The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-08-04
DILLINGHAM;
REPLIES TO PROUTY
Letter in Which He States That He
Was Not Opposed to Railroad
Legislation.


The St. Johnsbury Caledonian prints
a letter from Senator w. p Dilling-
ham to Fred A. Rowland, of Mont
peher, which answers Charles A.
Prouty s letter in which he charged
that Senator Dillingham; acted with
, that eoterie of senators who has
been known as the champions of spe-
elal interests and claimed that, they
opposed measures of railroad legisla.
ton which he advocated until further
opposition would have been political
suicide.
Mr.. Dillingham; points out, in the
nrst place, that he supported the Ell
kIns bill, soon after his election to
Congress, which enlarged the powers
OF the interstate commerce commission
OF which Mr.. Prouty was member,
to widen authority beyond investi-
cations.
Two months later in 1908 the Hep
purn bill was passed and Mr.. Dilling-
nam says he was recorded as voting
upon amendment offered during the
entire consideration of these measures
and voted for the bill on its passage,
and 1t could not be said that he ''bit-
terly opposed it,
Three months later he saved Mr..
Prouty from being legislated out of
ONCE by the Lodge amendment which
provided 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, then chairman, would
undoubtedly be appointed to the new
commission established. The first iu-1
dlclal circuit comprised the states of
Connecticut, New York and Yer
mont.
1.-The matter was deemed of such.
Importance that early on the follow
ing morning, writes Senator Dill
hngham, - was visited bv Mr.. Nose
ley, then secretary of the interstate
commerce commission who freely dis
cussed the danger with which Mr..
Prouty was threatened and the means
by which it might be avoided. Secre-
tary Moseley furnished me with mans
indicating the territorial area of the
different judicial circuits, which. if
submitted to the senators from the
middle and extreme west, might nat
urally lead them to antagonize the pro-
posed change. Armed with this ma
teriaI l spent the morning interview
ing senators, using the material fur
nlshed, with the result that when the
amendment came before the senate for
action 1t was assailed on all sides. -
Then follows excerpts from the Con-
gresslonai Record showing what use was
made Of the maps and material pre-
pared by Senator Dillingham; on the
moor to defeat the Lodge amendment
Mr.. Lodge next day withdrew the
amendment and offered a substitute
which was permanently disposed by
being laid on the table.
Continuing he said: 81 held to lie
feat this amendment because of my
strong personal friendship for Mr..
ProHty, my belief in his ability toI
ereditably fill the position, and BEL
cause OF my objection to the amend
ment of any Legislation which might
be construed as an intention to. or
which would, in fact. eliminate him
from membership on the interstate
commerce commission. A day or two
after | received from AR. Proutv
courteous note of thanks which he is
at liberty to publish if he so desires. >
Mr.. Dillingham; was one of 40 sena-
tors who voted against the LoF'olette
amendement to the same bill providing
Tor the physical valuation of railroads.
admitted to have merit but until test
ed by the commission a great ma oritv
OF the Senate felt it would be pre-
mature to embark upon an undertaking
OF such magnitude
Senator Dillingham; thought that this |
may be the incident supported bv
i've Republicans, that Mr.. Prouty had
in mind when he said he acted with |
the champions of special interests.
Quotations are given from messages
Of President Roosevelt on this ana |
other railroad legislation lie said ne |
favored the Mann Elkins railroads bill. |
1.-THE record fails to show single |
instance where | bitterly opposed rail |
road regulation.
During the next three wears h. said
under increased powers with which the
commission had been clothed. its etfici- |
ency had been demonstrated and it be- /
came evident the time to take no the
physical valuation of railroads had /
come, and Feb. "a, 1913. the senate /
passed the proposition with which he /
was in hearty accord.
lie concludes: ''The legislation TO
which | have referred. all of which
gladly supported, comprises substan- /
TALLY all of the legislation under
which the interstate commerce com
mission has become most important
instrument of government welding an
almost potential power in determining
The rights of all classes of citizens
whether investors, in trade. or other
wise ;;