Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-21
MR.. DOLLIVER'S MOTION
WANTS SOME MEASURE RE-
PORTED TO THE SENATE.
Meeting of the Committee on Inter
state Commerce This Morning
Another Session Thursday.

passing a railway rate bill at this
session of Congress. Two incidents
that occurred today put the finish
ing touches to any expectation OF
favorable action. At the meeting
OF the Senate committee on inter
state commerce this morning an ef-
fort was made to have the commit
tee take up the rate bill and con-
slder 1t until vote was reached
upon it. This effort was success
fully opposed, and there is no in
dication that the committee will take
action ...
Later in the dav Senator Elkins
took occasion in the Senate to ex-
plain that the committee felt that
the paramount Importance of the
subject and the brief duration of the
session with the great pressure of
routine business would probable pre-
vent action. This was generally ac-
cepted as formal notice that aoti,-
ing can be done.
1t IS expected that Senator Kean
will introduce within day or two
his resolution authorizing the con-
mlttee to conduct Investigations
upon the subject during the recess
OF Congress. ~=- --'
| The Senate. committee on interstate COM
merce today reached no definite conclusion
| as to postponement Of railroad rate legis-
| lation this session of Congress- The COM
mittee Will go on with hearings Thursday,
when the resolution of Senator Kean pro-
viding for an investigation of the subject of
rate legislation during the recess VIII be
considered.
The committee considered for more than
an hour the question of reporting to this
session bill for the regulation of railroad
rates or resolution asking that the COM
mlttee be authorized to sit during the re-
cess to perfect some measure that will meet
the objections urged against the Esch-
Townsend bill. which was passed by the
House. The sentiments expressed by mem
bers of the committee were so varied that
agreement was impossible, and amid confu-
sion the committee was adjourned by
Chairman Elkins with the announcement
that meeting will be held Thursday to
hear Stuyvesant Fish, president of the IlIi-
nois Central railroad and others who have
been invited by the committee
Inc controversy over the program to be
adopted was preoipitated within a few mo-
ments after the committee was called TO
order.
Mr. Delivers Notion.
Senator Dolliver moved that the commit
tee take up the Esch-Townsend bill and
other measures before the committee and
continue meeting every day until some bill
can be reported to the present session of
Congress.
Opponents of the bill demonstrated in
chorus, but Chairman Eikins made himself
heard in order to respond to the motion.
He declared that the number of protests
that had been made against the bill passed
by the House and the number of demands
for hearings made by the interests affected
by the proposed legislation made it i'm
perative that exhaustive hearings be held.
Senator Cullom called attention to .he
Presidents message on rate legislation. and
argued that it was due HIM that some
action be taken at the present session. He
thought the House bill might be amended
to make it a safe measure for the present
the committee having in mind further
amendments after trial had been given
it by the interstate commerce commission.
Senator Dolliver talked in a similar vein
and Senators Clapp Foster of Louisiana
and Carmack thought some action should
be had without delay.
Declares Bill Unconstitutional.
, In response to the demands for immediate
action on the House bill Senator Kean said
that nearly every lawyer that had exam
ined it had poked his fingers through it
and declared many of its provisions uncon-
cfif fufi hat n
evils complained of by shippers, but that It
did jeopardize the securities of the rail-
roads.
''Why, the President himself realizes that
no action can be had at the present
Sion,' interrupted Chairman Eikins. lie
does not indorse this bill now, and believes
that a better measure can be drawn. He
is willing to take the responsibility of
postponement. especially he has been
assured that If no measure is passed at this
session the committee will meet early AMI
press an investigation right through"
In spite of the opposition devel-
ton. 1t was met with arguments
from several democrats well as the
republicans quoted. Senator Newlands has
bill before the committee on which he
wants to have hearings and said that II
a committee is appointed to take testimony
during the recess all of the various bills
presented should be given consideration.
Senator Kean prepared a resolution sew
be designated to sit during the summer,
but after consultation with members OF
the committee decided to submit it to the
committee instead of Offering II in the Sem
ate. He had intended to offer it today,
but Senator Dolliver forestalled it with his
motion. The resolution not before the
committee. but it's provisions were known
and the course suggested formed the basis
of the argument.
No Vote Taken.
No vote OF any kind was had during the
meeting and a division of the committee
could not be made from the arguments.
Senator Carmack favored the Dolliver mo-
ton, but said he would not vote for the
Esch-Townsend bill In it's prevent form
Senator Foster and Senator McI1aurin said
they had not fully made up their minds IN
regard to the bfA before them. 1t WAS the
sentiment t3Int the h11l could