The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-02-14
REBATE. BILL
GOES THROUGH
House Passes EIkins Measure by
Vote of 24I to 6.
UNDER A STRINGENT RULE
COCHRAN BRANDS HEPBURN
STATEMENT AS A LIE.

" SShAlS AOus eDs 1o.-OuuHT the
operation of a special order. which cut
off opportunity to offer amendments,
the house after a debate of an hour to-
day, by a vote of 241 TO 6, passed the
Elkins bin to prohibit rebates TO ship
pers. The six members who voted
against the bill were Democrats. Mr..
Littlefield of Maine was present, but
did not vote on either the rule or the
bill
The Democrats protested against the
rigorous terms of the rule. 1t had been
their purpose, they said, to offer the
provisions OF the LittlefieId bill as an
amendment to the bill Mr.. Dalzell of
Pennsylvania. Mr. Overstreet of Indi-
ana and Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa an
nounced that with the passage of the
Elkins bill the anti trust legislation for
this session Of congress would be COM
pIete.
During the debate Mr.. Cochran Dem.
Of Missouri. branded one of Mr.. Hep
burns statements as a deliberate lie"
contrary TO the usual custom, this
strong language had no sequel. The
remainder of the session was devoted
to the sundry civil appropriation bill,
which was practically completed. No
EFFORT was made to pass it, as there was
no quorum present.
Dalzell's Special Rule.
Mr.. Dalzelrs special rule provided for
an hours debate and a vote on the bill
and committee amendments at the end
OF that time without Intervening motion.
Mr. DalZell said the provisions of the
measure were familiar to all; that it was
one phase of antitrust legislation which
should receive consideration.
Mr. Richardson, the Democratic leader,
protested that there was no emergency
which required such a drastic course as
the special order proposed 1t permitted
bill.
Mr.. Hull of Iowa said no one contended
the bill was perfect but it was a step in
the direction of the regulation of trusts.
Mr.. Cannon said public sentiment de-
manded trust regulation. The pending
some of the troublesome questions than
any other. 1t would prevent favored
rates to favored shippers and place all
on an equal footing. He urged the house
10 take what 1t could now and try for
more later on
Littlefeld Makes Objection.
Mr.. Littlefield called attention to the
word 'wilful'' before failure in the pro-
vision imposing penalties for the ''wiifur'
fa!lure Of carriers 10 publish and observe
rates He said the word ought to come
out and that Senator Elkins, the author
of the bill. agreed with him.
Mr.. Cannon replied that if that were the
case Senator Elkins could air his views
in the senate.
He is a very considerable senator. &"
said he. but | never heard that he was
Mr.. De Almond denied alphabetically that
the country was demanding the enact
ment of the Elkins bill.
1T win do no good" said he. land the
people foremost in urging it know it.
Ihat is the reason they urge it, Demo
cratic applausel
There was nothing in the BILL he said.
that was not on the statute books except
the clauses repeating existing penalty
provisions OF law. To repeal those pen
alties, he said, was the real purpose.
Bill Bunco Game.
The bill. he declared. was an attempt
70 Dunco the people. and TO prevent
me oIIerlnS of amendments, the ma
a mere "deInagogic play to stifle legisla-
1T, The he gentleman from Illinois, CIR. Can
bill is not a great lawyer He NAV not
be, but he is great in other things-a
master in the art Of this sort of legisIa-
Mr.. Richardson concluded the debate
on his side and urged the house to vote
down the rule and compel the production
OF another that would open the bill TO
Mr.. GrOsvenor concluded the debate for
the majority. deprecating the constant at
Tempt OF the OIhef SIDE TO play for party
advantage in connection with the trust
question
The roll was called and the rule was
adopted, 40 to 10. a strict party vote.
me debate on the bill proper then pro-
ceeded- Mr.. Cochran CMissouri) charac-
terized the bill as a brazen and Shameless
imposition upon the credulity of the peo-
pie, His argument was principally df-
rected against the repeating OF ali the
provisions of existing law making officers
and agents of railroads guilty of dis
n i'm ion HesfN. ~
priSOnment.
Mr.. ShaokeIford Missouri denounced
the course of the majority in refusing 10
permit the minority TO offer as an amend
ment the Littlefield bill passed last sat
Mr., Sulzer. New York; in closing the
debate for the minority claimed the au-
thorshlp of a provision in the bill
Mr.. Hepburn Qowa) said he could not
concede Mr. Suffers claim to authorship.
as the language referred to was in the
present law.
Yet" said he, THE gentleman from
New York is strutting about pIumfng
himself that the majority has borrowed
from him something with which to tie
the octopus"