Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-02-17
EVERY MAN HAS OPINION.
Senate Committee Having Hard Time
With Hepburn Rate Bill.
Washington, Feb. 16.-"'

With Hepburn Rate Bill.
Washington, Feb. 1--we have
heard as many opinions on the railroad
rate question as there are members of
the committee and each man is afraid
To bring the court review feature to
IA vote" said Chairman Elkins today
when the Senate committee on inter-
state commerce adjourned until next
Thursday without having taken vote
on q bill or considered an amendment
for judicial review of orders of the In
tcrstate Commerce Commission.
This statement was made in the
presence of Senators Dolliver and
Clapp. who are contending for the
Hepburn bill in the form that it came
from the House. 1t was said in jest,
but il is believed that it more neartly
|expressed the situation than any preyi-
Gus alleged authoritative announce
ment The committee agreed that i'm
pOrtant amendments Will not be voted
on until Friday of next week.
Ostensibly the committee adjourned
because Senator Tillman was sudden
denly taken i'll with threatened Dneu-
raonia and could not be present and
because Senator Cullom will return
FROM Florida some time next week and
cast his vote in the committee. The
real reason for adjournment is believed
to be the attitude Of certain Demo-
cratic members in disclosing their po-
sitionS on the court review feature.
Neither Republican faction in the COM
riittee vas certain of the outcome and
vote therefore was not insisted upon
today. Supporters Of the House bill
were encouraged, however, by a tele-
gram received today by Chairman Ell
kins from Senator Cullom asking to be
counted against amendment to Inc
HepburE-DOlliver bill il a vote were
taken today.
Without taking uD the question of
judicial review of orders Of the COM
mission, the committee considered
many amendments offered to many
sections OF the House bill. Senator Car
mack, who had been absent during for
mer deliberations this week offered an
amendment increasing the interstate
commerce commission from five to nine
members. This amendment was ADOPT
ed by a vote Of six TO five. as follows:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Aldrich. Kean.
Carmack, Foster and Crane.
Nesative-Foraker, Dolliver, Clapp,
McLaurin and Newlands.
1t was agreed, however, that the
Messrs. Cullom and Tillman may Lave
their votes recorded on this amend
ment and this may change the result,
though this is not believed likely
Anothc" amendment offered by Sena-
tor Cdrmack to fix the liabilities Of
common carriers. railroad and trans
pOrtatiOn companies for negligence,
was adopted unanimously and will be
Incorporated in, or added to, the bill
as a new section. The amendment Is as
follows:
That any common carrier, railroad or
transportation company receiving prop
erty for transportation from Il point in
one state to a point in another state
shall issue receipt or bill Of lading
therefor and shall be liable to the holder
| thereof for any loss. damage or injury
| to such property caused by its negligence.
| of any conmCn carrier railroad or trans
pOrt1tiOn company 10 which such proper
| " may be delivered or over whose line on
| lines such property may pass. and no con
tract. receipt, rule or regulation shall
| exempt such common carrier, railroad or
| from the HADN'T,
therern imposed. Afrevitled that nothing in
this section shall deprive Tho holder Of
! such receipt or bill Of llding from any
| remedy or right of action which h" NOW
| has under existing law.
| That the common carrier, railroad or
| transportation company issuing such re-
| ccipt or bill Of ladinS shall be entitled
| to recover from the common carrier, rail
road or transportation company through
| whose negligence the loss, damage or in
! jury shall have been sustained, the
amount of such loss. damage or injury
as it may be required to pay to the own
I ers OF such property
| Several amendments We're suggested
providing for both inclusion and cx-
clusion of express companies and
proprietary cars under the bill but no
action was taken.
| Senator Foster desires that express
| companies shall be included and gave
notice that he would call for vote
| on such an amendment at the next
meeting of the committee.
| There was also a number of amend
| mCnts offered to section one of The
Hepburn bill. on the subject of what is
known as joint routes.