Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1906-02-10
END OF RAILROAD RATE BILL De
BATE NOT in SIGHT.
OKLAHOMA STATEHOOD MATTER.
Critical Point of Controversy VIII be
the Foraker Amendment = Senator
GaIlinger Says Bill Will be Amend
ed Before Vote Is Taken.
Tuesday, February 5.

Washington. = Chairman Hepburn,
| IN charge Of the railroad rate bill in
the national house of representatives.
Is unable to see the end of discussion
Of that measure: Under the special
| order it has the right of way until
| disposed of. The very first day Of
the debate. which began last Tuesday.
developed the desire of many mem
berS to make speeches. An extra
hour was added to each day, and still
the list of applicants for time grew
larger. Mr. Hepburn has a long list
Of Republicans who are anxious to be
heard, and Mr. Adamson. controlling
the time on the minority side, says
there are fifty Democrats who wish
to be heard in favor of the measure.
Senator Gallinger, who as the chair
man of the merchant marine commits
sion has charge of the bill, says he
will be satisfied with the setting of
any time within reason for the TAX
ing of a vote. knowing that with d
unanimous agreement to vote once ar
rived at there will be no doubt that
a vote will be secured. The bill will
d
is taken.
Much interest is manifested in the
approaching contest in the senate
over the statehood question Senator
BeVeridge, who will again have charge
of the bill. is hopeful of securing a
comparatively early vote, but many of
his colleagues fail to agree with him
on that point. The supporters of the
bill are very strenuous in it's advo-
cacy and their opponents are just as
determined. It is not generally ex-
pected that either side will yield un-
til there is more definite information
as to the probable result of, a vote
than can now be secured. The criti-
cal point of controversy will be the
Foraker amendment giving the Arizo-
ma people the privilege of voting on
the question of admission. 1t is IN
.derstood- that the Democratic senators
will be almost a unit in support of
this amendment, and that it will also
secure Q number of Republican votes
Just how many Republican support
ers there may be is not known, and
until there is definite information on
that point the opponents of the bill
will not agree to let a vote be taken.
If the showing should be favorable to
the amendment, the friends of the bill
may not press the vote; but, in view
of the fact that they would even in
that event be sure of the admission
of Oklahoma, they might not be so
determined as their opponents. They
will probably meet Mr. Foraker's
proposition for a separate vote with
one for the admission of the question
one for the submission of the question
of admission to the people of Arizona
and New Mexico combined
The urgent deficiency bill will be ia
ken up in the committee on approDria-
tions early in the week and will prob
ably be reported a few days later.
The provision in this bill which will
be most debated is that relating to
the abrOgation of the eight hour law
In the canal zone. AS the bill carries
the remainder of the deficiency for
the canal, asked by the war depart
ment, which was cut off in the first
Washington, Feb. 3.-The monthly
statement of the government receipts
and expenditures issued shows a con-
dition of the treasury which is emin-
entity satisfactory to the officials. One
year ago there was deficit of over
$2S,500,00O, which has now been re-
duced to less than $3,40O,OO0, with the
prospect that this amount will be en-
tirely wiped out within the next thir-
ty days. This improved condition is
due almost entirely to large increases
in customs and internal revenue re-
ceiDtS