New-York tribune., 1906-06-29
RATE BILL ALMOST LAW
House adopts Conference Report
4mid Great applause.
rFrnm ~ rrlhnne Rnrean. !


Washington June 2S.-By resorting to heroic
methods to-day the House made great progress
toward disposing of the important legislation
pending before that body and in conference
Late this afternoon, in a typical end of the ses-
sion scene. with great cheering and applause
the House agreed to the conference report
the Railroad Rate bill. This dsposes of the BILL
it is believed so far as the House is concerned
the principal point in dispute the anti-pass
provision, was settled by acceptance of modi"
hcation of the Senate amendment which pro-
hibits the issuance of passes to all persons ex
cept limited number of classes who by their
occupations thought to be entitled TO spe-
cial consideration from the railroads. The text
Of the ant-pass provision is as follows:
No common carrier subject to the provisions
Of this act shall, after January l, 1897. directly
or indirectly issue or give any interstate free
transportation for passengers, except TO its en-
ployes and their families it's officers. agents.
surgeons. physicians and attorneys at law; to
ministers of religion, travelling secretaries of
Railroad Young Mems Christian associations
inmates of hospitals and charitable and eleemo-
synary institutions, and persons exclusively en-
gagged in charitable and eleemosynary work;
to INDECENT destitute and homeless persons and
to such persons when transported by charlta-
bic societies hospitals. and the necessary
agents employed in such transportation: 20 in
mates of the National Homes or State Homes
for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers and of soldiers
ana sailors homes, including those about 10 en-
ter and those returning home after discharge
and board of managers of such homes; to nee
essary caretakers of live stock, poultry and
fruit; to employees sleeping cars. express
and to linemen of telegraph and telephone
companies; TO railway mail service employees.
postofice inspectors. customs inspectors and i'm
migrant inspectors; to newsboys on trains. bag
gage agents, witnesses attending any legal in
vestigation in which the common carrier is in
tereStcd, persons injured IN wrecks and physl-
clans and nurses attending such persons
The report was adopted just as the legislative
DAY Of seven busy hours merged into the evening
session of general debate Members were tired
and hungry. but persistent applause cut short
forensic efforts and a general leave to print"
! satisfied every who wished to set forth his
position the bill. Only negative voice
raised against the report in the viva voce
vote taken. Mr.. Sherman. Of New York. after
saying that the report sound and sensible,
paid his compliments TO Senator Timan. The
conferrees. he said. had not been scared by the
lurid pictures of the octopus hanging over them.
nor by the vision OF the brands upon their brows-
And desire to say for the conferrees who
have signed this report" he concluded, that
they have manifested throughout the whole de-
liberation a degree of honesty and fidelity which
is certainly equal to that which a certain gen.
tleman who has not signed the report admits ne
possesses
Mr.. Richardson of Alabama the House minor
ity Conferree, opened the discussion with re-
view of the conference agreement to show that
the measure. as he said. was Democratic in its
essential features and had been made more so in
conference. He touched on the controversy over
the pipe line amendment and said he believed
| the conclusion reached to be correct.
The point made by Mr.. Bartlett, OF
Georgia. that the railroads had evidently slipped
up point in the court review provision.
AS il now reads, he said, il nowhere provides
for appeal from the refusal of the Circuit
! Court of Appeals to grant injunction. 1t
was only when an injunction was granted that
/ an appeal would lie TO the Supreme Court.
| Mr.. Gaines, of Tennessee; Mr.. Gillespie. of
Texas: Mr.. Curtis, of Kansas. and Mr.. Driscoll,
! of New York were applauded so literally when
| they endeavored to speak that their words were
| lost. and the report was declared adopted While
| this applause continued.
Mr.. Ttllman tonight presented in the Senate
| the conference report on the rate bill. and gave
| notice that he would ask its consideration to-
| morrow. He made brief statement of the ef-
| feet OF the conference and expressing the opin-
! ion that the bill would soon become law, Of
fered joint resolution providing that it should
| not become law until sixty days after its ap-
| proval. The resolution went over to await ac-
! ton on the conference report
! The conferrees have agreed TO have their re-
! port printed that 1t may be placed on Sen
! ators desks when the Senate meets at IL o'clock
| tomorrow morning. At that time Senator Till
man will make the report and again disavow all
| responsibility for failure again to amend the FL
| kinS amendment so as to prohibit owners or pipe
! lines from carrying their oil. 1t is expected
! that the report will be adopted by the Senate.
! Had il not been for the lateness of the hour
| when work on conference reports ended the
! Pure Food bill report would have been acted on.
| Mr.. Mann, of Illinois, chairman OF the House
| conferrees, his feet seeking recognition
| TO present this report. but Speaker Cannon de-
| cided that the House had done enough for the
| day. and although recess was taken. the
| House went into committee of thu whole on the
| Customs bill and many members went home TO
! dinner. In order to bring up the conference re-
| ports, the Rules Committee had to resort TO
| bringing in a rule which adoption by the
| House. allowed conference reports to be taken
| up Immediately on presentation.
I