Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-03-01
REPORT RATE BILL
WITHOUT AMENDMENTS

Washington, Feb. 24.-The rate bill
resolution as adopted by the senate
committee follows:
Resolved, That the interstate COM
merce committee report favorably
house file 1887 as it passed the house
of representatives, 1t being under
stood that members Of the committee
have right to vote as they choose on
amendments or to offer amendments
in the senate on consideration of the
BILL"
Senator Dolliver offered the first
part Of the resolution and Senator
Aldrich made motion to amend by
adding the restrictions concerning
amendments. The Aldrich motion pre-
vailed, the affirmative votes being
Elkins, Aldrich, Kean, Foraker, Crane
Tillman, Foster and Newlands. The
negative votes were Dolliver, Clapr
and McLaurin.
After the meeting, however, Sen.
ator McLaurin said that he had in
tended to vote for the change and a
change was made in the committee
room, leaving only Dolliver and Clapp
for the resolution as offered by SEN
ator Dolliver. The vote for the reso-
luton as mended was as follows:
firmative-Cullom, Dolliver, Clapp
Iillman, McLaurin, Carmack, Foster,
and Newlands.
Negative-Elkins, Aldrich, Kean,
Foraker, and Crane.
Senator A irich then moved that
the bill be reported by Chairman FL
kins, but Senators. Dolliver and Till
measure should make the report, and
Senator Aldrich amended his motion,
providing that the report should be
made by Senator Tillman. He stat
ed that the democratic members fur
nished the majority of the votes for
the bill and that it was proper to
have one Of the minority father it."
This was taken by Senators Dolliver
and Clapp as an effort to humiliate
them, but they remained silent.
Chairman Elkins suggested that
the report should be made by Senator
Dolliver, who had been one of the
bill, and leader in the fight to pre-
vent the adoption of amendments.
Only Senator Clapp supported this
suggestion which had been made in
formally. A vote was then had on
the question who should report the
bill resulting as follows:
For Senator Tillman - Aldrich,
Kean, Foraker, Crane and McLaurin.
For Senator Dolliver-Elkins, Clapp
and Newlands.
Not voting-Dolliver, Tillman and
Foster.
The contest in the senate commit
tee over the railroad rate bill is a
memorable one. 1t was started a
year ago, when the Esch-Townsend
bill came from the house. That
measure had hostile reception in
the committee, and after 1t became
apparent that it could not be report
ed to the senate arrangements were
made for an investigation of the
whole subject of government reguia'
tion Of rates. The committee was in
session practically all last summer
and the cost In round numbers
amounted to $4,000.
Nearly a hundred meetings. were
held and these extended into the
present session of congress without
any report having been made. The
house took up the subject again al
the present session and passed the
bill which bears Representative Hep
burns name. Senators Cullom, Dol
liver and Clapp became immediate
sponsors in the senate. Owing to the
illness of Senator Cullom the burden
of the contest fell on Senators Dos
liver and Clap, who successfully dc
teated all amendments in a determin
ed fight and by some of the strongest
men in the senate. Several times
there had been efforts to bring the
bin to a fruition, but this was fruit
less until yesterday.