The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-02-13

al SCI huu mas pctu kpOput
lar In Washington.
Congressman Moss, Of West vir.
ginia, came yaliantly to the defense
of the President in an unusually SO.
we're clash in the house this week,
which was precipitated by the charge
that the President had Influenced the
interstate commerce commission to
grant the five per cent. increase In
freight rates to the eastern railroads.
The atmosphere was cluttered with
charges and counter charges, predic-
tons Of further increases and de-
mails, and the House read again the
letter from President Wilson to "A. H.
Joline, dated April 1907, expressing
the wish that something dignihed
could be done to knock Bryan into
a cooked hat"
The Congressman presenting the
charges led up to the charge OF in.
fluence on the interstate commerce
commission by reading the Demo
cratic platform planks favoring as
low transportation rates as possible;
then he read the Wilson-Jollne letter
and said that "the greatest accom-.
plishment Of this administration had
been brought about by the increase Of
freight rates, In that It would pre-.
vent "Mr. Bryan from going about
saying that the man he had made
President is In favor OF cheaper
freight rates"
After several wordy battles in which
the short and ugly" was as nearly
exchanged as It is compatible for
congressional dignity to permit, and
after one Of the battling congress
men had peremptorily ordered an
other Of his colleagues to sit down,
Congressman Moss arose. and tried to
spread peace upon the situation. Dis
cussion upon the interstate commerce
commission Jagged %thereupon and
Congressman Moss went on to say 81
am tired hearing about the Influencing
of judicial bodies like the interstate
commerce commission" He said
further. although the President ie
the greatest dictator we have had In
the White House for fifty years, he
wouldn't attempt to influence the In
terstate commerce commission. be
cause that body would not stand for
IL" Mr.. Moss said that he believed
that the President, while he might
not fully realize the improperly OF
trying to influence q judicial body
like the interstate commerce commits
sion, was sure, that, II the President
did try, that the commission, com
posed, as 1t Is. Of men OF highest type
and character. realizing their duties
as Judges to decide solely upon the
evidence, would not for a moment let
even the President oil. the United
States Influence its decisions.
Mr.. Moss made n strong plea for
the railroads and shippers and saId.
in his opinion. that tho time was not
far off when, without hostility, md
without the spirit Of prejudice which
now seems to prevail In some quar-
tiers. We would, as a nation, give the
railroads and the shippers Of the
country equal Justice. In Mr.. Moss
opinion II any critic will even start
TO study the transportation problem
and get evon a little insight into It,
he will see the magnitude OF the diff
culttes that arise In fixing rates. Mr.,
Moss made a very favorable impros,
sion in his short talk and his argu'
ment received favorable commenda'
lion from the more conservative mem
bers OF tho house, who think II is time
to give big business a rest and time
to recuperate from tho numerous at
tacks that have been made on It dur,
ing the present administration.
When Senator Chiffon ventured To
suggest this week during the senator.
ial filibusterer, in his reply to Sena'
tor Norris statement that the pres
emit ship.bill had been killed by the
Presidents order to the senate, the
statement that the Clayton law was
sufficient to cover some Of the prases
Of the situation, he got an unquali,
fed opinion from the Progressive
se0afnr ae IN TIM MARTA ri tho Clay,