Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1906-03-02
FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1906.
a Genuine Surprise.

The old French proverb, that it is the
unexpected that happens, is constantly
asserting itself in human affairs, often
with the most startling results. Our
attention is called to this by the sudden
advancement of Senator Tillman, demo-
crat, from South Carolina, to the leader
ship of the railroad rate bill in the
Senate by an unexpected motion made
in committee 10y Senator Aldrich, repub-
lican, from Rhode Island.
Evidently Mr.. Aldrich did this on the
spur of the moment. provoked by the
success of Senator Dolliver of Iowa,
republican, in a motion that the com
mittee report favorably on the Hepburn
bill passed by the house, without amend
ment. Mr. Aldrich Mr.. Elkins, Mr..
Foraker, Mr.. Crane and Mr.. Kean. being
much opposed to such motion, but not
being able to defeat it, as the five demo-
Gratis on the committee voted with
Senator Dolliver, Senator Cullom and
Senator Clapp, to so report Mr.. Aldrich
got his revenge in displacing Senator
Dolliver from reporting the bill, as but
for Senator Alrich's sudden motion, he
undoubtedly would have been chosen to
do, with the result that the abest and
most determined antagonist of the rail-
roads is brought to the front before the
people of the nation, as the coadjutor of
Pres. Roosevelt in the carrying out and
perfecting this measure, designed per-
haps to be the most far reaching in its
consequences of any bill which has been
introduced into our Congress for very
long period, and this without any
attempt or expectation on the part of
Senator Tillman to occupy such position.
There has been some little friction
hitherto between the President and Seha-
tor Tillman; but they are both honest and
both able, and it is said that the Presi-
dent is not displeased with the accident
which has thus introduced Mr. Tillman
as the leader of the measure in the
Senate.
The following account, somewhat
abbreviated of the action Of the COM
mittee, is from the Washington Post of
Feb. "a
Surprises tread upon each others heels,
so fast they follow in the Senate rate
situation. Yesterday brought forth the
most amazing surprise of the series that
has attended the Hepburn bill in the
Upper Chamber. The Senate Committee
on Interstate Commerce not only voted
to report the Hepburn bill favorably, and
without amendment, but it instructed
Senator Tillman to make the report
MIR. Tillman will report the bill when
the Senate reconvenes Monday.
1t was on motion of Senator Aldrich,
he who has been opposing at every step
the Presidents avowed railroad policy,
that this high distinction was conferred
upon Senator Tillman. The committee
had been in session an hour Yesterday
without result. Senator Dolliver, press.
ing hard for prompt action on the Hep
burn BILL had moved that the measure
be reported without amendment. The
Big Five-Messrs. Elkins, Aldrich, Fora
ker, Kean, and Crane-gasped as though
each had been punched in his Senatorial
solar pleXus when the full purport of the
lowan's motion struck them. 1t was
1915 o'clock. The committee. with only
two members absent-Mr. Cullom of
Illinois, and Mr.. Carmack of Tennessee
had been gingerly discussing minor
amendments since 11:15.
Mr.. Dolliver had read a telegram from
Mr.. Cullom, who is in Florida for his
health, giving instructions to feast his