Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-02-27
TILLMAN TO LEAD FIGHT.
Commerce Committee Reports Rate
Bill Without Amendments.

| An agreement to report the Hepburn
railroad rate bill as it came from the
house, without amendments, with Sen
ator Tillman in charge and the men,
bers of the committee to be unham-
pered in their attitude to the measure
on the floor Of the senate, Is the rather
remarkable outcome Of what seemed
to be an almost hopeless deadlock In
the senate committee on commerce In
the consideration Of this very import
ant proposed legislation.
1t seems that the principal points OF
disagreement was over certain pro-
posed amendments relating to the
number of members to be included In
| the interstate commerce commission
and the right Of the courts to review
rates fixed by the commission; but as
| to these points the committee could
come to no final understanding.
1t developed some time ago that the
Democratic members Of the committee
were practically Of the same view on
the rate question, and that the Repub-
Leans were divided The division was
Of such a nature to give the Demo-
Gratis. although Of course, In the MI
nority, the balance of power.
After 1t became certain that there
could be no agreement on proposed
amendments, the following resolution.
offered by Senator Dolliver, and
amended by. Senator Aldrich, was
adopted by vote Of to 8:
Resolved, That the interstate COM
merce commission report favorably
house bill f2987 as 1t passed the house
Of representatives II being understood
that members of the committee have a
| 81 tn yAfa nhnnga d.
ments, or to offer amendments In the
senate on consideration Of the bill"
The vote was as follows: Affirma-
tive-Cullon, Dolliver, Clapp. Tillman.
McLaurin, Carmack, Foster and New
lands. Negative-Elkins, Aldrich
Kesn. Foraker and Crane.
| Next came up the question as to who
should report the bill to the senate.
The committeeman reporting bill Is
understood to be sponsor for it and to
lead those who support its passage.
Senator Aldrich. an enemy OF the Dill,
suggested that 1t be reported by Sen
ator Elkins, chairman Of the SUBJ com
mittee: but like himself hostile. Both
Senator Dolliver, Republican, and
Senator Tillman Democrat, protested
that the bill should be In charge of a
friend, and Senator Aldrich changed
his nomination, suggesting Senator
Tillman, and at the same time spite
fully remarking that i@asmuch as the
majority of the votes had come from
Democratic members Ii was proper
that a Democrat should father It.
Chairman Elkins suggested that as Mr..
Dolliver had assisted In the drafting OF
the Hepburn bill and had also been q
leader In the fight to prevent the adop-
ton Of amendments, he was the proper
L - utfV.a Unfa
resulted as follows:
For Senator Tillman-Aldrich, Kean,
Foraker. Crane and McLaurin.
For Senator Dolliver-Elkins, Clapp
Not voting-Doiliver, Tillman and
Foster.
This brought about rather peculiar
situation, the exact meaning of which
Is not Gear. There seems to be COM
mon belief that the Republicans had
/ Some special object in giving the lead
ership to Democrat. Commenting on
the matter afterward, Senator Ttllman
said
1T was an unexpected and in one
sense an undesired honor and respon-
sibility that was thrust upon me. AS
far as I am able will endeavor to
secure the passage of the bill through
| the senate with such amendments as
will make II more. acceptable to- the
business interests of the country and
remedy the evils which have produced
such widespread agitation. The policy
| is essentially Democratic. The pro-
posed bill has the unanimous support
of the Democrats of the house and l
hope that with a few slight amend
ments It will get the same support In
the senate"
It is generally understood that while
the president does not approve all the
provisions of this bill, 1t Is essentially
| a presidential measure, and Mr.. Roose-
velt Is committed to its passage. Upon
the adjournment Of the committee
meeting. Senator Dolliver called at the
White House, and as he was going
away some one asked him as to wheth-
er he would take Tillman to confer
with the president. Dolliver dodged
the question good naturedly and then
said: 'Tll tell you this; the president
/ told me ten days ago that he had the
greatest respect for Tillman because
he regarded .Tillman as an able man
and game fighter, and above all, an
honest man. Don't mistake the fact
that the president likes Tillman, de-
spite their supposed enmity."
| Democrats are chuckling over the
victory that puts them in the leader
shin of rate legislation in the senate,
and Senator Tillman says he proposes
to make a great fight for the bill, and
the country needn't look for circus
with him as clown. st.