Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-03-04
LINING Up ON HEPBURN BILL
Division Between Two Factions Of Repub-
lcans Becoming Sharper
DoLLvtR AND CLApP CONFIDENT
They Believe Measure wal
Hecome Law as u NHS
Passed by the
House.

WASHINGTON March 3.-Cuuferences
on the Hepburn railroad rate bill are every
day becoming more numerous and more
confusing. Groups of republican senators
advocating an amendment providing for
judicial review of orders of the Interstate
Commerce commission, groups of repub-
lican senators who support the bill as II
passed the house and was reported by the
interstate commerce committee Of the sen
ate, and groups Of democratic senators may
be seen in close consultation almost every
hour Of every day, the latter trying TO de-
termine what their party policy will be.
The most notable of these groups is the
first mentioned. which has directed its ef
forts toward bringing about an agreement
concerning an amendment that might
prove satisfactory to all OF the republicans.
The members of this faction are making
use of the argument that unless amended
the bill will be declared unconstitutional,
1t II an argument used alike to rcpub-
leans and democrats. This faction pro-
fesses encouragement. 1t is said by some
OF these senators that an informal poll
shows majority OF the senate In favor
of court review feature. This poll, how
ever. is not in the form OF a pledge.
DoIIiver and Ciapp Confident.
Senators Dolliver and Clapp. the repub-
lican leaders of the faction supporting tho
hill without amendment still believe that
the bill ought to go through In that form.
No amendments have yet been submitted
to them which they are willing to accept.
They will have a conference with the pres
| ident on Monday.
1t developed today in case the republicans
should be successful in getting together
q
! and it is quite likely they would endeavor
| to secure caucus action favoring the Hep
| burn bill without amendment. baslng their
action on the unanimous support given tho
! bill by members of the house. Some of the
democratic senators believe that In case
their party should get together on the bill
as il came from the house that quite "A large
/ number of republican senators would vote
| with them. However, the whole matter
! relating to the rate bill is stll in the realm
I of speculation and no doubt will be for
some time to come.
May ,Revivify Philippine Hill.
! Senator Lodge. chairman of the commit
J tee on the Philippines. has decided to make
"A motion that the senate discharge the
t committee from further consideration OF
! the Philippine tariff bill and that st be-
! taken up for discussion. Under the rules
! OF the senate motion of this character is
! debatable The senator proposes to make
an argument in favor of the bill and will
! ask that action he taken by the senate
| concerning it. He does not intend. how
ever, to precipitate action until after the
statehood bill has been disposed OF. The
means suggested provides the only way in
which the bill may be brought before the
senate, in view of the action of the COM
mittee in defeating it.
Opponents of the bill declare that the
! senate is overwhelmingly opposed to the
, passage % the bill and that MI Lodge $
motion, if made will me met with "a counter
motion to lay it on the liable. The senu-
mont of the senate tSfn would be de-
| termined , ..