The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-02-14
THE ELKlNS BILL PASSED
This Ends Republican Antitrust Pro.
gram in The House.
DURING DEBATE on THE MEASURE
MIR. Cochran OF Missouri Branded One OF
Mr.. Hepburn's Reckless Statements
as 4 Deliberate Lie.

Washington, February l3-UDder the
operation of a special order which cut on
opportunity to offer amendments. the house,
after debate Of an hour today, by a vote
OF 2ii TO 8, passed the Elkins bill to pro
hibit rebates TO shippers. The six members
who voted against the bill were democrats.
Mr.. Littleheld (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 pro
visions Of the bittleheld bill as an amend
ment to the bill. Mr. Dalzell (Pa). Mr.
overStrect Ind and Mr. Hepburn dowa)
practically announced that with the pas.
sage Of the Elkius bill the antitrust legls-
lation FOR this session of congress would
be complete During the debate Mr. Coch-
ran Dem, MOI branded one Of Mr.. Hep.
burns statements as deliberate he"
Contrary 10 the usual custom. this stropg
language had no sequel The clash be.
tween MIR. Cochran and Mr.. Hepburn oc.
CURED while the latter was speaking Of
the character Of measures tho democrats
had voted for He said, among other
things, that they had voted for a PROPOSE.
ton under which 1t would have been posi-
bic to fine the Pennsylvania railroad SIS.
100000 for single act. They would, he
said, stop at nothing labelled antitrust
Then, while explaining the provisions of
the pending bill he denied a statement
previously made by MIR. Cochran that the
bill relieved individual officers of railroads.
say there is no repeal from Drst to last
IN all this legislation he was saying, when
Mr. Cochran sought to interrupt him
prefer not 10 yield said MI Hep
burn.
Mr. Cochran-The gentleman ought not
to refer to the gentleman from Missouri IL
lie does not want 10 yield.
MI Hepburn ought TO refer TO the
gentleman at any time when he deliberately
mlsslateS proposition.
Mr.. CochranI brand that as r deliberate
lie. did not deliberately misstate the
question.
Mr. Hepburn-Then ignorantly. The gen.
tleman can take either proposition. ! say
there is no repeal of the present statute
making culpable and responsible criminal.
ly the individual under the interstate law.
After the passage Of the ElkinS bill
the remainder OF the session was devoted
10 the sundry civil appropriation bin
Immediately after the approval Of the
journal in the house today Mr. Dalzell
t'a,h from the committee on rules, pre-
scented special order for the consideration
of the Elkins rebate bin. The rule pro-
Vlded for an hours debate and vote on
the bill ana committee amendments at the
end of that time. without Intervening mo-
tiou TN" previous question being ordered
ON the adoption OF the rule, twenty min
utes' debate on each side Was allowed under
the rules Mr., Dal2ell conteuted himself
with a very brief explanation He said
provisions Of tho measure were familiar to
all; That II was one phase Of anti trust
legislation which should receive considcra-
Mr.. Richardson, the democratic leader.
protested TINT there was no emergency
which required such drastic course MS the
special order proposed, It permitted no op-
portunity 10 amend or recommt the bill.
Mr. Underwood (Alal said he favored the
passage of the bill but he protested that
1t did not 60 far enough
Mr.. Hull (lowal said No zone contended
that the bill was perfect, buE IT was a step
in the direction Of the regulation of trusts
MT cannon called attention tn the fact
that less tan three weeks of the session
remained and 10 the backward state Of i'm
peratiye measures. In tho house, he said
II was possible to put through legislation
In the senate business at this stage was
practically by unanimous consent Public
sentiment demanded trust regulation The
pending bill, he declared would do more
70 solve some of the troublesome cues lions
than any other II would prevent favored
rates 10 favored shippers and place al on
an equal footing He urged the house 10
| take what It could now and try for moro
later on,
MI Littleaeld attempted to get in with
an inquiry, but Mr.. Dalzell declined to
yield him time He, however. got min
ute from Mr. Richardson In that minute
he called attention to the word "wilful"
before failure, in the provision Imposing
penalties for the wilful failure of carriers
to publish and observe rates He said tho
word ought 10 come out and thnt Senator
/ wilkins, the author Of the bill agreed with
| him.
! Mr.. Cannon replied that n that were the
| case Senator Elkins could air his views
| in the senate.
He is very considerable senator" he
col hut | ~
great lawyer
Mr.. pc Almond NfoA denied emphatlcaIly
/ that tho country was demanding the enact
mcnt OF thc 3lkins bill eft will do no
/ good, said he, "and the people foremost
| IN urging it know IT. That Is the reason
! they urge it Democratic applausel
! Thrre was nothing in the bill, he said
| hat was not on the statute books except
! the clauses repeating existing penalty pro
! visions of law. To repeal these penalties
! NJ said, was the real purpose. Tho bill
! N declared, was an attempt 70 ''bunco'
( I'M people and 20 prevent the offering oi
| anfoudments, the majority dare NOT vote
against IL. Il was donagngic play ia
| stide legislation. The gentleman from H.
| luois lMr cannon. me said, "says the au.
! thor Of tho btll Is not great lawyer. lie
I may not be, but ho is great i'm other thing.
master in the art Of this sort OF leGis
| latiun.'
| rule, pointed out The three features 81 the
! antitrust legislation The majority mai sci
| out n place upon the statute books Il
| expedite cases, To secure publicity Of n,
corporation methods OF doing business anc
| 10 prevent determinations and rebates by
| railroads Propositions covering all three
| subjects had passed the house and two hat
| passed the senate. The rebate bill, FOL
| which the rule provided, he said. wal
practically identical with that bill tn,
house passed on Saturday II the bill coui(
not become a law II was the part Of prac
tical wis ON 70 pass this. Mr. Dalzel
said the reasons given on the other sid
against the. rule were the best that couls
he offered for Its adoption. They had al
said they were for the bill, good or bad
Tw0thlrds az the anti trust legislation wal
now passed, With this measure, the pres
cnt executive program for the regulation
Of trusts would bc complete. Mr. Richard
son ended the debate on his side and urge,
the house To vote down the rule and com
pei the production of another that woul'
omen the bill 20 amendment
| Mr. Grosvenor concluded the debate 10
the majority, deprecating the constant al
tempt of the other side to play for part.
advantage IN connection with the ttus
question The question, he said, should b
above party The roll was called and tn
rule was adopted--l4O 10 liO-a strict part
vote Mr. Lltueneld rep, Mainel did no
vote.
The debate on the bin proper then pro
ceeded Mr.. Cochran MOI caaracterize
The bill az a "brazen and shameless i'm
, pogitlon upon the credulity Of the people
His argument was chiefly directed agalns