New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-03
RATE BILL THE GAMER.
PRESIDENT CLEARED AIR.
Democratic Hope of Splitting the
Majority Vanishes.
IFroin The Tribune Bureau I


TFrom The Tribune Bureau,
washington, March 2-Now that the presi
ueh' atusnde toward the amendments proposed
by friends OF the Hepburn bill is definitely know,
through The Tribune's columns this morning a
great MANY wen meaning men who were declar-
ing tha' The administration was 'wavering."
mad 'receded" or was "veering round seem to
De without vocation.
me moment word was passed around that
ehe PRESIDENT was willing to consider amend
ments to the bill his critics began to proclaim
that ne was giving In said Republican SEN
ator VINO is close to the administration This
kind OF talk was absurd on its face for from the
very outset the President has announced that he
would Keep an open mind on all the important
FEATURES OF the BILL He announced very early in
iie proceedings that he would be glad to
ei any amendments that might be brought to
MN. He did not promise to accept them: neither
oio he say that he was against them. He wanted
TO see them in black and white in order to de-
termine whether they would strengthen or
weaken the bill. What the President is after is
primarily bill which will put an end tn the
railroad rate evils. and which shall contain the
minimum quantity OF court review in its make
up. II II were possible 10 frame measure
whlch would hold water in the Supreme Court
containing no grounds for review whatever, he
would like il all the better. He is not concerned
ABOUT the corporations. They will be able TO
take care of themselves. There is plenty of law
for them on the statute books now. What he
wants is a little law for the shippers. They are
the ones that need taking care of.
The Spooner amendment which provides
that the railroads shall deposit IN court the
cash difference between the new commission
rate and the old schedule whenever a stay is
granted for review by the court is likely to
make an endless amount of trouble for the rail-
roads as Well as for the officials of the courts
II means that thousands upon thousands of de-
posts will have to be made into court. for each
consignment Of similar goods line
when case is in litigation will require a de-
post from the railroad company until the parent
case is settled. This will require great many
bookkeepers both in the railroad offices and in
the courts. 1t is the prospect of this never end
ing trouble that will probably deter the railroad
companies from going into court with cases
which they know they will lose. The cash de-
post will also keep them from litigating for
delay, for If they have to put up real money
every time II will become rather an expensive
matter before the cases very old. AS the
court costs will be very large If the case goes
against them. this provision will also deter
shippers from entering lightly into litigation
against rates"
Senator Spooner was of the early callers
at the White House this morning and spent
nearly an hour with the President discussing
railroad rate matters. Although he would not
talk about the conference it is understood that
he made a number Of suggestions regarding
changes in the Hepburn bill. calculated to make
It Supreme Court proof without the loss Of any
of its virtues.
On Capitol Hill and especially at the Senate
end President Roosevelt's intimaton Of willing
ness TO consider favorably propositions for a
qualified form of judicial review in the Railway
Rate bill has struck a great blow to Democratic
hopes OF forcing the Hepburn bill without
amendment through the Senate and making
political capital for themselves by that course.
The Democratic leaders of the Senate have been
in high feather for week. entertaining all kinds
of dreams of keeping the Republican party at
q disadvantage.
The popular term used by the Democrats is
putting the Republicans in hole" They
figured that the Republicans were hopelessly
divided the question of Judicial review. and
that on a rollcall in the Senate the majority
party would split. They hoped by presenting
solid Democratic front TO roll up the larger vote
for the rate bill. and to take credit unto them
selves for enscting into law the administrators
recommendations
President Roosevelt. however, has nipped these
fond expectations in the bud If present indca-
tions are fulfilled there will be no serious d.
vision in Republican ranks. but. the
trary, il Will be the Democrats who will fail to
agree among themselves The Democrats have
been praying that the President would take a
stand for the passage Of the Hepburn bill with
out amendment The President has been ad-
vised the best legal authority in the Senate
and in his Cabinet that the Hepburn bill should
not be passed without some changes. These
proposed amendments were outlined in The
Tribune this morning, and will be offered when
he hill comes consideration.
II turned out to-day that the ultra-conserva-
tives in the Senate were inclined look on this
decision amend the bill as opportunity for
pressing their extreme propositions for judicial
review Ignoring the fact that the President ex-
yond certain well defined metes and bounds in
lating each other that once the process of
amendment was undertaken IL could be turned
TO their advantage.
grateful that the Democratic menace has been
dissipated, do not admit that the conservatives
have the best OF the situation. They insist that
extent contemplated by Senator Knox's PROPOSE
ton but that il Will be confined practically to
the lines laid down by Attorney General Moody
That is that the grounds of the proposed appeal
TO the courts shall be confined to whether the
Interstate Commerce Commission has exceeded
it's authority. whether its decisions act as con-
hscat ton OF railroad property.