The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-02-27
RATE BILL APPROVED
Hepburn Measure to be T. ported
Favorably to Senate.
TlLLmAN TO BE ITS SPONSOR

touth Carolina Senator TO Have Charge
Of Bill Passed BY Republican House
and Endorsed BY Republican Pres''
dert-Not Amended BY Committee.
Washington. Feb 2i-By yot' Of 3
10 8. the senate committee on inter-
state commerce agreed to report tho
Hepburn railroad rate bin without
amendment but the o.. 0.sil1n adopted
reserved 10 the members Of the COM
mittee freedom q action concerning
amendments offered In the senate. Ey
a vote OF > to 9. Republicans prevailing.
Senator Tiliman, a Democrat was
given the honor Of reporting the bill.
This establishes a precedent, in that a
Republican senate COMMITTEES has given
to a Democrat control Of an important
measure passed by a Republican house
and endorsed by a Republican presi-
dent
The contest in the senate committee
over the railroad rate bill is a memora-
bic one. II was started IA year ago
when the Esch-Townsefa bill came
from the house. That measure had a
hostile reception in the committee, and
after IL became apparent that IL could
not De reported to the senate, arrange
monts were made for an investigation
OF the whole subject Of government
regulation OF rates. The committee
were in session practically all OF last
summer and cost In round numbers
$50 600 Nearly a hundred meetings
were held and these extended into the
present session Of congress without
any report having been made. The
house took mp the subject again AZ the
present session and passed the bill
which bears Representative Hepburn s
name. Senators CullOm,. Dolliyer and
Clapp became its sponsors in the sem
ate Owing to the illness OF Senator
Cullom. the burden Of the contest fell
on Senators Doliver and Clapp, who
successfully defeated all amendments
in a determined fight made by some OF
the strongest men in the senate. Sew
eral times there had been efforts 10
bring the bin TO a vote, but these were
fruitloss.
Senator Tillman. who was designated
by tho committee 10 report the Hep
burn bill, said after the committee ad-
journcd:
1T was an unexpected and in one
sense an undesirod honor and respon-
sibllity that was thrust upon me. As
far as I am able, will endaavor to
secure the passage OF the bill through
the senate with such amendments as
will make il more acceptable to the
business interests Of the country and
remedy the evils which have produced
such widespread agitation. The policy
Is essentially democratic. The pro-
posed bin had the unanimous support
OF the Democrats of the house, and |
hope that with a few slight amend
ments it will get the same support in
tne senate.
Senator Tillman said that one Of the
most essential amendments he should
endeavor to procure looks &c the alb
sOlute divorce OF public carriers. as
such, from the production OF coal, as
miners. which condition OF monopoly
has created sch a strong feeling OF
dissatisfaction and anger in the btu
minous and anthracite coal regions.
He has already drafted an amend
ment covering this point RE said that
something ought to be done to compel
the trunk lines to make connection
with spurs and feeding lines and give
them fair treatment in the distribution
of cars and offer equal facilities with
other shippers.