The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-19
RATE BILL WILL
Be IN ORDER
viii Be Topic Of Discussion
in the Senate
SPEECHES START TODAY
Amendments Being Prepared-Hoase
Will Dispose of Bill Abolishnq
Grade of Lieutenant GEN.
eral-At Aleeciras.

The debate on the railroad rate bill
will continue in the Senate during the
present week. The prospect is that this
bill will more completely monopolize at
tention this week than it did last for,
while under the original arrangement the
rate bill could not be taken up until 2
o'clock each day, its consideration can
now be entered upon under Senator Till
mans present policy every day as soon
as the routine business, sucn as the in
PRODUCTION of bills and presentations OF
reports, is concluded.
Mr.. Tillman has announced his pur-
pose of pressing the consideration of this
bill to the exclusion of everything else
when anyone is prepared to speak on it,
and he said when there is no one
ready to speak l shall ask the Senate to
proceed to vote on the measure"
That, however, he will not be un-
reasonable in this respect, was shown by
the fact that he agreed on Thursday to
take recess until Monday because not
withstanding there are many senators
who will ask to be heard upon the bill
before the final vote shall be taken no
speeches had been prepared
1t is the intention to give everyone who
really wants to speak an opportunity to
do SO, but if. when all the speeches are
made, there should seem to be a DISPOSE
tion to delay final action, this effort will
be antagonized.
Speeches Scheduled.
The speech-making during the present
week will be inaugura1ed Monday by
an address by Senator McCreary of Ken
tucky. A number of other senators win
be heard during the week in formal
speeches, but the day of delivery has not
been determined upon. In all probability
most of the speeches will precipitate run
ming rebates, as did Mr.. Rayner's address
of last Wednesday. Indeed. the disposi-
tion is to question most of the statements
made on the floor of the Senate, and
from this time forward very few speakers
will be permitted to escape without in
terruption.
Though much attention is being given
to the presentation of the merits of the
question pro and con- a still larger num-
ber of senators are devoting themselves
even more assiduously to the preparation
of amendments to the bill
The republican senators who do not ac-
cept the House bill are concentrating
their efforts upon a review provision, and
they have practically agreed upon the
fifth section of Senator Knox's substitute
for the pending bill the basis of their
amendment. This section authorizes the
taking of any matter decided by the
United States courts, and requires the
railroad companies to deposit the differ
ence between their rates and the
rates fixed by the commission pending
the final adjudication of each particular
case. ~
Senator Spooner has an amendment
along the same lines. but it goes into
greater detail, and the indications are
that much of his phraseology may be ac-
cepted.
The democrats are working in the main
along the lines to secure an amendment
which shall prohibit the lower courts
from suspending rates fixed by the COM
mission. Senator Tillnan is giving his
especial attention to notifications which
will prohibit the railroad companies from
owning the commodities which they
carry.
In the House.
The national House of Representatives
will begin the week by disposng of the
bill abollshing the grade of Lieutenant
general In the army, over which a fill
buster was in progress when adjournment
was taken Friday night. The balance
OF Monday will be given to the passage
of minor bills under suspension of the
rules. Thursday has been set apart for
the passage of war claims The other
four legislative days, Mr.. Tawney, chair
man of the appropriations committee pre-
diets will be required to complete the
consideration of the legislation appropra-
ton bill, which was before the house
last week.
Should this bill pass sooner. Chairman
Overstreet will at once bring In the
postofice appropriation bill, which has
been completed by his committee and
make 1t the order of business. The con-
sderation of the postoffice bill will re-
qulre something like a week. as the aues-
tion of railway mail subsidies will doubt
less provoke discussion. Although the
programme has not been determined, it
Is expected that the statehood bill will
be brought into the House on Wednesday
and disposed of.
Brighter at Ageciras.
The fact that the international Moroc-
ran conference at Algeciras has adjourn
ed until March 20, has given rise to the
hope among the influential neutral dele
gates that France and Germany will in
the meantime reach a basis of accord. At
Algeciras the symptoms of agreement are
considered more favorable.
Bituminous operators to the number of
about 600 expected to arrive in In
dianapolis today to confer with the United
Mine Workers of America.
The situation in the threatened coal
strike appears to be unchanged, the out
come now being entirely in the hands of
the miners. The Ryan resolution having
of the scale committee being favorable.
there Is every indication that conser-
vatism will govern the final deliberations
of the miners and operators
President Samuel Gompers of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor has called a
meeting of the executive council of the
federation for today in Washington. and
while 1t is not definitely announced that
the coal strike will be discussed II is gen
orally believed that the meeting will con-
slider the situation.
The national convention of the Asso-
citation of American Colleges will be held
in Pittsburg on March 10. From March
% TO % the national convention of Amer
ioan Railway Engineers and Maintenance.
OF Way association will meet in Chicago
The national convention of the Method
1 ist Episcopal Missionary Society of Amer
ica will be held in Minneapolis March
H-23, when reports will be submitted and
the years work discussed.