Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-05-09
E|kinS Amendment in Order Today
Allison Amendment Reported.
The House Sends Army Bill to Conference and
Proceeds With the Naval Bill.
IN THE SENATE.

IN THE SENATE.
washington, May S.-Aside from n
lew minutes devoted 10 the reception Of
the Allison amendment To the railroad
rat" bill and half hour given To rou-
tine business he Senate devoted its tu-
the session today To the Intellectual
consideration Of the f,lkinS amendment
prohibiting common carriers from en-
gaGn% in mining coal or in the produce
ticn of other commodities in cOmpcti-
non with shippers and adjourned at >
+. NJ. IN Il state of great confusion as
to the exact subject before it, The dis
order WAS due 10 the fact that Il num-
Der Of substitutes for amendments 10
the original amendment We're offered.
During the day the Senate decided the
heretofore disputed point that under
the agreement the Chair can entertain
a motion to lay on the table. II drcil-
kins provision on the table That
amendment and the various moditica-
tions Will therefore be in order when
the rate bin is taken up tomorrow.
Discussion of the Elkins amendment
to the railroad rate ILL was resumed in
The Senate. This amendment proposes.
10 prevent interstate carriers from own
owning and operating coal mines or
dealing in commodities which they
transport.
McCumbcr offered 4 substitute for
the Elkins amendment which h.. claim
ed Ia lie simpler while accomplishing The.
same purpose.
Teller criticised the provision saying
that Congress had no authority To pro-
hlbit railroad companies from mining
coal Of producing other a~ticles.
Dick said the amendment affected 50
many interests that il was in itself
quite as important as the question Of
rate making.
Elkins contcnded that the railroads
should be held to doing the business for
which they were incorporated ana that
it had been prepared to meet Il g-ner-
ally recognized evil.
Knox said the supreme court had
never attempted to interfere with the
policy Of any state in the development
of its industries ANA then declared that
it was not competent for Congress TO
change The policy to long established
Met lumber offered q substitute for
the ElkinS amendment which he claim
ed To be simpler while accomplishing
the same purpose.
Teller criticized the provision saying
that Congress had no authority to pro
hibit railroad companies from mining
coal or producing any articles
Dick
50 many interests that it was in itself
quite as important as the question of
rate making.
Elllins commended that the railroads
should be held to doing the business
for which they We're incorporated ana
that it had been prepared to meet 4
generally recognized evil.
Knox said the supreme court had
never attempted 10 interfere with the
policy of any state III the development
of its industries and then declared that
il WAS not competent for Congress to
change the policy 50 long established.
McLaurin offered Il substitute for
the Elkins provision ana Elkins found
in it Il basis for the continuance Of
his speech begun earlier in the day on
the main proposition.
Ovcrman offered motion providing
that all pending provisions covering
the subject Of the E!kins amendment
be referred to the committee on inter-
state commerce with instructions to
bring in a bill covering the subject
Simmons said the adoption of the I'll
kinS amendment would have the effect
of destroying both the railroad and the
Ip,.hAp hIISinaSs ~ ~.
IL il should take the committee az
long To report on this question as it
look il to report on the original promo
siticn the people might as well lose
heart on the subject" said Bailey in op-
posing the motion to refer the amend
men: to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. He supported the Elkins
amendment as entirely competent
Cverman then withdrew his motion
to refer the matter to the committee
Dryden offered an amendment ex-
tending for five years the time in which
the provision shall go into effect.
Aldrich criticised the E,lkins propo-
sition, and Lodge expressed the opin-
ion that the amendment should be re-
ferred To 4 committees.
1T this +juncture there was much con-
fusion among the Senate as to the
question before the Senate and it rose
to such a height that after remarking
Eve are all balled up" Tillman moved
to lay the pending amendment and all
amendments on the table.
Continued on Page Two.)