The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-10
Williams and Hepburn Make.
 Important Speeches
HEPBURN DEFENDS HIMSELF
Mir. Williams Supports the Minority Measure But Compliments Repub. llcans on Bringing Forward
 the Esch- Townsend Bill.

Washington. February 9.--After nearly four days discussion, the House today. by vote of S26 10 II. passed the Esch- Townsend bill providing for the resula- ton of freight rates. The negative vote was made up of eleven republicans and six democrats
 The closing hours of the debate wers occupied by Messrs. Williams. Mss. the chairman of the committee which report ed the bill.
 Mir Williams, while supporting the mi- nority measure. even though he said he knew it could not pass, complimented the republicans for bringing In a bill which was much better than expected would come from them.
 The speech of MT. Hepburn was rather in defense of himself He said that his deeds and acts were a sufficient answer to the Ties and islanders" which had been heaped upon him. The bill known as the Hepburn bill, he said, had been prepared by the Attorney General, and he only SACANCb to lbS Npiltd6htS bll lH6 tOIililll- tee on the Esch-Townsend measure, be- cause he did not want the committee to be the target for scribblers who wanted sensational head lines He devoted some time to a strong presentation of the merits of the majority measure.
 Roosevelt is Great Leader.
 Less than twenty-five members were in their seats when the debate was opened by MT. Pierce, Tenn, who. after announce ing that the President on the subject of rate legislation was the greatest leader that has lived in the republican ranks since the civil war said he would support the Esch-Townsend bill. He, however, based his support upon the fact that Will Ham J. Bryan and the democratic party had declared for just such legislation
 MT DeArmond of Missouri. while admit ting the necessity for legislation. attack ed the Esch-Townsend bill as being ,n- adequate treatment of tLa question The bill, he added, did not reach private car lines, and it was not to be supposed that the courts would be eager and searching in the endeavor to find in 1t something or. that subject which it's authors them selves could not find.
 The statehood bill came over from @ Senate and was laio on the Speakers s table for reference to committed The closing remarks for the minority were made by MT. Williams of Mississippi who at the outset congratulated the House upon the fact that not only in the matter of rate Legislation. but in several other particulars President Roosevelt nominated by the republican party and elected by the people," was beginning to assume a distinctly democratic attitude He said he had begun to nope that the President would recommend revision of the tariff, and that the President would see that it was altogether absurd to keep GOO more soldiers than were needed.
 Williams Addresses Republicans.
 Addressing himself to the republicans. MT. Williams said they needed nothing more than marking out of the pathway to follow the President. not because he was President or a republican. but because he was outlining the proper policy for the American people.
 "Oh" he said amid democratic laugh ter. "I know how non-partisan you are"
 Mr. Williams said it might be true in some things, as MT. Grosvenor stated yes terday, that the democrats "camped to- night where we camped last night" but be loudly proclaimed, facing the repub- lican side, that on this question, 1t Is
 
 democracy camped last year."
 Mir. Hepburn of Iowa, chairman of the committee on interstate and foreign com merce. closed for the republicans. He ex- plained the difficulties of preparing such a measure as the bill reported. saying no two men entertained the same opinion, ther as to what was in the bill or what ought to be in it.
 MT. Hepburn Dgresses.
 MT. Hepburn digressed for moment and received sympathetic applause from both democrats and republicans when he asked to be excused for intruding in a matter of personal interest into the pro- ceedings, which was the first time he had done so In eighteen years service.
 "If I have been criticized" he said with emotion, have borne 1t. If I have been slandered and lied about, l have submitted to 1t, content that my deeds. my acts might be placed in opposition to and in answer to the llbels of those who traduced me"
 The bill he drew, said MT, Hepburn. he regarded but a rough draft. after conferences with the President and mem bers of his cabinet. He denied that the Townsend bill was an administration measure. nor. said he. was any bill that he knew of an administration bill.
 He was loudly applauded as he took his seat.
 The substitute bill of the minority then was defeated 151 to 1s6. Messrs. Gaines, Tennessee; Rider and Scudder New York. and Livernash and Wynn. California. voting with the republicans.
 The roll was then called on the Esch- Townsend bill. which was passed 32s to IT.
 After designating Sunday, February 26. for the delivery of eulogies on the life and character of the late Representa- lives Mahoney. of Illinois, and Croft, of South Carolina. the House at 5:03 p. m. adjourned until tomorrow at 12 o'clock.