Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-06-01
EXPECT STRONG Bill
No Attempt Will Be Made to
Weaken the Rate Bill by
the COnferees
AN EFFORT TO GET TOGETHER


Based on Any Foundation of Fact
Even Elkins Credited With Trying
to Preserve the Measure.
Washington, June 1.-The first ses-
sion of the rate bill conferees Tuesday
forenoon was not productive OF any
particular results. The conferees met,
and proceeded to look over the bin in
a general way, discussing various
phases of it informally as they went
along. AT later sitting they will take
the bill up section Wy section, for the
purpose OF trying to agree. The work
of getting together may consume a
only two or three. This will depend
entirely upon how things develop after
the actual work has been put under
way. There seems to be prevalent in
some parts of the country the impress
sion that the conferees need Watching
and that they are likely to attempt to
juggle the bill in some way that will!
nullify some of its major provisions.
That impression, however, does not
obtain in Washington even among; the
friends of the legislation. The white
house, l am advised, is satisfied that
the bill as passed The members of
lA IL. ~ r,.;t
of their conferees, and the senate is
banking on the integrity of its con-
ferees. Nowhere is there any suspic-
ion that any skullduggery will be at
tempted or that it could succeed even
If attempted. Each house passed the
bill by practically unanimous vote and
as the work of the conferees must
come before each house for approval
or rejection, it can be understood with
out discussion, the chances for sue
cessful Juggling are reduced to min
imum and even to the vanishing point
Careful Work Needed.
1t will be necessary for the confer
ees to do some very careful work in
the way of redrafting several of the
important provisions of the bill, so as
to make them worka BILE and constitu-
tional The anti-pass section, the pipe
line provision, the section forbidding
carriers to deal in products which
they manufacture, the bill of lading
section. these are some of the provis-
ions of the bill that must be rewrit
ten, for in their present form nobody
here believes they could be success
fully administered. This is always the
way with important legislation and it
is the chief duty of the eonferees on
these bills to whip the phraseology in
to proper shape at the same time pre-
the essence of the original text.
There is no member of the house who |
is closer to the house conferees than |
Stevens of Minnesota, |
himself prominent member of the
committee on interstate and foreign
He vouches personally for
the entire honesty of those conferees
and says he knows at first hands that
hey are entirely in accord with the
spirit of the bill. and will not consent
% nullify single provision OF it.
Speaking about Chairman Hepburn of
he committee, who heads the house
,onferees, Mr.. Stevens says:
He is absolutely and immovably
sincere and honest in his support of
his bill and l am as certain of this as
am of my own existence. / know him
veil, have been in his confidence since
ate legislation was first suggested.
md stake my good name on what here
'ay. So far as this legislation is con-
severe in his honesty"
Elkins for the Bill.
Even Senator Elkins is sincerely for
he bill. This statement may souno
TRANCE. but it expresses the belief of
fficial Washington. Mr.. Elkins comes
p for reelection in West Virginia this
ear and he has seen great light
ince the time, year ago, when he be-
an to oppose rate legislation and to
ay there was already enough law, if
were only enforced. During the
losing weeks of the debate the sena-
Or was one Of the most radical of all
he republican members, and it is we'll
hat he was so, for the people of his
tate are sitting up and taking, no.
ice" and it will require close heW
ng to the line of support for the pres
mt bill to keep him in political life.
1t has not yet developed in the con-
erence that there is to be any acute
Inference of opinion between the
lembers. Probably some two or three
7in prepare substitutes for each sec
ion that must be redrafted and what
ebate there is will come over the
uestion of which of the substitutes
re best That any one of them will
ven suggest a departure from the
pirit of the act is not believed, but
hould such a thing be. there are
nough votes in each house to non
oncur.
Senator Cullom was named as con-
cree instead of Senator Deliver, be-
ause at the last moment Cullom in
listed upon his right as ranking men,
er of his committee. He says that
e is strong enough for work, and so
lere was nothing to do but appoint
i'm. At the time when Dolliver was
it was supposed that Gull
IN would ask to be excused because
f age and bodily infirmities. But he
as a good deal of pride in the fact
lat he was the author of the original
lterstate commerce act and he want
i to help make the law which is to
mend it in so radical way.
Rivalry in House.
In the house Mr. Sherman, of New
ork, is the ranking member of the
[epburn committee 1t was thought +;