Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-02-07
59TA CONGRESS-.
House Will Vote at 4.30
Today on the Rate Bill.
Seventeen Speeches FavoTing It
and Critcizing the Railroads.
Warm Debate Over Ssnae's Prerogatives
in Framing Treaties.


in Framing Treaties.
Washington, Feb. 6.-HaVinS fixed
the end of the general debate on the
rate bill at 4.30 O'Clock tomorrow the
recognition of the Chair was passed
around at Il lively rate in the House
today. Seventeen speeches were made,
all of them tor the measure. The rail-
roads came in for an unusual amount
of criticism. Mr.. Gillespie, Texas. ev-
pressed his dissatisfaction with the re-
ply to mis- resolutions limiting at q COM
bination between the Pennsylvania and
other railroads. He will address Il re-
quest to the President to have the in
terState commerce commission make 4
thorough investigation along lines he
Will indicate TO clear up this subject.
Mr.. Gaines of West Virginia placed
in the record evidences of commissions
of roads to control the coal output of
his state and a tariff agreement be-
tween many Southern roads and steam
snip lines Indicating a division Of the
territory to control business. He said
it was because competition had ceased
alre ady that the pending bill was de-
mantled.
The day ended with a general laugh
at Mr.. SuIzer, n. Y, who made his APP
pearance as 4 humorist. He toasted the
opponents of the bill. viewed with sus-
picion the unanimous report and point
ed out IS the African in the woodpile,"
the word "suspendcd' which he said
would apply to every rate fixed until
the poor shipper was financially sus-
pended in trying to enforce it. How
ever. he will vote for the bill.
The list Of Speakers included Burnett,
Ala, Lewis. Ga. Gudser, \. c., Dick
son, ILL.,. Gillespie. Tex, Stanley, Ky,
Murdoch. Kan, Konner. Ia. Hubbard.
Ia, Haugen, Ia. Gaines. w. Va, Small.
n. G.. Finley, S. c.. and Madden. H..
Waldo, \. Y, Chandler. Miss, and Sui
ger, n. Y.
After reaching an agreement to close
general debate on the rate bill tomor-
row, the House entered on the discus
sion today with long program of five
and ten minute speeches ahead. To-
morrow four long speeches are to be
made by Bourke Cochran of New
York. Williams. the minority leader,
Mann Of Illinois and Hepburn.
A resolution introduced Jan. - call
ing on the secretary of state for report
of Herbert Pierce, caused some con-
fusion. Adams, Penna. stated that the
resolution purported to be introduced
by Van Duzer had not been presented
in the House since the Christmas holt
days, having been allowed leave of alb
scncc on account Of sickness. Adams
wished the resolution vacated" and
copies of it destroyed.
Williams, the minority leader suG-
gested that no action be taken until
Van Duzer shall be present. He had
been injured in railroad wreck and
was now in HaZcltOn, Pa.
AS Adams seemed insistcnt. Williams
threatened roll coils and demands for
quorums. Whcreupon agreement wac
reached to let the matter go over until
some later date.
-Four speeches on the rate bill fol-
lowed in the next ten minutes. The
speakers in each instance were given
permission to extend" their remarks
in the Record. All favored the bill.
They We're Burnett. Ala, Lewis, Ga.
Gudger, n. c.. Nixon, Ill.
Diversion was caused at this point
by decidedly animated remarks re-
SardinS railway mergers by Gillespie,
Tex, author of the resolution answer
cd by President Roosevelt yesterday
concerning an alleged merger of rail-
ways with the Pennsylvania system
as the important factor. He declared
that that answer was an insult: that
with the great machinery at hand,
complete investigation of actual con-
ditions should have been made. He
said such an investigation would show
that the railroads carrying bitumimOus
coal to the Atlantic ports are the
Pennsylvania. New York Central, Bal
timore & Ohio, Chesapeake & Ohio,
Norfolk & Western, and the Reading.
He rccited the facts developed con-
corning the relations of four of these
roads which were named in his first
resolution in regard to their having
the same stockholders and directors.
Gillespie asserted that an investiga-
ton would show that there had been
an allotment to each coal carrying road
of a certain territory to prevent COM
petition in markets by means OIL rate
adjustments, agreements and combi-
nations. Also that the Pennsylvania
and New York Central, by means of
their stock ownership arrangements
have prevented coal from the territory
of the Norfolk & Western and Chesa-
peake & Ohio being offered anywhere
above Virginia Capes; also that the
Pennsylvania Co, has the power to
curtail shipments from territory served
BY the Baltimore & Ohio and Chesa-
peake & Ohio, and Norfolk & Western.
also that the Baltimore & Ohio declines
to allot a fair proportion Of cars to in
dependent companies to open up new
mines and become shippers or to al
low independent companies to open up
new mines and become shippers on the
line of the Baltimore & Ohio. Also that