New-York tribune., 1905-02-10
HOUSE PASSES RATE BILL.
THE VOTE 326 TO II.
Victory for President RooseUelt-
Party Lines S1cept A5eay.
IFRoN TIE TRIBUNE rUREAu.I

~
Washington Feb. 9-The President today
won decided personal victory in the passage
OF the Townsend-Esch Railroad Rate bill by the
House. BY vote OF 800 10 Il the House reg
tstered It's support Of his well known views on
rate discrimination and abuses. and the few
scattering votes recorded against the measure
merely served to emphasize the triumph OF rh=
administration in its demand for remedial and
effective legislation for the regulation Of railway
transportation
Party lines were swept away. Republicans ard
Democrats alike joining in The almost universal
chorus of Ayes that resounded from bofa
sides Of the centre aisle when the bill was put
upon its passage. There were onIv eleven Re-
publicans and six Democrats recorded against
the measure on the final vote and Of these Rep
resentatives Dwight. GouIden. Harrison Rider
Scudder. Southw;ck and Vreelaad were from
New-York Representatives Gardner and Nc
Dermott OF New-Jersey: Hin. Of Connecticut
and Mccall. Of Massachusetts voted No while
only six OF the Pennsylvania members reg
istered their votes against the bill. whose pro-
visions were so strongly denounced at the
caucus OF their State delegation. The vote
against the bill as follows:
Repuhlicans-Messrs. Adams PENN. Castor
Qenn). Dwight IN ". Gardner IN IL Hin
Comm. HUFF PENN Mccall CSrasS1. Porter
1Fennl, Si5ley PENN. Southwick IN. " and
Observation-Disclosures Harrison N " NJ
Dernott On. j. Rider IN. ". Scudder IN "
Goulden On. y. and Shun PENN.
The substitute bill OF the minority vas d.
feated. 151 to 1S6. Messrs Gaines CTennA
Rider and Scudder On " and Livernash and
Wynn (Csl). voting with the Republicans
WILLIAMS SUPPORTS THE PRESIDENT.
The closing hours OF the debate were occupied
| by Mr. Williams Of Mississippi the minority
| leader, and Mr.. Hepburn. OF Iowa chairman OF
| the committee which reported the bill Ny
| Williams. while supporting the minority meas
ure' even though he said he knew 1t could nos
| pass. complimented the Republicans for bring
| ing IN bill which was much better than he ex-
/ pected would come from them. Addressing him
| self to the Republicans. Mr.. Williams said thev
heeoed nothing more than marking out Of a
| pathway to follow the President not because
| ne Is President OF Republican. but because he
was outlining the proper policy for the Amsrf-
can people. oh" he said amid Democrats
laughter, L know how non-partisan you are
1t might be true in some things Mr. Williams
| continued as Mr.. Grosvenor said yesterday
| that the Democrats camped tonight where
We camped last night; but he loudly pro
claimed facing the Republican side that on
this question 1T is you who are camping this
] year where the Democracy camped last year"
If, he said, the majority in the House did not
| follow the Presidents recommendations It
| between the White house and the House OF Rep
| resentatives- A Republican Daniel is calling
YOU he exclaimed "and he is at the other end
OF the avenue. and he is calling you to do idsn-
! tically the same thing that YOU refused 10 do
because it came out OF Democratic Nazareth"
Discussing the merits of the bill. Mr. VIII
| Jams said the country had waited and waited
| for the railroads themselves To do II Justice
He agreed IN part with Mr.. Mccall. who had
| ighf 10 Sv
| Gus power to confer on seven men. but he ar
gued that it was choice between evils. as only
| about seven railroad magnates' acting IN
| conjunction with one another. were directing
| the stream OF American commerce IN the chan
nels they wished. and discriminating wher-
ever they saw nj. II the fixing OF rates was
! to be lodged IN some hands. Mr. Williams said
| he preferred it 10 be a government tribunal
! weak, and ineffective such tribunals are
| Declaring that he spoke as conservative. Nh
| Williams said the time may come when all the
| country. except the South. would be advocating
/ government ownership OF the railroads The
| south would never support that proposition be-
cause they had the old fashioned idea that th-
government should not become too strongly
| centralized. They We're further opposed to
| government ownership because they knew the
government would not operate separate coaches
| for the whites and blacks The Townsend ESrb
than he ever thought would come from ths
Republican side of the chamber.
HEPBURN's PLEA FOR THE BILL.
The speech OF Mr. Hepburn was rather IN de-
fence OF himself He said that his deeds and
acts were a sufficient answer 10 the lies and
ISLANDERS" which had been heaped on him. He
devoted some time 10 a strong presentation %
| the merits Of the maiority's measure Mr.. Her
burn was never in better form He spoke with
| great earnestness and when defending hin.aIr
against what he characterized as slanderous at
| tacks on his motives and actions. exhibited IN
usual emotion In anticipation OF his speech.
| Secretary and Mrs. Shaw. with a party OF
| friends. occupied seats IN the reserved gallery
and Senator Doliver OF Iowa. was on the floor
| AT the close OF Mr.. Hepburn's remarks he was
heartily appIauded
Mr.. Hepburn explained the difficulties OF pre-
pairing such measure the bill pending saw
ing two men entertained the same opinion
| either as TO what was in the bill what ought
| to be IN It He received sympathetic applause
from both Democrats and Republicans when hs
asked to be excused FOR intrudins a matter OF
personal interest into the proceedings. which was
the first time he had doEe so in eighteen years
service. IF I have been criticised" ne said
| with emotion. Il have borne IT, II have been
| slandered and lied about have submitted 10 a.
content that my deeds. my acts. might be placed
| in opposition 10 and in answer 10 the hbels OF
those who traduced me-"
| The bill he drew. Mr.. Hepburn said. ne regard
ed as only a rough draft, after conference with
the President and members of the Cabinet He
| denied that the Townsend -Esch bill was an ad-
ministration measure. nor said he. was any bill
that he knew OF an administration bill As
finally offered. what was known the Hepburn