The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1906-05-24
RAILROAD RATE
BILL IS PASSED
Measure Finally Gets Through
the Senate by a Vote of
II to 8.
ELIMINATE A PHRASE
The Teller Amendment, Supported by
ELIMINATE A PHRASE
The Teller Amendment, Supported by
Spooner, Foraker, Lodge, ct all, Is
Passed-Leaves the Court
to Decide.

to Decide.
Washington, D. c., May 21.-After
seventy days of almost continuous de-
liberation the senate late yesterday aft
ernoon passed the railroad ate bill by
the practically unanimous vote Of II
to 8. The three negative votes were
cast by Senators Foraker, republican,
OF Ohio, and Morgan and Pettus, demo-
Gratis, of Alabama. There was a some
what larger attendance OF senator's
than usual. but the attendance In he
galleries was by no means abnormal,
and there was no manifestation of N
kind when the result Was
There was, however. an almost general
sigh Of relief among senator's.
The bill has received more attention
from the senate and the country at
large than any measure that has been
before congress since the repeal OF the
purchasing clause Of the Sherman act
in 1898. 1t was reported to the senate
on February 26 and was made the un-
finished business on March -. From
March - to May 4 the bill was under
general discussion without limitation
on the duration of speeches, tifty-eignt
Of which were delivered. Many OF
these were prepared with great care
and two OF them consumed more thar
q days time in delivery, Senator La
Toilette. the junior senator from Wis
Consin, spoke for three days n Sen
ator Daniel, Of Virginia, for two days.
Senators Bailey, Foraker, Lodge, Ray
ner. Dolliver and others spoke for one
entire day.
For twelve days the bill has been IN
der consideration under asrule limiting
speeches to fifteen minutes each. The
debate has at all times 'been earnest
and animated, but for the most part
devoid of personality as between ,en-
ators, the past few dayS, however, EaV-
ing called out some caustic criticisms
of the president and of some newspaper
correspondents by enator Bailey.
In addition to passing the bill, the
proceedings consisted in concluding the
consideration Of the amendments as
such and the delivery of a number Of
speeches on the bill. The only amend
ment adopted was the one offered Yes
terday by Senator Teller eliminating the
words Gin it's judgment" from the pow
or given to the Interstate Commerce
commission to fix rates.
Teller Amendment Passed.
At the opening of the session the
senate resumed consideration OF the
Teller amendment, striking out Of the
provision giving to the Interstate Com
merce commission power to prescribe
rates the words lin it's judgment"
Daniel made the first speech taking
the position that the presence of the
words would not have the effect of
vitiating the bill as had been con-
tended.
Long also advocated the retention of
the words, agreeing with Allison that
they constitute a part Of the judicial
review contemplated by the bill.
Solicitors Mr.. Spooner.
Spooner expressed doubt as to the
wisdom of the provision.
1T is open to CUB and challenge"
he said.
Fulton advocated retention of the
words, while Bacon was of the opinion
the words weake the bill and adj
viSed they be Eliminated
Morgan would have the words strick-
en- out because they cast dou on the
bill.
Lodge said if the words remain and
the law was declared unconstitutional
the people will declare it fraud and
congress will be held responsible.
After further discussion the Teller
amendment was adopted.
"The Best He Could Get"
Anxious as were senators by this time
to reach a vote there was much inter-
est manifested when Senator Iillman
took the floor After announcing MS
intention to vote for the bill as the
"best he could get" he entered upon
the task Of acknowledging the instTu-
mentality of the president in securing
the legislation. He came bluntly to the
point saying:
But for the work of Theodore RooSe-
welt in bringing this matter to the at
tentiOn of the country we would not
have had any bill at all. 1t is true that
the idea was not his and the demand
for the legislation was made in three
democratic platforms, nevertheless. he
seized upon the idea and the success of
the issue is largely due to his advocacy.
l cannot congratulate him On his vic
tory, for | think we should have had a
better bill"
The consideration Of the bill was con
GUIDED with the reading of a brief state
ment from Senator Dubois, absent be
cause of her Illness, to the effect that he
desired TO be recorded as favorable to
its passage.
After the last OF the general speeches
on the rate bill had been heard, Senator
Frye, who occupied the chair, wds
prompt in putting the bill to a vote.
lie us have the ayes and nays" was
heard from a dozen senator's. A roll
call was ordered. There was an unusual
nda and the voting proceeded
with exceptional rapidity. Explanation
was made on behalf of practically all
of the absentees that If present their
! :otes would be in the affirmative.
How They Voted.
The roll call resulted in the passage
Of the bill by a vote of II to 3 as fol-
lows:
Yeas-Alger. Alice, Allison. Ankeny.
Bacon. Bailey. Berry, B~everidge. Black
burn, ~Brandegee, Buckley. Burkett,
Burnham, Carmack, Carter. Clapp,
Clark of Montana, Clark of Wyoming,
Clarke of Arkansas, Clay, Crane, CuI-
berson, Cullom. Daniel. Dick. Dilling-
ham, Dolliver, Dryden. Elkins, Flint,