Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-03
PREPARING FOR WORK
House Leaders Are Framing
Their Program.
CONGRESS HERE TOMORROW
Date to Be Fixed for Voting on State
hood Bill.
AN IRONCLAD RULE rs NEEDED
Wide-Open Discussion to Be Allowed
on Philippine Tariff-Chairman
Hepburn's Railway Rate Bill.
AN IR0NCLAD RULE Is NEEDED

The House leaders had their heads to-
| sether today framing up their program for
| tomorrow's reassembling Of the lower
/ branch of Congress. 1t seems probable that
| but little business will be transacted to-
morrow beyond distributing the Presidents
message to appropriate committees and
that adjournment will be taken until next
Monday.
| The committee on territories is not ready
with It's statehood bill and probably will
not be prepared to submit a report until
| Monday. The report will cover practically
| the same ground of the report of last ses-
! sion, as the bill is in the main similar to
the one which passed the House last year.
The Statehood Bill.
The committee rules will meet Mon
day forenoon and bring in rule for con-
sideration of the statehood bill, shutting
OH amendments and fixing time for
vote. The necessity for an ironclad rule
to get the bill through the House arises
from the factional opposition to the state
hood bill and the possibility of adverse
combinations being made.
Owing to the absence of several members
or the House committee on territories 1t is
not likely that much progress will be made
with the joint statehood bill this week 1t
was the intention of the House managers
If the bill was ready to be reported, to
make arrangements to consider it at once
under special order. Chairman Hamilton
OF the committee territories has been
working the measure, but other mem
bers of the subcommittee are still absent
from the city and little progress can be
made. This subcommittee must report to
the full committee before action is taken
There are a number of details in the bill
to be perfected, relating principally to d.
vision lines for court districts Nor has
q oroan Hrpon rl3 fft,cr To
bition been agreed upon. 1t is the inten-
ton of Mr.. Hamilton to reintroduce the bill
when it is amended, so that the amend
ments will not have to be considered in
the House. The present outlook indicates
that the bill cannot be taken up before
next week.
The House leaders have decided to throw
the Philippines bill wide open for dis
cussion and amendment. They think it
advisable to let the boys" a Speaker
Cannon says. blow off steam and get rid
of their pent-up enthusiasm on tariff re-
vision No rule will be brought in to
shut off amendments, and the chair will
receive such amendments as are germane
to the bill.
1t will not be In order. of course, to at
tempt a general revision of the tariff
through amendment of this bill, and no
amendments for free hides free steel
or any other such projects will be de-
clared in order. There will be unlimited
debate, which take wide range as
the individual desires.
Chairman Hepburn's Railway Bill.
Chairman Hepburn of the House COM
mittee on interstate and foreign commerce
has prepared his railway rate bill. and
will introduce 1t in the House tomorrow.
Colonel Hepburn has been working upon
the bill since Congress convened, and has
been busy during the recess licking it
into shape. 1t is understood that the
bill contains provisions in accordance with
the Presidents recommendations, such as
have been Incorporated in most of the
bills introduced thus far together with
some of Colonel Hepburn's own ideas of
railway rate regulation born of his long
experience on the committee, on interstate
and foreign commerce.
1t is understood that two of the essen
tial features of the bill will authorize the
establishment OF maximum rate, and
give the courts power to suspend, but not
to fix rates The committee cor wiz meet
the several bills before 1t. 1t Is con-
sidered probable that no particular bill
now pending will be reported IN Its en-
tirety, but that the measure will be COM
posite, representing the best features OF
all the material at hand.
Prevention of Discrimination.
Comment Is made at the Capitol upon !
circular which has fallen into the hands |
OF some of the members of the House ema-
mating from the executive committee of the |
interstate commerce law convention. 1t is
dated Washington and is signed by E. P.
Bacon. chairman. 1t is addressed to COM !
mercial organizations and says.
while it is the general impression that |
legislation will be enacted at the present |
session of Congress for the regulation of |
railway rates, substantially on the lines |
recommended by President Roosevelt, there |
is reason for apprehension that the railway |
interest through Its powerful influence, |
may secure such modification of its scope as !
to seriously impair its efficiency. This is |
particularly the case with reference to the |
prevention of discrimination between diff |
ferent localities and between different de- |
,scrfptions of traff1c-a feature of the legis- |
lation which Is of the utmost Importance to |
all branches of trade and industry, although |
Of secondary interest to the public at large.
"The advocates of the railway interest in ,
Congress urge that comforting the power |
upon the interstate commerce commission, |
or some administrative body created by |
Congress. to prescribe maximum rates to /
be observed when existing rates are found, |
upon complaint and hearing, to be unjust |
or unreasonable. is a full compliance with |
the Presidents recommendation in his re- |
cent annual message: and some of the |
friends of the proposed legislation seem to |
be disposed to accede to this proposition. |
The President has, in fact, insisted as stren- |
uously upon the prevention of discrfmna-
ton in every form as upon the prevention
of the continuance of excessive rates. It |
will readily be seen that the establishing of |
maximum rates provides no remedy for |
that are unjustly discriminatory in their ef- |
feet as between different localities of sec |
tions different commodities; the only |
remedy for which lies In establishing, a vast
relation in the rates involved. or, in other |
words, a just differential 10 be maintained |
In their relation to each other. with due re-
gard to the conditions and circumstances |
affecting the traffic.
Appeal to Congress Urged
In view of this I beg leave to suggest |
to the officers of organizations desirous |
of having this most grievous form of dis
elimination efectually reached by the |
pending legislation that they promptly I
communicate their desire to the commit I
tees of Congress having the consideration |
OF the legislation now before them.
namely. the interstate commerce commit T
tee of the Senate and the Interstate and I