The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-24
PULLMAN TO
 REPORT BILL -s-- P ed in Charge of Hep burn Bill. NO AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED Peculiar Procedure by Committee
 of the Senate.
  MembersReserye the Right to Propose or Vote for Changes--Tiilman and Dolliver Profess to
 Be satisfed.

Washington. Feb 2s.--By a vote of to 5, the Senate Committee on Inter- state Commerce today agreed to report the Hepburn railroad rate bill without amendment, but the resolution adopted reserved to the members of the commit tee freedom of action concerning
 amendments offered in the Senate. By
 vote of 5 to 3. Republicans prevail | ing. Senator Tillman, a Democrat. was given the honor of reporting the bill. This establishes a precedent in that | Republican Senate committee has given | to a Democrat control of an important measure passed by a Republican House and endorsed by a. Republican Presi- l dent. Senators Cullom and Carmack were absent and their votes were re- corded only on the main proposition. The resolution follows:
 Resolved, That the Interstate Com
 merce Committee report favorably the 1 House bill 12,9S7 as it passed the House | of Representatives 1t being understood l that members of the committee have a right to vote as they choose on amend ments or to offer amendments in the Senate in consideration of the bill. Senator Deliver offered the first part | of the resolution, and Senator Aldrich made motion to amend by adding the restrictions concerning amendments.
 
 hrmative votes being Elkins, Aldrich.
 Kean. Foraker. Crane, Tillman, Foster l and Newlands. The negative votes
 were Deliver. Clapp and McLaurin.
 The Ffnal Vote.
 After the meeting, however, Senator McLaurin said that he had intended to vote for the change and a change was | made in the committee record, leaving
 only Deliver and Clapp for the reso- l lution as offered by Senator Deliver.
 The vote for the resolution as amend
 ed was as follows:
 Yeas-cuIlom. Deliver. clapp, Till-
 man, McL.aurin, carmack, Foster and Newlande.
 | Foraker and Crane.
 Senator Aldrich then moved that the bill be reported by Chairman Elkins, but Senators Deliver and Tillman pro- l tested that some friend of the measure should make the report, and Senator Aldrich amended his motion. providing that the report should be made by Sem ator Tiilman. He said that the Demo- cratic members furnished the majority of the votes for the bill and that 1t was proper to have the minority father it." This was taken by Senator Dolli- yer and Clapp as an effort to humiliate them, but they remained silent. Chairman EIlxins suggested that the report should be made by Senator Dol liver who had been one of the men who helped draft the Hepburn bill and leader in the fight to prevent the adop- tion of amendments. Only Senator Clapp supported this suggestion, which had been made informally.
 A vote was then had on the question who should report the bill, resulting as follows: For Senator Tillman; Ald- rich. Kean. Foraker, Crane and Mo- Laurin.
 For Senator Deliver; Elkins. clapp and Newlands.
 Not voting: Deliver. Tiliman and
 Result in Doubt.
 Before the session today the result was in doubt. The division of the Re- publican senators op the question Of Judicial review of orders of the inter state commerce commission left the Democratic members in absolute con trol It was apparent that if they di- vided the court review amendments would be adopted. The minority mem bers after vainly trying to get to- gether last night held q second confer ence early this morning. The expres- sion at the conference was to report the bill without recommendation of any character but the agreement was not binding. With that understanding the Democrats went Into the meeting. The Republicans were already assembled
 The minority did not make It's de- cision known and the Hepburn bill was taken up and the conservative" Republican faction sought to amend the first section. At that tuncture Senator Deliver, leading the force that was opposed to amendments, read telegram from Senator Cullom ask ing that he be recorded against all amendments. that were not recommend ed by the committee unanimously and to cast his vote for the Hepburn bill as it came from the house. Objection was made in the recording of Senator CuIlom on any amendments that had not been submitted to him.
 Senator Deliver then moved to report the Hepburn bill favorably as 1t was passed by the house and said that on that he would demand that Senator Cullom's vote be recorded. This pre- cipated lining up on the only import ant contention and the Democrats de- sired time for further consultation. A recess was taken until o'clock. The four minority members present with drew to Senator Tillman's committee room and then decided to stand as unit for the Hepburn Dill with the re- servation provided In the resolution that was finally adopted. They did not insist upon freedom of action being made a part of the resolution however When the committee reassembled Senator Deliver called for a vote on his motion. Senator Foster said that he was ready to vote for 1t, but made the statement that he should reserve the right to vote for amendments in the Senate if he chose. That was the position taken by Senator McLaurin and Senator Aldrich said that If that was the situation 1t should be made part of the motion. The result was as stated before
 In spite of the fact that the Senate was not in session today all of the senators were drawn to the capitol by the contest in the interstate com merce committee. As soon as the re- suit was known speculation began as to the probable procedure on the floor. It was predicted that there would be delays and all sorts of obstructive tac- tics used. This was eontradicted, how ever, by Senators Aldrich and Crane and other leading senators not mem bers of the interstate commerce com mittee.
 They said they would favor seeking