The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-19

came to the Senate. He denied the right
of the President to call senator's or menu
bers to the White House and instruct or
request them how to conduct themselves.
He would, however, give the President
credit for giving life to the measure, for
without that initiative he did not believe
the republican party would have permit
ted the passage of the measure.
Senator Foraker said that there were
some sections that he would like to see
enacted into law and that if he could
vote upon those sections as such, he would
be relieved of great perplexty. He, how
ever, had an Interchangeable opinion on the
right of Congress to enter upon the rate
making power, and could not secure his
own assent to cast an affirmative vote
for the measure as a whole. Hence,
though he stood alone, he meant to cast
his vote against the bill, knowing that If
he voted alone he had support in the real
convictions of many other senators.
Senator McLaurin took the position that
the court review provision was the broad
est possible, and said therefore that II the
President had united his party in the
Senate as claimed by Mr.. Deliver he had
done so by surrendering to the opponents
of railroad rate legislation, and In doing
SO had surrendered the rights so earnest
ly contended for by the shippers of the
country. Senator Lafollette speaking of
the defeat of his own amendments, said:
"They were voted down by republican
colleagues who had been lined up under
the leadership of New England senator's"
He contended that the addition of his
amendments would have strengthened the
measure.
Senator Morgan.
Senator Morgan announced his intention
to join Mr.. Foraker In voting against the
bill, and said that the advocates of the
measure had themselves furnished suf-
ficient reason for his position II he had no
convictions of his own. He had no fear
of publicity, he declared and announced
his conviction that the people of Alabama
would sustain him in his course. He said
thai the course of the railroads in connec-
tion with recent disasters had shown such
lberaity on their part as to convince him
that railroad men do not deserve uncondi-
tional condemnation. He expressed the
further opinion that the railroads have
been able to draw to their support more
talent than can be found in Congress.
Having performed my duty in offering
amendments which were not adopted, |
shall have the supreme satisfaction Of
voting no on the final roll CALL" he said.
He said the law contains provisions inm-
ical to the interests of Alabama and in
timated that the governor of that state
would take early steps to test its validity
in the supreme court.
Senator Bailey announced his convic-
ton that the bill was a vast improvement
over the existing law, and said he would
vote for it, IF not perfect, it can be
amended and if the carriers do not re-
speet and obey this new law, Congress
will pass a law with teeth in it-with teeth
of metal that will hurt. He thought some
mistakes had been made in voting amend
nients, but even with the deficiencies the
bill deserves not only the votes of Con-
gress, hut the approval of the people. II
the carriers evade it, then upon them
will fall the consequences.
Anxious as were the senators by this
time to reach a vote. there was never
theless much interest manifested when
Senator Tillman took the floor, After an
nouncing his intention to vote for the
bill as The "best he could get. he en-
tered upon the task of acknowledging the
instrinnentnli.y of the President in secur-
ing the legislation. He came bluntly to
the point. sayirg:
''But for the work of Theodore Roose
welt in bringing this matter to the at
tention of the country we would not have
any bill at all. 1t is ir1e IL VI The id'n
was not his. and tan ths-demard for
the legislation was made IL three Demo
cratic platforms, nevertheless he seized
upon the idea and the success of the
issue is largely due to his advocacy. I
can't congratulate him on his victory
for | think we should have had a better
BILL"
Compliments Party.
He complmented the republican party
on its practical unanimity but predicted
that some scars would remain as the re-
suit of the conflict that has taken place
within the ranks of the party. He ex-
pressed the opinion that If the bill fails
o. h. liafe Mill he
the people go to sleep and in conclusion
expressed his own sense of relief in get
ting rid of the responsibility imposed
upon him as the senator in charge of
the measure. After the last of the general
speeches of the rate bill had been heard,
Senator Frye who occupied the chair,
was prompt In putting the bill to
vote.
Let us have the ayes and nays" was
heard from a dozen senator's roll call
was ordered. Explanation was made on
behalf of practically all of the absentees
that If present their votes would be In
the affirmative. The roll call resulted in
the passage of the bill by vote of Il
to g. as follows:
Yeas: Alger, Allen, Allison. Ankeny, Ba-
con, Bailey, Berry, Beveridge, Blackburn,
Brandege, Bukely. Burkett, Burnham,
Carmack. Carter. Clapp. Clarke of Mon
tana Clark of Wyoming; Clark of Arkan-
sas; Clay, Crane, Culberson, Cullom, Dam
lei, Dick, Dillingham;, Dolliver Dryden,
Elkins. Flint. Foster. Frazier. Frye, Full
ton, Gallinger, Gearin. Hale. Hansbrough,
Heneway, Hopkins. Kean, Knox, Lafol-
lette. Latimer, Lodge. Long, McCreary,
McCumber, McEnery. MsLaurin. Mallory,
Martin, Mallard, Nelson Newlands Nix
on Overman, Penrose, Perkins. Piles,
Rayner, Scott. Simmons. Smoot, Spooner
Stone. Taliaferroo, Teller Tillman, War
ner. Wetmore. Total. 81.
Nays: Foraker, Morgan Pettus. Total, g.
Absentees were Messrs. Aldrich, Bur-
rows. Burton, Depew. Dubois, Gamble,
German, Hepburn, Kittredge. Money, Pat
terson. Platt, Proctor Sutherland and
Warren
The Senate adjourned until Monday.
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