Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-02-14

ONLY SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE,
HOUSE OPPOSE MEAsURE
+" WHEN VOTE Is TAKEN =
GIVES MORE. POWER TO-.
COMMERCE COMMISSION,
Provisions of Bill as Outlined bv
Authcr-Urgent Deficiency Meas
ure Carrying Over $4,000 900
Reported to Senate,

Washington, Feb. '9.-The house
Thursday passed the Hepburn railroad
rate bill by a vote of 346 to z. Those
voting against the bill were: Little
field, Mccall, Perkins, Sibley, South
wick, Vreeland and Weeks.
The bill, according to Mr.. Hepburn's
statement in closing the debate,
complies specifically with the recon-
mendations of President Roosevelt on
the rate question. 1t gives the inter-
state commerce commission authority
when rate has been complained of
as unreasonable by shipper, to in
vestigate that rate, and if found to be
unreasonable, to name a rate which
is to be just and fairly remunerative,
which is to be The maximum rate to be
charged.
Courts Can Suspend Rate.
This rate SO fixed is to go into effect
30 days after it is announced by. the
commission, subject during that time
to he set aside or suspended by the
commission or by the courts. After
it. has gone into effect it is to remain
the rate for three years. During this
time, the opinion has been expressed
by those who have participated in the
debate that the rate may also be re-
viewed by the courts and if found to
be in conflict either with the terms of
the act or with the constitution, by
being confiscatory, can be set aside by
the courts.
Another important feature is the
definition Of the words railroad" and
transportation" in a manner to in
clude all auxiliary instrumentalities
of the common carrier and to bring
them within the control of the COM
mission. This power to name a
reasonable rate and the inclusion OF
the auxiliaries within the jurisdiction
of the commission are said to be the
new features.
All other provisions are modifca-
tons of existing law. They include
publicity of railroad methods, which
is to be aided by prescribing system
of bookkeeping and charging the COM
mission to seven members and in
creasing salaries of members to $1O,-
600 a year.
Deficiency Bill in Senate.
The house bill making appropria-
tons to supply urgent deficiencies was
Thursday reported to the senate by
the committee on appropriations. It
was amended so that it now carries
$17,5S6,962, an increase of $1,187, 612
over the amount appropriated >by the
house. The principal items of in
crease are as follows: Advance to
the Panama railroad to pay for the
reequipment of that company, $780,
900; contingent expenses of foreign
missions, 100000; contingent expenses
of the consular service, $4,000; full
settlement of the German claims for
losses in connection with the disturb
ances in Samoa, in 1891, under con-
vention Of United States, Germany and
Great Britain, $4,000; also to Den
mark, $3.50 for settlement of Danish
Samoan claims; quarantine station at
Honolulu, Hawaiian islands, 100000;
for completion of work of five CIV
flied tribes commission, $4,000; for
the bureau of animal industry, $115,-
900, and Spanish treaty claims COM
mission awards, $4,000.
Would Stop Passes.
Senator LaFollette introduced a bill
prohibiting federal officials from ask
ing or accepting railroad or other
passes and prohibiting railroads from
granting them. 1t imposes penalties
for violations of the law.
The railroad rate bill was received
from the house of representatives, but
the senators generally were not made
aware of it's arrival The bill. was
referred tc the committee on inter-
state commerce.
Concessions Given Firms.
Helsingsfors, Finland, Feb. 9.-The
car has agreed to the proposal recent
ly made to reestablish the Finnish
senatorial committee at ST.. Petersburg
to prepare, in conjunction with Minis
IN. s~~ !~I.