The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-04

ence. The delegation declared unanim-
ous!ly, with one exception, against rate
and resolved that it would
walk out of the meeting if the gather
ing at 3 'clock was called a caucus and
not a conference. According to the
hair-splitters of the house, caucus is
binding on all members anticipating in
it, while a conference leaves individuals
free to act us they choose:
Not Conference
But with all the resolving, and after
the republicans had declared the
meeting to be caucus and consequently
binding, one man from Pennsylvania
walked out. That was Representative
Thaddeus Mahon. Representative
Gardiner Of New Jersey also bolted the
caucus, but the other Pennsylvanians re-
manned and, the republican leaders say,
will take their medicine.
Representative Townsend, one Of the
trainers of the Esch- Townsend bill, was vas
the first speaker. He explained the bill
ing the necessity for the legislation pro-
Colonel "Pete'' Hepburn, chairman
of the committee on interstate and for
eign commerce, followed Mr.. Townsend.
Colonel Hepburn said he hoped ne
would be pardoned when he said that ne
preferred the bill he prepared himself
to the one pending.
"But the Esch-Townsend bill Is the
committee bill,'' Mr.. Hepburn said,
and 1 am for it,
Fight for Delay.
The Pennsylvanians, backed by the
practically unanimous action OF the del
egation, began the fight to secure de,
lay, or at least further "conferences,."
as each of the speakers persisted In
referring to the caucus. representa-
tive Wanger of Pennsylvania, the one
members of the Pennsylvania delega-
ton who favored the adoption OF the
Esch-Townsend bill, tried to help his
colleagues out and submitted a propo-
sition to take recess until next Tues
do. He spoke in favor of further
conference, but advocated the ultimate
passage Of the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE Sibley wanted even
further delay. He asked the caucus
not to take snap Judgment, but to. re-
fer the entire matter of rate legisla'
ton to commission with instructions
to investigate and report to congress
when it reassembles next December.
=, Speaker Cannon advocated harmo
NOUS action.
"But we've got to pass this bill, he
said, cor we've got to pass some othel
bill. We have got to put this legisla
tion thru. Now, if there is anybody
who thinks he can draw better bill
let s have it. If there is no one who
take this one. We've got to pass some
kind of bill. and we've got to pass
it right away
.D Opposition Melts. y, : :.
After s'Uncle Joe'' Cannon had made
his. speech the opposition began to dis
appear. Representatives,, Tawney, Nc
Call, Powers and Mann talked AM
asked questions, but the real opposition
was gone.
The first vote taken, which was re
garded as a test vote, was on Represen
tative Wanger's proposition to take :
recess until Tuesday. This was defeat
ed, 100 to so, the Pennsylvania delega
ton present voting for the motor
with the other votes coming from Ney
England states.
Representative Robert Of Massachr
sets offered as a substitute for tn
Esch-Townsend bill a motion that tn
entire question Of railroad rates be n
ferred to commission which was
report at the next session of congress
This was defeated by vote to II
to A..
The discussion was next on when til
bill should be taken up in the hous
Because of the counting of the elector;
vote on next Wednesday, the enti1
matter was left open, and the COMM
tee On rules will be permitted to desi,
nate the date. 1t is probable that tt
bill will be taken up on Tuesday an
voted on at 4 o'clock Wednesday, tt
time for the counting of the electors
vote being taken out.