The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-22
! To CONFERENCE.
House Disposes of the Amended
Statehood Bill.
The Matter Is Arranged Under
Special Rule.
RAILROAD RATE BILL
Is the Subject of Discussion in
the Senate.
Lodge Speaks in Favor of an
Enlarged Commission.

Washington, March 22=An un-
usually large attendance of members
and spectators were present when the
house met today in contemplation of
action on the statehood bill They
We're not disappointed, for as soon as
the journal had been read Mr. Dalzell
(Pa.) was recognized and presented a
special rule from the rules committee.
It provided that the statehood bill be
taken from the speakers table, that
in so doing the senate amendments be
disagreed to and conference be asked
Of the senate and that the speaker inn
mediately appoint the house con-
ferees.
Mr. DalzeH as soon as the rule had
been read, demanded the previous
question, which carried with it forty
minutes debate to be divided equally
between the friends and opponents of
the rule. On a rising vote 149 voted
for the previous question and 124
against
On demand of Mr.. Williams, minor
ity leader, a roll call was ordered.
The roll call resulted in ordering the
previous question, the vote being III
to 140. Mr.. Dalzell was recognized
for 20 minutes and began an expIana-
LlOu OF Lne reason Tor the special rule.
By a vote of 175 to 156 the house
adopted the rule and the speaker ap-
pointed Hamilton (NItch.), Brick
(Ind-) and Moon (Tenn.) conferees.
Ihe Republicans who voted with the
Demo, rats against ordering the prev
tous question were: Adams, Babcock,
Bannen. Bede, Reicler, BOnyings,
Brown Calderhead, Cushman, David
son, Esch, French, Fulkerson. Cillett
tCal.), GOelet, Gronna, Hayes, Her
mann Howell, Humphrey (Wash.),
Jones CWash.), Kennedy, Knowland,
Mckinley, McCreary, McLachlan, Nc
Moran, Marshall, MondeI, dudd,
lCal), Wachter Welborn, woodward,
Young.
In the Senate.
Washington, March 22-When the
senate met today the joint resolution
extending from June Is to AugzIst Is,
1906, the time for opening the entry to
the ceded portion of The Shoshone or
Wind river reservation in Wyoming
was passed
The railroad rate bill was then taken
UP and A1r- Lodge addressed The senate
in support Of his amendment providing
for the displacement of the present in
terstate commerce commission by one
of a larger number Of commissioners
and with longer terms of office and bet
ter pay. He said that the object of
/ the provision was to strengthen the
commission SO as to insure for it the
support and respect of the public.
There seems" he said. ito be a tacit
understanding that If the rate question
+ Is referred to the interstate commerce
commission all will be well. We go on
the theory that the king can do no
wrong"
It was his purpose. he said, to show
that such was not necessarily the case,
He then outlined the vast interests that
would be entrusted to the commission
ana read a carefully prepared state
ment relative to rates as indicative of
the vast magnitude Of the entire sub
/ ject.
Mr. Lodge referred disar rprovingly to
the decision Of the present commission
to enter upon campaign together with
commercial bodies to secure the amend
ment Of the fishing laws.
'TWin the senator point out how this
proceeding differs from the course of
other legislative officials in their efforts
to secure changes in the law?" asked
Mr. Dolliver and Mr.. Lodge replied that
the Iowa senator was prompt In de-
fehding what had hot been attacked"
He added that his purpose had been to
point to this service as one of the COM
missions n1ultifarious duties
Mr.. Foraker expressed the opinion
that the course had been reprehensible
and Mr.. Tiiman suggested that in view
of the supreme court decisions the com
mission had found It 1-ecessary to hus-
tie about to get the law changed"