The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-22
NO RATE BILL THIS SESSION.
SENATE COUMITTEE PITS orr
ACTION on HOJSE MEISt RF.
senator Fikins says the President u Not
In Favor Of the Townsend Iilil and
That lie Knows II Cannot Now Pass
How the Democratic Members stand.

evidence were needed to show that no
railway rate law will be pvt on the statute
books by the Ffty-cighth Congress, it
was furnished to-day by the proceedings
Of tho senate Committee on Interstate
Commerce and a subsequent Interesting
colloquy in the Senate chamber.
The committee held lively session
which resulted in nothing more than a
decision to postpone action ON the rate
question until Friday next eight days be-
fore final adjournment; In the Senate
Mr. Berry Of Arkansas desired 10 know if
tho Interstate Commerce Committee would
report a rate bill early enough 10 give the
Senate a chance to act upon il. The re-
sponses made were interesting but hardly
satisfying TO the yesrning u Mr. Berry for
rate legislation
II be read between the lines OF the brief
speeches of committee members. ~ other
senators did, he must have seen that the
rate question is dead issue in the present
Congress The situation in the Inter
state Commerce Committee and IN Con
Rre~s was pretty we'll explained by the
discussion that took place in the SENATE
Mr. Carmack OF Tennessee presented
memorial from some people in his state
praying for rate legislation and MIR. Berry
thereupon a,ked the pertinent question
Mr. Carnack referred hi- Arkansas
colleague to senator Elkius, the chairman
of the Interstate Commerce Committee.
who responded that the committee had
been busy holding hearings ever since the
Townsend bin came over from the House
ten days ago, and more witnesses we're
TO be heard on Thursday
Il don't know what the individual senti-
ments of the members Of the committee
are said Mr. Elldns but there are five
or six amendments which must h. consid-
cred | don't know whether the bin can
be perfected in time to report il at thi-
session or not II does seem TO hc doubtful
that q bill con pass a, this session. There
are now niue or ten working days left
and the members Of this committee are
also members Of the committees in charge
of the great supply bills
we have heard bu; one side Of this great
economic question We are receiving
thousands OF letters on Tins subject and /
moet Of them are TO the effect that hasty |
legislation is undesirable. We ought to hear /
both -ide- Of this question,
Mr.. Carmack assured the Senator from (
Arkansas that such Joyous harmony pre-
Nhllel III Aif ANllllllNNfi illtAN l'fAt - illlN7
were obliterated" He added we are an
down TO myself stung by keen desire 20
execute at the earliest possible moment
the promise made by the President to the
people OF the United States 20 carry out
he pledges co ntained in thS Democratic
platform laughter. The whole COM
nIttee intends 10 he guided by the wisdom
# the President and | am authorized by
he chairman to state-and he will correct
ne if ! am in error-that We recognize
he foremost disciple and ablest lieutenant
Of William J. Bryan
This last sally caused more laughter.
Mr.. Berry did not seem parti cularly en-
lightened by the explanations made. but
he made no effort TO seek further infoT-
nation.
The session Of the Interstate Commerce
Committee developed that ito pembers
held widely divergent views which could
not DO reconciled, except. perhaps in an
igreement on ths part Of majority Of
hem that the committee should make
'orne sort Of "A report To the Senate on the
ate question before rho Congress ended
" times every member talked ~ once ami
considerable confusion prevailed.
Most significant IN the committees pro-
eedings was that whiio an attempt was
made To have It take up the Townsend
ate bill. which the Hou-e had passed,
resulted in no test vote
FNtuhNhI liplllNfE Uihhf Allf liINIlp-lAlDll ]
n the form of il motion which provided also
hat all other bills to increase the powers
II the Interstate Commerce Commission
hould have immediate consideration and
nat the cpmmitte" should have daily
meetings until il reached n conclusion.
There was a chorus Of r. mon-irnnce. IN
which several Of the Democratic memhrrs
oined Then Senator flkius managed
o make himself heard. He insisted that
he matter was too important TO b. dis
,oEed Of hastily.
senator Uoliver found support in q mas
i've from two vi his Republican colleagues,
senator's Cullom and tClnpp Mr. Cullom
insisting that II was courtesy due To Pre7i-
lent Roosevelt thpt some attention should
. paid to his recommendation IN favor OF
ate legislation. He rgggt -ted that The
ommlttee amend ~" HOUSE bin 80 H. a. -
make II a better and safer measure and give
- provision trial hy the Interstate Com
netce Commission with tho ideu IF remedy.
ng errors later ON. Senator CirWack,
me oi the Democratic committeeman
poke also lor the Deliver motion, but be-
made II plnin that, while hs thought the
ommittee should take action OF -ome
ont, he Regarded thr House biA az wholly
nfit and declared he would not vote Tor It
Il it, present form.
senator keau had something to say that
I'D not harmonic with The views Of tho-e
mong hl- Republican colleagues who Z
Imported the Deliver motion. He said
hal the House III could hr shot fun Of
ioles hy nearly every lawyer who had
Samined it, Many of its provisions were
unconstitutional, hc said. aud il was ap-
,arent that IL not only did not provide for
emedying the evils Of which the shippers
but jeourdiIed the Interests
II those who held railway securities.
In the couTse uf >onie additional remarks
n opposition 10 acton az this time Mr.
'lains told the committee that even the .
'resident realized that nothing could be- {
lone at the present session md further
more did not indor-c tho House bill a. II |
TODD. Mr.. tlkin- declared also that the
resident wH5 willing 20 take the response
'ility for n postponemcnt OF action, IA he
lad received assurances that there would
v n thorough investi cation Of the rate
question by Congress committees during I
he Legislative recess
Mr.. Deliver insisted that his motion ~ Z
'oted on. He encountered not only more {
Republican opposition. hut some Of the )
Democrats declined to agree with him
senator New'ands, foT example, made
-nown that he wanted the committee Ia
investigate the subject eXhuu~iiNely before I
: decided what coune il should pursue
The upshot NJ the discussion was that the
committee without voting on Mr. IJoIlivrr'4
notion, decided to have u meeting ON Thurs
lay 10 hear StuyveSant Fish. president Of q
he Illinois Central Railroad, and other
opponents Of the House bill, and to hold