The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-03-28
RATE BILL BEFORE SENATE
Measure is Reported BY Mr.
TiIIman, of South Carolina
CROWD THRONGS THE GALLERIES

BE Presented Later-StateInent by
Senator Aldrich-Promise That No
Unnecessary Delays Will Be Inter-
posed 10 Consid Grafton.
Washington. d. C.-The issue OIL
railway rates has come at last in the
Senate. Before a full attendance of
Senators and crowded galleries, Mr..
Tillmun introduced what now becomes
the Tillman-Hepburn Rate bill.
The Gene was lacking in dramatic
qualities. The South Carolina Senator
offered the bill and report in the few
est words possible. with the announce
ment that when he had digested GER
tain data he would present a written
report presenting the views of those
of us who are In favor 0f this kind of
legislation"
An unusually large number of Sena-
tors were In their seats. On Mr.. Till
mans desk lay a big pile of documents,
the records of the hearings of the In
terstate Commerce Committee on the
general subject of Government regu-
lation of railroad rates. Sitting beside
him wcs Mr.. Bailey Dem. Tex.). the
recognized minority leader in the alb
sence of Mr.. German, and the two
Senators conferred earnestly. MI.
Tillman decided, however, that he was
not prepared to make a formal report,
and that it would be more effective
simply to report the bill in accordance
with the resolution adopted by the
committee, which provides that the
members are left free to exercise indi-
,vidual judgment concerning amend
ments that may be offered in the Sen
ate. g.
AS soon as the Vice-President called
for reports Of standing committees a
number of Senators arose, but Mr..
Tillman was recognized. He an
nounced that he had been instructed
by the Committee on Interstate Com
merce to report House bill 12.9S7. with
out amendment, and he read the reso-
luton adopted. After a discussion
concerning the printing of the testi-
mOny taken by the committee, an or
der was made for the publication of
10000 copies.
Mr.. Tillman gave notice that he
would press the bill to. the earliest
consideration. He said that much Of
the testimony was irrelevant. and that
the committee had employed two ex-
perts, Messrs. Newcomb and Adams,
and they had made an epitome Of the
testimony, which also was printed.
Mr.. Tillman announced that as soon
as possible he purposed to digest the
testimony and 10 submit a formal re-
port on the bill. He said that within
two weeks he should move to make the
rate bill the unfinished business and
to displace the Statehood bill, if that
was not disposed of before
that time. The tr"anscendent impor-
lance Of the rate measure and the
wide interest in the subject through
out the country, he said, made it de-
sirable that the bill should be consid-
cred without delay.
AS soon as he had concluded MI.
Aldrich (Rep., r. ~ was recognized
and made a short, prepared speech,
giving the views of the minority of
the committee, and promising that no
unnecessary delay would be placed in
the way of the bills consideration.
Mr.. Gulberson Dem, Tex.) said
that from the report made by the Sen
ator from South Carolina, he noticed
that certain members of the commit
tee reserved the right to offer amend
MentS.. 81.
1.-The Senator is not entirely correct
in his statement" interrupted Mr..
Tillman. "The resolution was adopted
by the committee, and all members
have reserved rights concerning the
Offering of amendments"
"IVell, then" said Mr.. CulbersoN, 81
take it that in a large degree the conf
mit!ee's action to be no more or no
less than a transfer Oe a controversy
from the committee to tine Senate
chamber. Therefore, I offer a substi-
tute for the bill Just reported. This
substitute is in effect the bill on the
same subject, which l previously in
troduced."
The bill was ordered printed and to
lie on the table until the Rate bill is
taken up.