The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-14
j. HAM LEWIS WOULD
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Three Pfefferlike Bills Shock
Senate Democrats and
Amuse Republicans.
FEDERAL RAILWAYS URGED
Fav0rs Directing Business Of
Country by Commission Form
Of Government.

wAsHfNoroN, April 13.-C;overnment
ownership OF the railroads OF the country
is now proposed In Congress. j. Ham
Lewis. the Democratic whip of the Senate,
included this as one Of the features of a
remarkable legislative programme intro
duced by him.
The Illinois Senator introduced three
bills which virtually contemplate the d.
rectlon Of all American business by a
commission form of government. Senator
Lewis characterlzes his measures as the
trinity Of his labors while In the Senate"
The first bill socks to allay all criticism
of the Democracy as the enemy OF the
American merchant marine by .authorix-
Ing the United States Government to build
"a certain number OF merchant vessels
which shall remain the property OF the
Government subject TO lease to indvid-
uals, firms or corporations and further
subject TO requisition by the owner for
purposes OF war or aux!liaries In time OF
war.
The second bill In for a national COM
mission of commerce and Industry to con-
solldate the regulation and supervision
into a single body OF transportation. bank
ing. finance and manufacturing and for
the adjustment OF all other commissions
or agencies In conflict Herewith"
FRvOrs Buying the Railroads.
The third of the trinity frankly pro-
poses the absorption by the Federal Gov
eminent OF all the common carriers and
tho highways over which they run. to-
gether with the leasing Of such systems
to private operators. the Government re-
tanning ita the r,sgt pf
rates and earnings
The Introduction OF the Lewis bills
created "A mild sensation In the Senate
With his wonted grace the Illinoisan re-
quested that the titles OF his trinity" be
read from the clerks desk. IA the read
ing proceeded broad smiles spread over
the countenances OF mis- colleagues.
Senator Smoot OF Utah seemed to have
trouble to restrain his r.slbles Senator
Gallinger looked shocked. senator Borah
was plainly amused Senator Cummins
VINO later expected to deliver his long
promised speech on the railways, seemed
disappointed. as though the Lewis inter
poiation had somehow spoiled the setting
for his address.
on the democratic side there was less
OF anuse mcnt depicted on the faces of the
Senators. II was evident that senator
Lewis's reintroduction OF the unpeasa
subject OF Federal ownership. which had
embarrassed the Democracy almost to
the point of extinction when proposed b.
Mr.. Bryan fourteen years ago. created
apprehension.
Senator Lcwiss commission bill, re-
Carded by himself as the most important
OF the three. as explained by himself de-
signs TO create commission OF twenty
one members, which actually will be a.
triplex organization consisting OF three
sub-cOmniss.ons Of seven ,embers each.
Three Bodies 4" lie Displaced.
one branch Is to have Interstate com.
rnerce ana transportation. railways and
steamships : another. banking and finance
and the third. supervision over manu-.
facturers ana the interstate shipment OF
manufactured articles In word tho
three subdivisions take "a themselves
scvoraly the work OF the Interstate Com
uorce Commission. the Federal Reserve
Hoard and the proposed Interstate Trade
Commission,
In explanation Of the system which II
is the design Of the author to follow in