Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-02
Both Republicans and Demo-
Gratis Tangled Up.
LEADER J. s. WILLIAMS
ACCUSED OF APPROPRIATING THE
HEARST THUNDER.
A Vigorous Debate Expected at the Re
publican Caucus Tomorrow
Over the Measure

Now that they are actually face to face
with bill that proposes to permit the
interstate commerce commission to control
the business and income of railways in this
country some of the republicans of the
House are inclined to hang back and side
step. On the eve of the caucus to be held
tomorrow afternoon, which will definitely
commit the republican party in the House
to q program of legislation, there are
many murmurings of discomfort and ap-
prehension. There is renewal today of the
talk of leaving the question to a committee
or a commission to investigate during the
recess of Congress and report at the next
session.
The fact is both the republicans and the
democrats in the House are badly tangled
up over the railway rate bill. There is a
tempest in a teapot brewing among the
democrats, but from the noise and sput-
tering that is made it would appear as if
a ten-battery bunch of CorlisS boilers were
about to explode. The tempest is being
brewed by the Hearst group of democrats
in the House.
They accuse Leader John Sharp Will
liams of trying to appropriate some of the
Hearst brand of thunder for the minority s
railway rate bill. They charge that Mr..
Williams and his friends have amended
the bill recently indorsed by the demo-
the Hearst bill.
What Leader Williams Says.
Leader Williams today declined to take
formal notice of the charges brought by
Mr.. Hearst's friends, but stated that the
bill was not being amended with material
from Mr.. Hearst's preserves. He said that
one or two additions were being made to
the bill in order to cover well-known de-
Nft TO- Il Of
graphs was taken from a bill offered by
Mr.. Robinson of Arkansas. The Hearst
men continue to be highly indignant. how
ever, and it is likely that the democratic
forces will be divided when it comes to
discussion of the bill.
Among the republicans of the House
there is constantly increasing feeling of
dissatisfaction with the pending bill, which
they will be called upon to indorse or re-
ject at tomorrow's causus. Efforts have
been made in the past twenty-four hours
to amend the bill SO as to provide for the
abolishment of the private car line evil,
but thus far without success Eastern del
egations in the House seem TO be just
awakening to the fact that serious propo-
siton is on hand, emanating from Wiscon-
SIM Missouri and Minnesota, but affecting
just well the big trunk lines of the east.
A Vigorous Debate Expected.
In the past few days republican MEM
bers of the House have been boning up on
the question of railway rate regulation.
The Townsend-E bill is in great de-
mand, and frequently little group Of men
can be seen arguing earnestly over the ef-
feet OF the provisions it appears to them.
There is every evidence of vigorous debate
over the bill at tomorrow's caucus.
Some republicans who have been keeping
in close touch with the situation say that
the Importance of the subject and the evil
dent unfamiliarity of many members of
the House with ii will probably lead to a
strong movement in favor of delegating the
subject to a committee of Congress for
further investigation and report To the next
Congress.
Another proposition which will be pro-
posed al the caucus tomorrow is TO with
hold action on the pending bill and refer 1t
to special committee to be appointed by
the caucus, including men outside of the
interstate commerce committee, who shall
report at a subsequent caucus to be held
in the near future. 1t viii be remembered
that such a course was followed in the
preparation of the gold standard law. The
exceeding Importance of the legislation IS
appealing to some members of the House,
and suggests that the bill ought to be given
consideration by some of the prominent
men from different sections of the country
who are not on the committee.