The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-14
So Speaks Cochran. Hepburn
Does not Resent It.
THE ELk|NS BILL PASSED
Under Special Rule That Barred Am sndn ents
'-.Hepburn Says This Measure Winds
Up Antitrust Legislation for
This Session,
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, D. c., Feb. I3-Under tho
operation of a special order which cut
of opportunity to offer amendments, the
House, after a debate of an hour, today
by a vote of 241 to 6, passed the Elkins
bill to prohibit rebates to shippers. The
six members who voted against the bill
were Democrats. Mr.. Littlefeld. of
Maine. was present but did not vote on
either the rule or the bill The Demo-
Gratis protested against the rigorous
terms of the rule 1t had been their
purpose, they said, to offer the provis-
lens of the Littlefield bill as an amend
ment to the bill
Mr.. Dalzell, of PENNSYLVANIA; Mr..
Overstreet, of Indiana, and Mr.. Hepburn.
oil Iowa, practically announced with the
passage of the Elkins' bill the Antitrust
legislation for this session of Congress
would be complete. During the debate
Mr.. Cochran Dem.). of Missouri. brand
ed one of Mr.. Hepburns statements as
deliberate lie.''
Contrary to the usual custom this
strong language had no sequel.
The remainder of the session was de-
voted to the Sundry Civil Appropriation
Bill which was practically completed No
effort was made to pass it as there was
no quorum present.
Mr.. Dalzell, of Pennsylvania, presented
the rule, which provided for an hours
debate and vote on the bill and com
mittee amendments at the end of that
time without intervening motion The
previous question being ordered on the
adoption of the rule, 20 rainutes' debate
m ach eli xx,oS oll do, +bo
Mr.. Dalzell contented himself with
very brief explanation. He said the pro-
vision of the measure We're familiar to
all. that it was one phase of antitrust
legislation which should receive consid-
Grafton.
Mr.. Richardson, the Democratic leader
protested that there was no emergency
which required such a drastic course
as the special order proposed.
Mr.. Underwood, of Alabama, said he
favored the bill but he protested that
it did not go far enough.
Mr.. Cannon called attention to the
fact that less than three weeks of the
session remained ard to the backward
state of appropriation bills and other
imperative measures. In the House. he
said it was impossible to put through
legislation.
Public sentiment demanded trust regu-
lation. The pending bill, he declared,
would do moro to solve some of the
troublous questions than any other. 1t
would prevent favored rates to favored
shippers and place all on an equal foot
ing. He urged the House to take what
it could now and try for more later on
Mr.. Littlefeld attempted to get in with
an inquiry but Mr.. Dalzell declined to
yield him the time He, however, got a
minute from Mr.. Richardson. In that
minute he called attention to the word
"wilfuI' before failure" in the provis-
ion imposing penalties for the "wilful''
failure of carriers to publish and observe
rates. He said the word ought to come
out and that Senator Elkirs, the author
of the bill, agreed with him.
Mr. DeArmond, of Missouri denied
emphatically that the country was de-
manding the enactment of the Elkins'
BILL 1T will DO no good said he land
the people foremost In urging it know it,
That is the reason they urge it, Dem
ocratic applause) There was nothing in
the bill, he said, that was not on the
statute books except the clauses repeal
ing existing penalty provisions of law.
Those penalties he SAID, was the real
purpose. The BILL he declared, was an
attenpt to "bunco" the people and to
prevent the offering of amendments, the
majority dare not vote against. 1t was
a mere demagogic play" to stihe legis-
lation.
Mr. Overstreet, of Indiana, in support
of the rule pointed out the three fea-
lures OF the anti trust legislation the ma
jcrity had set out to place upon the
statute books---to expedite cases, to Sc
cure publicity Of the corporations, meth
DDS of doing business and to prevent dis
elimination and rebates by railroads
Propositions covering all three subjects
had passed the House and two had passed
the Senate.
Mr. Dalzell said the reason given on
the other side against the rule were the
best that could be offered for it's adop
tlon. They had all said they were for the
OH good or bad. Two-thirds of the an
u-trust legislation was now passed. With
'h's measure the present legislative pro-
sramme Tor the regulation of trusts
would be complete.
Mr.. Richardson concluded tho debate
on MS side and urged the House to vote
down the rule and compel the production
or another that would open the bill to
amendment
The roll was called and tbo ruIo rvas
adopted 40 to 11O. strict nartv vote
The debate upon the bill proner ,bor
proceeded. Mr.. Cochran, of Missouri;
characterized the bill as "brazen and
shameless imposition upon the croaulitv
of the people. His argument was chiefly
directed against the repeating of all the