The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-19
rHr R,rE mn AS PiSSED
synopsis " the Measure. showing the
hinge Mide nv The Srn,te.

Ghinses Vide b, the Srntte.
N~AgHtSOroN, Mny is-fhc Hepburn
rate bill. ~ II passed the senate after having
been before that body hfty-two days, IA
In many fcspecta radically different from
tho measur. that went through the House.
although the essential ~principle-the grant
ing uf authority 10 the Interstate Com
merce Commission to fix u rates pre-
served.
The first section, which defines common
carriers. wa amended by the n to
apply TO amy corporation or any person
or persons engaged in the transportation
Of oil or other commodity. except water
and except natural or artificial gas, 10y
means Of pipe lines" This was the amend
ment proposed by Senator Lodge and
stoutly defended by him. Its author said
It's object was to bring the Standard Oil
Company and other oil companies under
the control Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
The section was amended still further
to include express companies and sleeping
car companies, This amendment was pro-
posed by Senator Bailey.
The first section carries also the new
legislation offered by Senator Culberson,
prohibiting the issue Of free passes and
other forms Of free transportation. The
exceptions, however, are many.
The next important amendment is what
will he known as the Elkins amendment,
but which was drawn by Senator McLaurin
Of Mississippi and offered as q substitute
by Senator Elkins to meet objections raised
against one he had offered Of the same
purport. II enacts' that after May y. 1908,
no interstate carrier shall engage In, the
transportation Of commodities of its own In
competition with shippers over it's lines,
The amendment is intended to meet the
complaint raised against coal carrying
roads by independent coal operators, of
discrimination in m~onopolizing Transport
tation.
Another amendment In the same section
REQ uires carriers, on application from ship
pers, to furnish necessary switches. ter
minals and connections This amendment
was inserted in the bill on motion OF Senator
Elkins. Like it's predecessor, 1t was in
tended to meet the complaints against coal
roads running through West Virginia
and Pennsylvania.
The last amendment to section 1. requires
that equally good service and accommoda-
ton shall be given "to all persons paying
the same compensation for interstate rams
portation of passengers" Senator Warner
of Missouri was the author of this amend
ment.
The remainder of the first section is as it
came from the House. 1t defines refrigera-
tor and other private car line companies az
! common ca rriers under the jurisdiction of
the commission. 1t provides specifically
that all transportation charges which are
unjust and unreasonable are prohibited and
declared to be unlawful.
Section 2, which relates to the keeping
aud publication OF schedules, although
! amended 30 much as to be practically re-
written, ia not materially changed in effect
on these matters from what ii was in the
House bill, The recommendations Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission were
| followed closely, and the amendments pro-
posed we're for the most part framed by the
commissioners.
The most important amendment to the
second section added by the Senate is the
recnactment Of the imprisonment clause
Of the Interstate Commerce act, which was
repealed by the Elkins anti-rebate law.
This amendment was offered by Senator
Lodge. ,'t.
second section was that proposed by Sem
ator McCumber, which works a forfeiture
by any shipper who sol icits and receives a
rebate or discrimination, OF an amount
three times the value volve in the rebate
or discrimination, this penalty to be recov-
cred by the United States In a civil suit.
Section 8 remains as it came from the
House. 1t relates to the procedure Of the
| commission in the investigation Of COM
plants.
Section 4 Of the bill confers the rate max
ing power on the commission. One of the
most important amendments TO that section
was made to-day after the bill had left the
committee of the whole and was being
considered in the Senate. 1t vas offered
by Senator Teller and strikes from the
| section the words sin it's judgment where
it is provided that the commission shall
prescribe rates that are in its judgment
expected to he one Of the strongly con-
tested points in conference, The Senate
| also struck out the words fairly remunera.
tive" as qualifying a rate to be established