The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-10-30

and bootblackS, costing the govern
ment an amount which I would hesi-
tate to set forth. Senator Cummins
secured the passage of resolution
legislating this commission out OF
business and saving the people Of the
country any further Of these useless
expenditures.
SIXTH.-He introduced what Is
known as the stock gambling bill,
which was in the nature OF an amend
ment to the tariff bill to tax short
sales upon stock exchanges and
boards of trade, and this removed the
iniquity that attempts to make gamb-
ling an honorable occupation. One OF
the best speeches made in the senate
was made by him on this subject.
SEVENTH.-In securing appropria-
tons for agricultural extension ano
for hog cholera work in the state OF
Iowa, Senator Cummins' influence was
most potent, and his voice was raised
on the floor and his influence exerted
for these measures SO valuable to the
farmers Of Iowa.
EIGHTH.-Senator Cummins intro
Guced and had passed through the
senate bill to prevent railroads Inn
iting liability on shipments; this was
to remedy a situation which had been
brought about by the construction OF
the Carmack amendment by the SUI
preme court. His amendment makes
the situation practically the same as
existed in many states before the
passage of the Carmack amendment.
That measure is now sleeping In the
house. Possibly those democrats, who
were So anxious at the time OF the
adoption Of this platform to have this
particular relief for the farmers and
shippers and who hold seats In the
house Of representatives, might help
the matter along by getting it out OF
the committee In the house. Senator
Cummins has done all that can be
done on the senate side: the respon-
sibility now rests with the house OF
representatives.
NINTH.-1n the tariff fight in 1903.
he offered an amendment to the tarin
bill in the nature of an income tax
law, which Is universally conceded to
be far better than the present income
tax law. He was defeated In that
work by the manipulation Of the AID
rich-Cannon regime. He has always
been a persistent advocate Of the in
come tax law.
TENTH. The decree entered by
the court In the tobacco trust de-
cision" was not satisfactory to the
people OF the country. but there was
no way for the people to have any
thing to do with an appeal. An APP
peal from that peculiar decree would
have resulted possibly, or, at least,
the opportunity would have been pre-
scented. for comprehensive statement
as to just what the law was. Senator
Cummins took hold OF this matter
with vigor and introduced a bill re-
curing an appeal from the decree Of
the circuit court of New York, and
twice secured its passage In the sem
ate. only to be blocked in the house.
This measure Evidences his alertness
on all questions concerning the peo-
pies welfare.
FIBVENTH.-The democratic plat
form adopted at Council Bluffs by the
state convention, severely criticlEes
the senior senator because he was en-
gagged as they allege, in blocking the
desires of the president of the United
States. There was some humor in
that, and possibly the reference was
the very time the senator was making
a fight in congress for one of the pet
measures of the president, viz: the
trade commission bill. He was the
leader in that fight. When the dis
tineuished chairman OF the interstate
commerce committee. Senator New
lands, was questioned concerning the
bill. he arose at his seat and frequent-
ly stated that he was unable to an
swer the questions and simply re.
marked, ASK the senator from Iowa
to explain the matter 1t was gener.
ally conceded that hal it not been for
his thorough knowledge Of this bill,
the law pertaining thereto, the ability
to present his views, and meet argu
ments against it on the floor, the trade
commission bill never would have
PdSSSu. L nave a ISlISI Wk-JLcl ny q
distinguished member OF the Wilson
administration, the commissioner OF
corporations, commencing Senator
Cummins in unmeasured terms for the
manner in which he carried on the
iaht for the trade commission BILL
TWBLFTH.-The railroad bill OF
1910 was one of the most important
pieces of legislation ever presented in
congress. Senators Cummins and
Clapp made a minority report which
embraced substantially all the amend
ments afterwards put in the bill. AS
reported from the committee and as
attempted to be passed without
amendment by majority of the COM
rnittce. the bill would have been a
most unsatisfactory one to the Amer
lean people. 1t would have permitted
pooling: It would practically rattfy
all existing mergers and consolida-
ho.