Evening journal., 1901-03-02
ABBOTT KILLS
His own BILL
Milford Man Performs Tn.
paraIIeIed Back-ActiOn Feat
RAILROADS WIN THEIR FIGHT
There Has Not Been Such a FUNK for
Years as That Of the AddickS
People
RAILROADS WIN THEIR FIGHT
Stan Correspondence Evening Journal.

Stan Correspondence Evening Journal.
Dover, March 2.-Senator Abbott
backed water beautifully yesterday, and
former Attorney General John Bggs, So
lcitor for the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company, sat in the lobby and smiled be-
nignanty and afterwards shook hands
with the Milford statesman on his un-
paralleled back-action feat.
Senators Blakely Brasure and pennc-
will looked on in amazement, which af-
forwards found vent in some Of the for
mer's choicest Henry Clay expletives
which were poured into the ever-open but
unwilling ears of Senator Alice
The truth of the matter is that the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company and the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
had the Addicks men on the run all day
long, but no one supposed there would be
such an abject surrender before the sun
went down.
On February II Senator Abbott intro
duced bill to create a State railroad
commission. 1t had been prepared in
Philadelphia and was part and parcel Of
the bunch of clubs the Addicks men had
had prepared to use against the railroads
to compel them to use their influence in
hNnAAA Va -AlAAAhN AoA = nlANu GAhAtc HfAA-
atOr.
Frank II. Davis, Union Republican at
torney for the Legislature, made two
trips to Philadelphia to look after the bill
and on the night Of Saturday, February
3, he brought it down with him. On Mon
day, February IL, he put it in Senator Alb
bOtt's hands, who introduced it.
The bill was referred to the Committee
Tu.1 Of .s~hfrh
is chairman. His colleagues are Sena-
tors Hart, Pennewill, Blakely and Bra
sure.
1t hung fire for a long time, and finally
Senator Abbott arose TO a question OF
privilege, and censured the committee Sc
verely for the manner in which il was
holding back the bin.
Senator Slaughter advanced certain
excuses, which sufiiced for the time being.
Then Senator Abbott prevailed upon
Senators Pennewill, Blakely and Brasure
at the next meeting Of the Committee on
judiciary, to insist upon an immediate
report on the bill. They did so, and the
meeting was a spirited one. Finally it
was agreed that the railroad men should
have until Wednesday night TO advance
their objections to the bill, and that it
should be reported yesterday. The rail-
road men did not avail themselves OF the
opportunity. They must have regarded
Oratory as a waste of time when they had
votes and to spare.
Pursuant to agreement Senator Siaugh-
ter reported the bill favorably yesterday
afternoon with minority report signed
by himself and Senator Hart, and asked
that the measure be put on its final pass
age.
Everything was in confusion for little
while. Senator Groves walked out for
the time being.
The Addicks people must have realized
that there was trouble ahead
Frank. lets recommit the bill" said
Senator Pennewill to Senator Alice
When the reading Of the bill had been
concluded Senator Pcnnewill said:
Mr. President, I move that this bill
be recommitted"
Il second the notion" said Senator
Brasure.
Il object" said Senator Slaughter
The bill is rotten from top to bottom, and
ought TO be killed.
This brought Senator Abbott to his
feet.
"rhis bill was introduced in good
that the people are not ready for it.. The
system of placing railroads under COM
missions has been tried i'm thirty states
This is a copy of the Iowa and Texas law
which, at the meeting of the National
Association of Railroad Commissioners,
was decided to be the best one yet en-
acted. However, in view of the fact that
the people are not ready for it at this
fimn I do M Incl ,.I 20, IL -
''Wel MIR. President, must say that
am in favor OF the bin and am ready to
vote ON it," said Senator Brasure, at the
same time Withdrawing his second to
Senator Pennewills motion to recommii
the bill.
Senator Abbott. the second to the mo-
iion to recommit has been withdrawn, >
said Senator Alice '.NIr. President,
second the motion to recommit"
Il request the senators to Withdraw the
motion to recommit," said Senator Alb
They did it. -.sszp
''Now Mr.. President, I move that fur
ther consideration Of this bill be indefi-
nitely postponed"
Second the notion" said Senator
Knox.
Senators Brasure and Blakely looked Al
him in amazement. There stood the mar
who had prevailed upon them TO go into
committee and make such a stubborn
fight for his bill, actually killing it him.
self before their very eyes, and making
them the laughing stock Of their col
leagues.
The motion to postpone the bill indef
nitely prevailed as follows;
Yea-Messrs. Abbott, Alice, Clements
Knox. McFarlin. McNulty, Groves, Far
low. Wright. Maull, Hart, Slaughter
Harrington. Ellison-l4
Nay-'Mr. Brasure-1.
Not voting-Alr Blakely-l-
AbsentLMr Groves
And so died the Abbott Railroad Com