circuit COM
prised the States of Connecticut, New
York and Vermont.
1.-THE matter was deemed of such i'm
portance that early on the following
morning., writes Senator Dillingham;,
II was visited by Mr.. Moseley. then Secre.
tary of the Interstate Commerce Com
/ mission, who freely discussed the danger
with which Mr.. Prouty was threatened
and the means by which it might be
av oided Secretary Moseley furnished
me with the maps indicating the terrific
1ial area of the different judicial circuits,
which, if submitted to the Senators from
the Middle and extreme West, might nat
uraly lead them to antagonize the pro-
posed change. Armed with this material,
I spent the morning interviewing Sena-
| tors, using the material furnished, 18th
| the result that when the amendment
came before the Senate for action it was
, cerpts from the Congressional Record
showing what use maps and material was
made by Senator Dillingham; on the floor
to defeat the Lodge amendment. Mr..
Lodge next day withdrew the amend
ment and offered substitute which was
permanently disposed of by being laid
on the table.
Continuing, he said:-"I held to de-
feat this amendment because of my strong
personal friendship for Mr.. Prouty, n.y.
belief in his ability to creditably fill the
positi IN, and because of my objection to
the amendment of any legislation which
might be construed as an intention, or
which would in fact eliminate him from
membership on the Interstate Commerce
G mmission. A day or two afterward |
received from Mr.. Prouty a courteous
note of thanks which he is as liberty to
publish if he so DESIRES"
Mr.. Dillingham; was one Of forty Sena-
tors who voted against the LaFollette
amendment to the same bill providing
for the physical valuation of railroads,
admitted to have some merit, but until
tested by the commission a great MAORI
ty of the State felt it would be premature
to embark upon an undertaking of such
magnitude.
Senator Dillingham; thought that this
may be the incident supported by five
Republicans, that Mr.. Prouty had in mind
when he said he acted with the cham
pions of special interests. Quotati ons
are given from messages of President
Roosevelt on this and other railroad leg
islation. He said he favored the Mann
Elkins railroads bill.
"The records fail to show single in
stance where l bitterly opposed railroad
regulation"
During the next three years he said
under increased powers with which the
commission had been clothed, its effic-
iency had been demonstrated and it be-
came evident the time to take up the
physical valuation of railroads had come,
and February "a, 1918, the Senate passed
the proposition which he was in hearty
accord.
He concludes:-"The legislation to
which l have referred, all of which l
gladly supported, comprises substantially
all of the legislation under which the In
terstate Commerce Commission has be-
come most important instrument of
government, welding an almost poten- |
tial power in determining the rights of |
all classes of citizens whether investors
in trade, or otherwise"