Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-02-27
Hepburn Railroad Rate Bill
Reported to Senate.
Expected Furry Lacking and
Business Is the Word.
House Adjouns Out Of Respect 10
Late Speaker Henderson.

Washington, Feb. 26-The Hepburn
railroad rate bill was reported to the
Senate today by Senator Tilman IN
accordance with the action of the Sen
ate committee on Interstate commerce
last Friday. Large crowds assembled
in the galleries, anticipating a field
day of debate, but were disappointed.
There was little of interest in the pro-
cecdings regarding the BILL A brief
statement from Mr.. Tillman with the
necessary arrangement for printing the
report of the hearings before the COM
nittee and d promise that a formal re-
port would be made later, was fol-
lowed by a few remarks from Mr.. AL
drich. showing the position of the five
Republicans who opposed the bill as
reported. Mr.. Aldrich indicated that
there would be no unnecessary delay,
but that the bill would be discussed in
accordance with its Importance.
Mr.. CIapp called up the bill to dis
pose of the affairs of the five civilized
tribes In Indian Territory and the pre-
liminary discussion showed that there
WAS considerable opposition, also that
there was to be criticism of the dlspo-
stion of the coal lands owned by the
Indians. . AN
Mr.. Dick occupied the floor during
the afternoon, continuing his speech In
support of the joint statehood bill.
\ number of bills of local importance
were passed just before the Senate adj
jou-ncd.
Expecting a spirited discussion over
the report by Tillman of the Hepburn
railroad rate bill the galleries of the
Senate chamber were crowded when
today's session was called to order.
An unusually large number of the
senators also were in their seats. On
Tilman's desk lay an imposing pile of
documents. the records OF the hearings
of the interstate commerce commits
sion on the general subject of govern
mcnt regulation of railroad rates. Till
man decided that he was not prepared
to make formal report and that it
would be more effective simply to rc-
port the bill in accordance with the
resolution adopted by the committee
which provides that the members are
LEFT free to exercise individual JudS-
,nent concerning amendments that
may be offered in the Senate.
AS soon as the Vice President called
for reports of standing committees. a
number of senators arose, but Tillman
was recognized. He announced tina,
he had been instructed by the commit
tee on interstate commerce to report
House bill No. 1887, without amend
ment and he read the resolution adopt
ed. After Il discussion concerning th'
printing of the testimony taken by tho
committee, an order WAS made for the
publication of 10000 copies. Tillmar
gave notice that ne would press the
bill to the earliest consideration. He
said that much - the testimony taken
WAS irrelevant and that the committee
had employed two experts, Ncwcomh
and Adams, and they had made an
cnitome of the testimony which also
WAS printed.
TilIman announced that as soon as
possible he purposcd to digest the tes-
tmony and to submit a formal report
on the bill. He said that within two
weeks he would move to make the
rate bill the unfinished business and tc
displacc the statehood bill if that
measure was not disposed of before
that time. The transccndant impor-
lance of the rate measure made it de-
sirable that the bill should be consid-
cred without delay.
AS soon as he had concluded. Aid
rich said:
"A majority of the Republican mem
hers Of the committee did not join II
the favorable report which has beer
made by the senator from South Car
Continued on Page Two)