Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-14
TO AMEND RATE Bill
Various Propositions SUBMITTED
to the Senate.
NEW SECTION SUGGESTED
La Toilette Would Ascertain Value Of
1ailwsys.
NOTION TO TABLE ADOPTED
Money and Clarke Of Arkansas Ad-
dress the Senate In Favor Of
the Amendment.
NEW SECTION SUGGESTED
Ia Toilette Would Ascertain Value Of
MOTION TO TABLE ADOPTED

tho A000OmouCs
The rate bill consideration In the Senate
began today with request from Senator
Daniel to modify his amendment, which
was under consideration when the Senate
adjourned Saturday. Mr.. Daniel said he
simply wished to perfect his amendment
to provide that evidence properly before tho
commission shall not be duplicated before q
court.
The amendment. Mfr. Daniel said, was In
tended to meet an evil pointed out by the
Supreme Court Of the United States. and
prevent the railroad from withholding its
case from the commission with the purpose
of presenting its evidence subsequently to
the court.
Senator La Toilette offered a substitute
which made additional evidence produced
before a court available for ten days to
the commission. that the commission
might, II desired, modify its order. On
motion Of Senator Hale the substitute was
laid on the table. Mr.. Hale then moved
to lay tho Daniel amendment ON the table,
which was done without roll-caiL An-
other amendment was offered by Mr.. Dam
lei making It necessary to bring suits on
appeal within thirty days after the ruling
OF the commission.
Senator Morgan presented a substitute
which included. besides the thirty-day re-
Quirement. provision for jury trial in
certain contingencies. This, he said. would
restore to the bill constitutional pro-
vision which the committee had elimi-
mated. Mr.. Daniel appealed to Mr.. Morgan
to withdraw his substitute, which he did
temporarily.
On Senator Aldrich's motion the Daniel
amendment was laid on the table and Mr..
Morganss amendment was defeated.
Mr. Morgan gave NotfC0 that in the Senate
he should demand. an aye and nay vote
upon his amendment, which has just been
voted down by vote Of to T.
Bookkeeping Methods.
Senator Gallinger precipitated discus
sion which developed two opinions regard
ing the bookkeeping methods prescribed for
common carriers. Senators Foraker, AL
drich and Knox held the provision would
prohibit carriers "er any OF their officers"
from keeping any but the prescribed books.
Senators Tfllman and Nelson took the
view that 1t did not prohibit any officer or
agent from keeping memorandum accounts,
nor did 1t apply to any but interstate car
riers.
Senator Lodge regarded the provision as
one of the most important in the bill. 1t
was intended to prevent secret rebates, and
should not be weakened.
After several other senators had opposed
the amendment Senator Gallagher with
drew it. Senator Aldrich then moved to
amend the provision prohibiting the keep
ing of any other accounts, records or MEN,
oranda than those approved by the COM
mission by inserting the words relating to
the business Of the carrier after the words
memoranda" In offering this amendment
language of the bill 1t would be unlawful
for a carrier to make an entry until the
commission had been consulted and given
it's consent,
%ioJ 80
the bill would prevent an on4cial from max
ing any notes while going over the railroad.
The amendment was opposed by Senator
Hopkins and was withdrawn by Senator
Aldrieh.
New Section Proposed.
A. new section to the bin was proposed
by Senator La Toilette providing for an
investigation by the commission to ascer-
tain the fair value of the property Of every
railroad, etc. During the reading the Wis
consin senator said that as an amendment
by him was taken signal for some one
of his republican colleagues to move to lay
it on the table. he desired to have order.
At his demand the proposed new section
was ordered re-read from the beginning
apd at the conclusion Senator Hale
promptly made motion to table.
At the request of Senator Money the
motion was withheld while he spoke
briefly, supporting the amendment Be-
fore Senator Hale could renew his mo-
ton Senator Spooner said he did not
know whether his colleague desired to
speak, but that IL he did he should be
permitted to do SO. Senator Hale said he
thought the Senate was ready to vote,
but that he would withhold the motion
long enough for the author Of the amend
ment to speak.
Senator Clarke (Ark.) objected on the
ground that the senator from Maine could
not make his motion with string to IT.
and that he could not specify who should
speak, whereupon the Maine senator
again made his motion to table.
Senator Bacon made a point of order
that under the consent agreement for the
discussion OF amendments under the If
teen minute rule motion to table was
not in order.
Motion to Table Defeated.
1t was ruled that the motion to lay the
amendment on the table was in order.
but the motion to that end was voted
down, whereupon Senator Clarke fArk)
addressed the Senate in support OF the
amendment.
AS soon as Mr.. Clarke had taken his seat
Mr. Hale renewed his motion to table the
amendment. "as the senator from Wtscon-
sin does not seem to desire to explain 1t,
"If the senator will permit me-" inter-
jected Mr.. La Toilette. Il will explain the
amendment" .
returned Mr. Hale, who explained that he
should withhold his motion, but would re-
new 1t as soon as the Wisconsin senator
had finished.
After explaining that he was not aware
that any senator could "foreclose'' another
from speaking simply by giving notice OF
a motion to table. Mr.. La Toilette remark
ed that the senator from Maine had
promptly moved to table every amendment
he ola Foilette) had offered.
La Toilette Gives Notice.
"And will say this" he continued. with
respect to procedure under the special or
der, that while / remain member of this
Senate there never will be unanimous con-
sent again given to such proposition
which does not permit OF vote being taken
directly upon amendments offered.
He then turned his attention to HIS
amendment, making the point that until the
commission had ascertained the true value
of railroad property it could not ascertain
what would be a lust and reasonable rate.