Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-05-07
Last Week Of Railroad
Rate Bill Discussion.
Effect Of Republican ConsoIi.
dalton is PrObIematic.
The House Will Probably Pass Naval Appro.
priation Bill This Week.

Washington. May G.-Practically all
the members of the United States SEN
ate agree at present that the week will
see the end Of the discussion on the
railroad rate bill. There is among Re-
publican senators some disposition to
antagcnize tn" compromise provision
for judicial review Of the findings of
the Interstate Commerce Commission
but the fact that this provision is ac-
cepted by the conservative senatorial
leaders on the one hand and by the
President on the other endorse it prac-
tically certain that the amendment will
be accepted as a party measure and
that it will receive most OF, if not all
the votes of the Republican voters
1t remains to be seen what effect the
consolidation of the Republican party
will have on the Democratic senator's.
They will probably content themselves
with expressing surprise that the bill
should be transformed into a party
measure and then after chatting their
opponents will let the vote be taken.
each man voting according to his own
personal views.
There is no agreement among Repub-
leans az to whether the bill shall be
otherwise amended and it is probable
that day or two will elapse before
any policy on that point can be deter
mined. The proceedings last Friday
indicated that there is little prospect
Of any great change in the measure.
Al this time it seems probable that
changes may be made giving the COM
mission power to compel trunk lines to
make connection with other lines and
hi ~
from engaging in the production Of
commodities.
Opinions differ as to the length Of
time that may be required for the con-
cusiOn Of the work on the bill and es-
Inmates vary all the way from Wednes-
day until Saturday. The principa lde-
bate vii be on the question Of court
review which will probably be reached
by Tuesday. After that is disposed of
there viii be little left for anything else
and whatever may be offered will most
likely be acted upon with comparative
ly little discussion.
The National House of Representa-
tives will complete the naval appro-
priation bill this week. If the foreign
affairs committee can get the diplomat
ic and consular appropriation bill ready
in time action may soon be taken on
that measure. Aside from this charac-
ter Of legislation tomorrow is to be de-
voted TO the passage Of bills under sus-
pension Of the rules and Friday is to be
devoted to the passage of private pen
sion bills.
The reading of the naval bill is ex-
pectcd to occupy the House Tuesday
Wednesday and possibly Thursday
Pure food legislation has the right of
way after appropriation bills and next
the bill creating uniform system of
naturalization.
Night sessions are contemplated to
get through the VOlumnous condifica-
ton Of the criminal laws which is penI-
ing. but no special order to this end
has rs vet been adopted.
With the naval and diplomatic bills
ont of the way there remains but two
of tn" annual appropriation bills to be
formulated and passed These are the
sundry civil. which will be out Of COM
mittee the middle of May and the gem
email deficiency which is always the last
and circulated to carry the odds and
ends of the money necessities of the
government.