The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-01-26

EXTRA SESSION
IS NOT LIKELY
Railroad Legislation Is Side
tracked For Tho Winter.
STILL TAKING TESTIMONY
N~ewlands- Adanson Joint Legislative
Commission Continues Its Hearings.
Outcome May Bring About Abolition
of State Lines In Regard TO Railroad
Laws.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington. Jan. ~. ~ Special J.
The continuation Of the NCwland~-
Adamson joint legislative commission
makes II possible To sidetrack the rail.
road legislation this winter aud not
compel an extra session. There is cool
reason for postponing action while this
joint commission Is still taking testi-
mony.
There is of course doubt whether this
commission Is going TO accomplish any
thing. We have had experience with
commissions and committees of con
gress and long Investigations. Ten
years ago when Senator Elkins was
chairman of the committee ON inter
state commerce several months were
given over to taking testimony Of rail
road men and everybody else that
wanted to be heard upon the subject
OF railroad conditions. There are six
or eight large volumes Of that testi-
mony. which was then and has ever
since been absolutely valueless. What
was said by those people had no inlu-
ence whatever upon the legislation
that followed.
Fearing the Outcome.
A great many men fear that the out
come OF railroad legislation following
the investigation by the Newlands-
Adamson commission will be the wip-
ing out OF state ines In regard to
transportation I'm the United States. A
great many men see q tendency in that
direction, particularly "A the railroads
are insistent upon u central control
and regulation rather than forty-eight
different commissions and states max
ing laws and regulations for the ear
riers.
"viswina With Alarm"
Ii Is always stated that political
platforms win point with pride" and
view with alarm" and there Is gen
orally a number OF men In congress
who are more or less pessimistic in
regard TO conditions of the country I'm
the future. But just now the type of
pessimistic utteranees beats anything
that has been heard I'm years. Leaders
n those who are lea leaders. ena
TORS of considerable prominence and
.hairmen of committees I'm the house
are vieing with each other in prognos-
tications of evils to come upon this
country In the future. Just why there
should be such manifestations at this
time when the country is SO prosper
Gus Is a mystery.
What Did He Meant
Congressman Oglesby of New York
met Congressman Frank Clark OF Flor
ida In the corridor of the house and
remarked, "You ought to be mighty
glad hat fellow Lawson doesn't live
I'm your district; he'd come to congress
In your place II he was there"
Clark was somewhat nonplused at
first and could scarcely understand
what Oglesby meant. but then 1t dawn
ed upon him that he has a reputation
OF being a mighty good advertiser.
How to Get Roads.
When the house was discussing the
subject of roads the ever watchful
Jim Mann addressed several inquiries
w Soh6hSSSAAoh ACNti VI Coutn tulO~
lima, having the subject in charge. this
being one:
Can you tell how the pull is exer-
cised to get a road built In a commu
nifty at the expense OF the govern
menti"
Lever could not.
There Is one down In the district
Of u genial friend from Virginia, Mr..
Carlin," continued Mann.
And "A very good one" replied Car
lin, unabashed.
This and other roads, 1t was explain
ed, were part of the experimental
roads built by the government. 1t had
long been a disgrace to the national
government that the road alluded to
by Mann vas that to Mount Vernon,
and In all the years 1t has been allow
the home and burial place OF Washing
ton are shrines visited by nearly every
person who comes to Washington.
independents Hold Balance.
No matter how the two major par
ties may figure 1t, neither can show a
majority In the nex house Of repre-
~sentatives unless 1t take into camp
the independents or a number Of them.
1t Is going to make a number of in
dependents quite powerful. They will
be able to force terms from one side or
the other or deadlock the organization
OF the house. At present the Demo
Gratis show more confidence in the out
come than do the Republicans. The
Republican leaders are not quite sure
Of the support Of all their members. A
number Of Republicans have exhibited
a great deal Of independence.
Getting an Early Start.
Congressman Chiperfield Of Illinois