The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-04-06

WASHINGTON, D. c., April g.
There will be rate legislation at this
session of congress, and the senate
NAV reach a vote on the bill within
the next three weeks, according to
careful estimates made by leaders In
that body.
The Hepburn-D olliver bill is to be
amended so as to provide for some
kind of judicial review and the pres
ent senate debate is for the purpose
of clearing the atmosphere so as to
make it perfectly plain just what kind
of review there should be. Such sena-
tors as Clapp and Dolliver, while pre-
ferring the original house bill, will not
strenuously oppose review amend
ment, provided it is sufficiently con-
sentative.
The president is also for a conserv-
want the law so framed as to appear
to direct the courts to retry all cases
coming before them from the commits
sion. 1t will be difficult he believes,
if the coutrs are directed to hear ap
peals as to the legality of the COM
missions order.
The question of the resonableness
of the rate fixed he holds, the courts
should not be concerned with. OF
course, the courts may of their own
motion declare that they should con-
slider the question of reasonableness
also, but the president does not want
anything put into the act that will
show that such is the design of the
law making body.
Victory for President.
In a general way it is conceded
that the bill as finally passed will be
a substantial victory for the president.
The force of public opinion has been
so strong as to compel the senate to
action. 1t has not for years been so
completely under the spur of neces-
sity to do something as it is at this
moment. The railroad senators, of
whom there is only a mere handful,
are powerless to work their will in
the face of the popular uprising that
has taken place.
When the bill is finally passed. it
will be by substantially a unanimous
vote. This is also conceded The de-
bates which are now taking place are
merely the arguments of lawyers as to
the fine points of phraseology in the
bill, and while interesting enough from
some points of view, are not import
ant as indicating what is to become of
| the BILL That question has been de-
termined for some time. The bill is
to pass substantially as the president
wants it, and the house will consent
to the senate amendments.
Anti-Pass Amendment.
One radical amendment to the bill,
foreign to the main making fea-
ture, has been tacitly agreed to by
the leading men in both houses, and
is now beginning to assume definite
shape. The senate will adopt an
amendment prohibiting the issue of
free passes
This senate amendment may not be
| strong enough to suit those members,
and it is probable that the chief diff
ficulty the conferences of the two
houses will have will be found at this
point. The house has very radical
anti-pass views. Its amendment will
probably provide that no railroad shall
issue a pass to any person whatsoever,
not even to it's own officers and en-
ployes, unless they are travelling on
official business.
This is farther than the senate
amendment will go, but not farther,
it is believed, than the senate will
finally consent to go, provided the
house yields as to court review and
the other senate changes in the bill
This anti-pass amendment will pro-
vide a punishment not only for the
railroad officials issuing passes, but
for persons accepting them. 1t will
be as strong as words con make it,
and the administration will see that
it is strictly enforced
What havoc such a provision will
play with the plans of the politicians
of many states. especially the states
of the west. which are sparsely set
tied and where distances are great
between places, may we'll be imagined.
There will. to make concrete illus
tration of the way this amendment
will work out in actual practice, be
fewer gatherings of the political