New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-21
RATE BILL PROGRESS.
CONFERENCES HELD.
Outlook for Agreement Bright
Plan to Hasten Litigation.


Washington Feb 90. Conferences among
Senators and between Senators and the eresi-
dent over the Railroad Rate bill were the oroer
OF the dav to-day. in preparation for the serious
effort next Friday to reach the long soush'
agreement an committee. While IL cannot DC
said tonight that any definite decision mas oeen
reached progress can be recorded, ana inc ou'-
look stfn is bright for the concurrence OF tne
Republicans on 8 practical measure OF lesisia-
tion.
senators spoorer and Knox were foremost to-
a., IN the conferences over proposed amend
,,,en,s "a The Hepburn bill II would probably be
4. Guess not far out Of the way 10 say that these
two Senators will practically frame the basis OF
the bin finally to be agreed upon In committee.
Both have the confidence Of the President ana
they are regarded as two Of the best legal minos
.n the Senate
II is REGARDED as virtually assured that the
perfected bill will contain two important amend
rnents Of it's present FORM namely:
Specific provision for review by the courts OF
the action Of the Interstate Commerce Soin-
No suspension Of the rate fixed by the COM
mission pending the review by the courts
Senator Knox has been examining all the
State Railway Commission laws. and has founo
that in every instance provision is mace elther
for review by a court or some other method of
State laws already in operation viii be urged In
behalf Of the plea for judicial review provision
81 the Hepburn bill.
Some Senators are pressing for an amendment
which will prohibit the case on appea! from com
ing I'd De novo Thus far il has been FOUND
unavoidable 70 draw such paragraph IL is
urged that the bin cannot restrict the courts IN
their procedure or prevent them from taking tne
case de novo II they think that proceeding just
49, Sc mn
limited
one great hughesr in the plans for the judicial
-evievy is the fear that endless litigation may
.nsue when the courts take the cases on appeal
from the commission When that contingency
IS urged It is answered that If the rate nNeo og
the commission is not suspended penoinS re-
view the railroads VIII be anxious for speedy
decision as the shippers, because II is assumed
they viii he operating under the lower rate
named by the commission It is thought mat
81 pressure is exerted to have the new and lower
rate suspended pending review, ii viii be neces-
sary 70 require the railroads 10 give a bond 10
the court 10 reimburse the shippers in case the
decision Of the court goes against the railroads
This explanation viii give some idea or the
character Of the negotiations now going on.
They sre entirely legal and some technical.
though going 10 the heart of the controversy at
The same time The feature Of the situation en-
COurag1nS 10 tne frlenQS OF ttlc duulliilsti
IS the evident sincerity of the Senate in the eff
fort 10 draw an adequate railroad rate regula-
ton bill There is no suspicion OF hostility 10
The general plar Of the President. or tntimation
of treschery in the preparation Of the bill
The railroads seem resigned to the inevitable
prospect Of having 10 face bill, and have
ceased irving 70 block the administrators plans
1t is apparent that they will make their last
fsht IN the courts and this fact makes II all the
MORE important Senators say, that the greatest
care should be exercised in drafting the measure
70 leave no loopholes invalidating the law.