The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-26
Railway Regulation Bill
 in Senate.
IT MAY DIsPLAcE STATEHOOD
All the Various Factions Realize
 Importance of the Question.
Probable That Amendments VIII he Made to the Hepburn-DoIliver Measure, But Their Character
 Cannot be ForetoId. s

from the tune that SeudtOr IlAiinAu presents his report on the Railroad Rate bill Tuesday,. until that measure shall have been finally disposed of by the Senate. that bill will actually. If not technically, occupy the foremost place on the Senate calendar. From the beginning of the session, the rate regulation question has received eager attention whenever the subict has been approached, even though in an informal way as has been the case on severa! occasions and the formal reporting of the measure will necessarily intensity the interest in 1t.
 There is no prospect of immediately displacing the Statehood bill, but there have been many intimations that such course might be pursued if that Dill continues to be unacted upon when a few weeks later Senators generally find themselves prepared to enter what all have believed from the beginning would be the real confitst of the ses- sion.
 All the Senators. whatever their in dividual views. unite in considering the Railroad Rate question as the most important before Congress and friends and opponents of the Hepburn-Doll bill alike unite in the desire to have 1t taken up as promptly as possible There will be q lull. however. after the formal report is made, because all who expect to participate in the debate feel the necessity for sufficient time to prepare for the conflict. With this nreparation once made, it now looks as if no other subject less seriously considered would be allowed to stand in it's way.
 ForaIter to Speak First.
 Wednesday Senator Foraker will take the floor with. a, prepared speech f<ava JfG xHgil the first formal speech on the subject subsequent to the reporting of the bill So far as announcement has been made, the Ohio Senator stands alone in oppos- ing all railroad legislation along the lines of the Hepburn-D Deliver bill He has heretofore announced his positlop. Theretis already much speculation as to the prospects of the rate bill The most generally accepted view IS that it will he amended by the Senate in some particular. Most of the Demo cratic members of the Interstate Gem Merce Committee, as well as otner Democratic Senators have expressed the opinion that there should be changes in the bill The same may be said or the Republican members of the Committee who voted against reporting the bill, and other Republican Senator's It IS already apparent that the crucial anendment will be the addition of a
  will unduestionably be determined conflict. Friends of such a modification claim thirty three Republican Senators favorable to the addition of this pro- vision. and some of the Democrats have in the past stated that they would TO- gard such a clause with favor
 Senators Beveridge and Nelson. who have the Statehood bill in charge, will not admit the possibility. of displace- ment, even in the remote future, and they will do their utmost to press It's consideration. ''-
 Mr. Beveridge is temporarily absent, but Senator Nelson will insist Monday that nothing shall stand in the way of Senator Dicks proceeding with his speech in support of joint Statehood.
 Dicks statehood Speech.
 The first half of the speech was de- livered more than a week ago, and MT. Dick sought in vain all last week to secure an opportunity for its ,conclu- sion Mir. Dick will be followed by Mir. Long and MT. Hopkins in support of the bill and probably by some of the Democratic members of the Committee on Territories in opposition Senator Foraker will press his amendment for a separate vote for Arizona on admis- sion and will try to secure an agree ment to vote at an early day, but the friends of the bill as it stands will not concede that point until after further discussion and probably not at any time unless there is an agreement to vote on the bill at the same time.
 Senator Clapp. as chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs, will try. during the week, to secure action on the bill for the settlement of the affairs of the five civilized tribes. but there is opposition to some of the provisions of that bill and 1t is not improbable that there will be considerable debate on it. The fortihcation appropriation will be reported during the week and prob ably taken up by the Senate.
 The delayed consideration of the army appropriation bill will be resumed as inc chief topic of legislation in the House of Representatives this week Chairman Hull preuicts that IL VIII pass Thursday.
 A compromise on the provision aboI, ishtng the grade of Lieutenant- General in the army has practically been agreed upon. whereby General Corbin and General MacArthur will be allowed tC reach that rank before their retire ment. It is understood Mir. Grosvenol will offer the compromise amendments and that MT. Hull will agree to 1t or the mart of the Military Committee.
 Monday will be devoted to the con alteration of legislation for the Dis trict of Columbia. If there Is time af- ter this order. MT. Davidson will cal
  uon of the Lake Erie and Ohio shlT canal company.
 The Indian appropriation bill is or the House calendar and may be brought forward for consideration the last ol the week. By that time also the legis- iative. executive and judicial appropria- tIon bill will be completed by the Ap- propriation Committee and reported.
 The AlgeeIras Situation.
 The feeling of unrest which has been ao apparent in the deliberations of tho LiTeciras conference on Moroccan af' fairs during the past week. seems tc have been at least temporarily sup 1Ianted by a moro hopeful and concilia' torv attitude on the part of the dele Sates The formal debates and the ses' sions of the special committee on th' onestion of the Moroccan bank vii contjnue and dispatches tend to create tbe impression that with the adjust nSent of this point. the all important probienl of the policing of Morocco wil