The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-09
TALK TO END.
Last Day of Debate on Railroad
Rate Bill.
Measure Comes to a Vote in the
House Today.
PREPARING TO DODGE.
A Resolution Is Ready to Be
Sprung in Senate.
Provides for a Commission to
Investigate Railroad Rates.

washington, Feb. 9.-The house today
entered upon the last day of discussion
OF the bills to regulate freight rates
According to rule adopted Monday the
vote will be taken at 3 o'clock, first on
the minority substitute, known as the
Davey bill, and should it fail of pas
sage, then on the bill of the majority
of the committee on interstate and for
eign commerce, otherwise termed the
Esch- Townsend bill.
Less than 25 members were in their
seats when the debate was opened by
Mr.. Pierce (Tenn.) who after announc-
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 sup
port the ch-Townsend bill. He, how
ever, based his support on the fact that
William J. Bryan and the Democratic
party had declared for just such legis-
lation
Mr.. DeArmond (DIo.) while admitting
the necessity for legislation attacked
the Esch- Townsend bill as being an in
adequate treatment OF the question. The
bill, he said, was singularly lacking in
its compliance with the recommended
tions of the president. 1t did not reach
private car lines and it was not to be
eager and searching in the endeavor to
find in it something on that subject.
which its authors themselves could not
find.
In the Senate.
Washington, Feb. 9.-The resolution
to be introduced in the senate by Mr..
Kean IN. - providing that the COM
mittee on interstate commerce shall
sit during the summer for the investi-
CATION of the subject of railway rate
legislation "a
has been first approved by the COM
mittee. 1t had been announced that
the resolution would be presented in
the senate today. The interstate COM
to consider the resolution.
The plan to have the senate COM
mittee investigate thoroughly the sub
ject of rate legislation has been ap-
proved BY a large number CT senators
of both parties. 1t is said that the
committee will work along the lines
of perfecting the Townsend bill
and incorporate in that measure a
provision to reach private car lines
The idea is that if the committee is
ready to report in October or the first
Of November, notice shall be sent to
the president and if he is so inclined
an extra session may be called. Should
there be a demand from any senator
for immediate consideration of the
house bill, it is planned to ascertain
the sentiment for passin- a rate bill
the proposed Kean resolution.
Mr. Lodge in the senate today pre-
sented a petition from 1912 Christian
Endeavor societies, representing all
the states and territories of the union,
asking that the president be author
lied to invite the governments of the
world to appoint delegates to an in
ternational congress to meet at stated
intervals to deliberate upon questions
of common interest to the nations in
terested.
Mr.. Hale from the committee on
appropriations presented the report of
that committee on the diplomatic and
consular appropriation bill, and gave
notice that he would ask its early con-
sideration. Mr.. Warren. from the
committee on military affairs, reported
the military academy appropriation
bill.
The agricultural appropriation bill
was then taken Up and on a point of
order by Mr. Teller the amendment
authorizing the secretary of agricul-
ture to accept gifts of land for forest
reserve purposes, was stricken out.