Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-05-01

Washington, May An agreement TO
begin this week the consideration of
amendments TO the Railway Rate Regu-
lation bill and TO vote on each amendment
as soon as It's discussion has been
concluded was reached in the Sen
ate yesterday afternoon This agree
ment marks the beginning OF the end
m the rate bill debate Predictions are
being made tonight that a rate law will
he enacted in 10 days on two weeks.
The agreement was unanimous. 10
came suddenly, almost unexpectedly,
although Senators representing all shades
of opinion on the subject of railway rate
making had been 40 work all day trying
to arrange a time for taking a vote on the
bill itself. A definite proposal to fix May
18th as the date for a final vote evinced
much consideration, but it was not satis-
factory to several senators
At the close of a set speech on the rate
question, delivered by Senator Clarke of
Arkansas, Senator Tillman arose and
asked that a voting date be fixed. This
led TO a rather lively debate, which re-
suited in the arrangement to begin con-
sldering amendments 20 the bill on Friday
of this week and brought from the veteran
Senator Frye of Maine the lervent excla-
nation Thank the Lord, which found
an echo in the mind of nearly every .Sena-
tor present. The text Of the agreement
reached follows:
"lt is agreed by unanimous consent that
on Friday, May 9TH 1906, Immediately
upon the conclusion of the routine morn
ing business, the Senate will proceed TO
the consideration of the bill (H. r.. l2,-
$50, the bill TO be read by sections for the
l .N
upon amendments offered to proceed
under q l5-minute rule. the amendments
to be disposed of when the discussion
thereon is concluded
Each of the two factions in the Senate
is making the assertion that it is thor
oughly satisfied with the agreement and
is confident of its success when the final
vote comes. There is apparently, how
ever, % greater feeling of certainty among
/ the so-called conservatives that they
! possess a sufficient number of votes to
! enact rate legislation of their own way
| of thinking. The main difference be-
| tween the two factions is over the court
review provision the conservatives in
sisting that the Federal judiciary shall
| have the broadest possible authority TO
| pass upon the rate fixing orders of the
| Interstate Commerce Commission, while
| the radicals favor specifically limiting
| the powers of the Judiciary in this regard
| Il is claimed that 30 Republican Senators
and l2 Democratic Senators arc certain
TO vote for broad review provision
This would give a majority Of seven for
/ liberal review.
From now on a more earnest renewal
of the efforts 10 bring about a compro-
mise among the divided Republicans may
be expected There is a hopeful feeling
that when the amendments are actually
under consideration and it is realized
that tho final vote cannot be long delayed
the leaders will get together and agree
upon a court review provision that will
have the Endorsement of a large mairoity
of the Senate and insure the passage of
the bill by that body in short order.
Under the formal agreement reached
yesterday general debate ON the bill will
end on Thursday and the consideration OF
amendments win be begun on the follow
/ ing day The bill will be read by sections,
and the amendments appropriate 60 each
section will be considered and voted on
before the next section is taken up. No
Senator will be permitted to talk for more
than l5 minutes on any one proposition.
II was made plain in the Senate that after
all the sections of the bill have been read
and amendments thereto considered and
voted on other amendments may be Off
cred TO any section. There are about
30 amendments to the measure now be-
fore the Senate.
Most of these are unimportant, but IL is
believed that ono-third OF them will be
debated at some length. 10 is impossible
TO estimate how long it viii take TO dispose
of the amendments but the opinion that
has the greater number of supporters is
that not more than 10 days viii be re-
quired.