The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1916-08-11
CONGRESSMAN SIMS
is INTERVIEWED
Tells Progress Man Of Future
Committee Work Com
ments on Hughes Let
ter Of Acceptance

Congressman 7. W. Sims, who ha.
just been renominated for the
eleventh time, by the Democrats ol
the Eighth district, after spending 6
few days here with his family has
left to remain in Washington unit
Congress adjourns. Mr.. Sims is one
Of the House Conferees on the
Shields Water Power Bill and is
anxious to do all he can to have
the House substitute for the Shields
Bill agreed to by the Senate and
enacted into law at the earliest pos.
sible moment.
Mr.. Sims in speaking of this mat
ter said There is violent opposition
to the Senate bill by many very in.
fluential men in both parties and il
will take a prolonged and desperate
struggle to force the Senate Bill
through if, indeed, it is possible to
pass it in the House, while the
House substitute is acceptable to
all the advocates of the reasonable
conservation Of natural resources,
but who also favor the development
Of hydro-electric water power.
There will be no trouble in getting
the House substitute passed at this
session.
Mr.. Sims has also been appointed
to membership on the joint COM
mitlee Of the Senate and House, au-
thorized by the Senate Joint resolu-
ton No. 60, for the purpose of in
vestigating and reporting its recon-
mendations to Congress. of all ques-
tons bearing on or touching inter-
state and foreign transportation Of
every kind, including railways, wa.
terways, also telephone and tele-
graph service. This measure was
recommended by President Wilson
in his last annual message and is
by far the most important joint
committee service that has ever
been provided for by any Congress.
This committee is authorized to
hold sessions during the recess of
Congress. Great conflict has arisen
between the functions performed by
the several state railway commits
sions and the Federal Interstate
Commerce Commission in the at
tempt to properly regulate and con-
troll the railroads Of the country.
The railroads claim that their cred
it and usefulness have been much
impaired by having to comply with
the orders of the forty-eight state
commissions and in addition the Or
ders and regulations of the Inter-
State Commerce commission. The
joint committee is authorized to in
vestigate and report on all questions
involved in the regulation and con-
troll Of all interstate and foreign
transportation facilities, including
both government control and GOV
ernment ownership Of such facili-
ties. 1t will require several years Of
continuous work by this committee
to complete the labors assigned it
Mr.. Sims is greatly interested in
the organization Of this committee
at the earliest moment and this in
part is the cause Of his early de-
parture for Washington.
His long service on the House
Committee on Interstate and For
eign Commerce has fitted him fol
efficient and useful service on this
great Joint committee.
Referring to Judge Hughes mott
tication speech. Mr.. Sims said: The
speech must have been disappoint-
ing to Republicans. 1t was almost
pointless as to definite issues. In a
general way he criticizes what
President Wilson has done regard.
ing the Mexican situation but fail.