Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-07
RAILWAY RATES BILL
Feeling in Senate Against
Haste in Action.
THE HOUSE MEASURE
CONSIDERED TO HAVE BEEN
HASTILY DRAWN.
Very Little Left and Some Senator's
Think the President Can Be
Brought to See That.
THE HOUSE MEASURE

Some OF the Senators are inclined to NUT
ter in their boards at the action OF the
House In showing up to the Senate what
they term "a half-baked'' measure of leg
islation on railway yates. The caustic re-
marks of Judge De Almond and Leader
John Sharp Williams Of the minority to
the effect that some republicans in the
House would not be found indorsing the
bill If they did not know 1t would be
trimmed in the Senate are appreciated at
the north end Of the capitol.
There are many evidences of the strong
sentiment in the Senate in faver of pro-
ceeding cautiously with the railway rate
legislation. Senator John Kean of New
Jersey is drawing up a resolution which
will be submitted at the opportune moment,
providing that a committee or q commits
sion shall look into the subject and report
at the next session of Congress.
One Of the republican leaders in the Sem
ate remarked today that 1t would be bet
ter for the country to have an extra ses
sion and draw up bill after careful de-
liberation which would conserve the in
terests of every one concerned than it
would be to act overhastily upon the meas
>ure which the House has presented.
Very Little Time Left.
The republican leaders are sincere in
their reminders that there Is very little
time in which to handle the important leg
islation. They point out the fact that the
Swayne Impeachment case must be con-
cluded before this session ends, and nobody
can foretell the length Of time that will
be consumed in the proceedings. Some
sixty-odd witnesses have been summoned
and will be examined
All the big appropriation bills are yet to
come up. A river and harbor bill and the
naval appropriation bill will undoubtedly
produce long debates.
TIT, %r,A ;<,~b -, LIN
examined in detail by senators, and it is
claimed that there must be great deal of
talk about it when 1t comes up and that
the several provisions must be analysed and
carefully weighed.
Some influential men in the Senate do
not agree with Senator Allison and Senator
Spooner that this bill is worthy measure,
and though somewhat drastic in its provis-
ions should be accepted by the railroads
for fear of a more severe bill at an extra
session.
These senators go on to say that there
is no reason why Congress should pass
more drastic bill when it has more time
to consider it.
There are senators who, while probably
In sympathy with the railroads, believe
that some legislation is desirable. In fact,
the great railway presidents themselves in
their hearings before the House and Senate
committees have admitted as much. But
opinions differ widely as to the scope and
chara cter of the legislation reforms, and
pathetic to railroads interests say they
have a right to demand reasonable consid-
Grafton of legislation that affects such
stupendous financial interests. N's' So
President Will Realize It.
Some of President Rooseve1t's we'll wish
ers at the Capitol today were confident in
the belief that the President would come
to realize the growing feeling in the Senate
that the time is too short for satisfactory
and intelligent action, and that the Pres
ident will consent to let the subject go over
until an extra session.
These men said that they did not look
upon the President as demanding action
for actions sake. but that he was very
much in earnest in his appreciation of the
desire of the western country for reform in
railway rate legislation.
They said today that when the President
is convinced, as they think he will be, that
the Senate would do an unwise thing to act
hastily upon the bill, he will withdraw his
insistence for immediate action and yield to
the judgment of the men who persist in
eontending that the bill should not be en-
acted between now and March 4.