The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-02-17
ELRINS BILL PASSED
Anti-Re0Ste Measure Adopted by
House by Vote of 24I to o.
THE LIE PASSED IN DEBATE

Mr.. Cochran Used Strong Language
to Mr.. Hepburn-Anti-Tru Ieqisla-
ton For This Session In House Com.
pleted.
Washington, Feb. l4.-Under the op-
Grafton of a special order which cut
on opportunity to offer amendments.
the house, after a debate OF an hour
yesterday. by a vote of PAL to 6.
passed the Elkins bill to prohibit re
bates 10 shippers. The six members
who voted against the bill were Demo
Gratis. Mr.. Iittlefeld. of Maine. was
present. hut did not vote on either the
rule or the bill The Democrats pro
tested against the rigorous terms OF
the rule Ii had been their purpose
they said To offer the provisions of the
Littieheld bill as an amendment to the
BILL Mr.. Dalzeu. of Pennsylvania: Mr..
OverStreet and Mr.. Hepburn snnounc-
ed that with the passage OF the Elkins
bill the antitrust legislation for this
session of congress would be complete.
During the debate Mr.. Cochran
(DemD. of Missouri. branded one of
Mr.. Hepburn's statements as a DELHI
crate lie" Contrary to the usual Gus
tom. this strong language had no Sc
quel.
Mr.. Hepburn was speaking OF the
character OF measures the Democrats
had voted for. saying. among other
things. that they had voted for appro-
priations under which it would have
been possible to fine the PENINSULA
MIA Railway $4,000 900 for a single act
They would. he said. stop at nothing
labelled antitrust" Then. while ex.
planning the provisions of the pending
bill. he denied a statement previously
made by Mr.. Cochran that the bill re-
Heved individual officers of RAILWAYS.
Il say there IS no repeal from first
to last in all this legislation" he was
saying. when Mr.. Cochran sought to
interrupt him. Il prefer not TO yield"
said Mr.. Hepburn.
Mr.. Cochran-"The gentleman ought
not to refer TO the gentleman from
Missouri II he does not want to
yield"
Mr.. Cochran-"I ought to refer TO
the gentleman at any time when he
deliberately misstates a proposition"
Mr.. Cochran brand that as de
hborate lie. did not deliberately mis-
state the question
Mr. Eephurn-"Thpn ignorantlv The
gentleman can take either proposition.
| say there is no repeal OF the present
statute making culpable and response
bic crimna,ly the individual under the
interstate commerce law"
The remainder OF the session was
devoted to the sundry civil appropria-
ton bIll. which was practically COM
pleted. No EFFORT was made to pass II.
as there was no quorum.
The Elkins bill is intended 10 regu.
late the railways OF the country. II
prohibits them from giving discrimi.
mating rates and rebates and provides
for securing the necessary evidence
for the institution OF prosecutions by
the interstate commerce commission.
thus increasing the efficiency of the
commission. The present law pro
vides that any director or officer of a
corporation. common carrier or any re-
ceiver, trustee, lessee, agent or person
acting for or employed by such cor
poration, who violates the provisions
OF the interstate commerce act shall
be guilty OF misdemeanor and pun
ished by fine not exceeding the sum
OF $4,000 and by Imprisonment for
term OF not exceeding two years, or
by both fine and Imprisonment No
penalty is aimed directly at the cor
poration itself by the existing law.
The Elkins bill does away with the
penalty of imprisonment, and provides
that the violation OF the law by any
officer. agent or other person acting
for the corporation shall be deemed a
violation by the corporation itself, and
shall subject the corporation offending
to a fine of not less than $1,000 nor
more than $4,000 for each offense.