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

ence. The delegation declared unanim-
ous1y, with one exception, against rate
legislation, and resolved that it would
walk out of the meeting if the gather
ing at O'Clock was called "a caucus and
not a conference. According to the
hair-splitters of the house, caucus is
binding on all members participating in
free to act us they choose:
Not Conference.
But with all the resolving, and after
the republicans had declared the
meeting to be a 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
the first speaker. He explained the bill
in detail, answering questions and show
ing the necessity for the legislation pro
vided in the bill.
Colonel .'sPete'' Hepburn, chairman
of the committee on interstate and for
eign commerce, followed Mr.. Townsend
Colonel Hepburn said he hoped he
would be pardoned when he said that he
preferred the bill he prepared himself
"But the Esch- Townsend bill is the
committee bill,' Mr.. Hepburn said
and am for it..
3, 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 II
referring to the caucus. Representa-
tive Wanger of Pennsylvania, the one
members of the Pennsylvania delega
ton who favored the adoption Of thu
Esch-Townsend bill, tried to help hi
colleagues out and submitted propo
! sition to take a recess until next Tues
d. He spoke in favor of a furthe:
conference, but advocated the ultimate
passage Of the bill.
Representative Sibley wanted eve1
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 instruction
i to investigate and report to congress
when it reassembles next December.
Speaker Cannon advocated harmo
| NOUS action.
''But we we got to pass this bill, - HI
said, cor we've got to pass some othe
bill. We have got to put this legisla
tion thru. Now, if there is anybod
who thinks he can draw better bill
let s have it, If there is no one VIII
wants to draw better bill, then let
take this one. We've got to pass som
kind of a bill, and we've got to pas
it right away
Opposition Melts. ~. 5 !.
F.. After t"Uncle Joe'' Cannon had mad
his. speech the opposition began to di:
! appear. Representative Tawney, Nj
Call Powers and Mann talked an
asked questions, but the real oppositio
was gone.
The first vote taken, which was r.
garded as test vote, was on Represe1
tative Wanger's proposition to take
recess until Tuesday. This was defea
ed, 100 to so, the Pennsylvania deleg
tion present voting for the motto
with the other votes coming from Ne
England states.
Representative Robert Of Massach
.. sets offered as a substitute for tt
Esch- Townsend bill motion that tt
entire question Of railroad rates be r
report at the next session of congress
This was defeated by vote to l.
to A..
The discussion was next on when Il
bill should be taken up in the hous
Because Of the counting of the elector
vote on next Wednesday, the emit
matter was left open, and the COMM
tee On rules will be permitted to desi
nate the date. It is probable that tt
bill will be taken up on Tuesday al
voted on at 4 'clock Wednesday, tt
time for the counting of the elector
vote being taken out.