The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-09
Senate ldjourns in Confusion 4
10 Subject Under Consideration
DAYS WORK IS INTELLECTUAL
Amendment Prohibits Common Car
riers From Engaging In Mining or
other Occupation In Competi-
tlon With Shippers.


washington. May s.1Aside from few
moments devoted to the reception of the
Allison amendment to the railroad rate
bill and half hour given to routine
business, the Senate devoted its entire ses
sion today to the Intellectual consideration
of the Elkins amendment prohibiting COM
mon carriers from engaging in mining
coal or in the production of other COM
modities in competition with shippers ana
adjourned at O'Clock In a state of great
confusion as to exact subject before 1t.
The disorder was due to the fact that a
number of substitutes for amendments
to the original amendment were offered.
During the day the Senate decided the
heretofore disputed point that under the
agreement the chairman can entertain
motion to Law on the table. 1t refused,
however, by vote of 20 to 40 to lay the
Elkins provision on the table That
amendment and the various notifications
will, therefore, be in order when the rate
bill is taken up tomorrow.
Discussion of the Elkins amendment to
the railroad rate bill was resumed in the
Senate today This amendment proposes
to prevent Interstate carriers from own
Ing and operating coal mines or dealing
in commodities which they transport.
Senator McCumber offered substitute
for the Elkins amendment which he
claimed to be simpler while accomplish
ing the same purpose.
Senator Dryden opposed the Elkins pro-
vision. saying that IL it should be ac-
cepted without fixing a time for it to go
into effect every household in the coun-
try would be njudiclously effected by 1t.
Senator Teller also criticised the pro-
vision, saying that Congress had no
authority to prohibit railroad companies
from mining CO.'S or producing uther
articles. l ~
Senator Dick Objects.
Senator Dick objected to the Elkins
amendment, saying that it affected 80
many interests that it was in itself quite
as important as the question of rate max
ing.
Senator Elkins defended the provision,
saying that the railroads had been held
to doing the business for which they were
incorporated and that 1T had been pre-
pared to meet generally recognized evil.
He had not proceeded far when his at
tention was called to the fact that he had
spoken yesterday on the provision, and
he was taken off the floor. notwithstand-
ing he declared he must speak to some-
thing.
The legal aspects of the amendment
received the attention of Senator Knox,
who called attention to the fact that the
supreme court has never attempted to
interfere with any policy in any state
of the department of its industries, and
then declared it was not competent for
Congress to change the policy so long es-
tablished.
Senator McLaurin offered a substitute for
the Elkins provision, and Senator Elkins
found it basis for the continuance of
his speech begun earlier in the day on the
main proposition. He said that under
present conditions small operators cannot
afford to mine coal in competition with the
and that his own state was es-
pecially affected by the evil. He refer
red to the newspaper report that the Bal
timore and Ohio railroad had retired
from its coal business, and commended
the course as wise.
Independent Measure.
Senator Doliver would have the amend
ments disagreed to with the understanding
that before adjournment the Senate pass
an independent measure covering the
question of railroad ownership of indus
tries.
Senator Overman put the suggestion of
Mr.. Dolliver in the shape of a motion
providing that all pending provisions con-
cerning the subject of the Elkins amend
ment to be referred to the committee of
interstate commerce. with instructions to
bring in a bill covering the subject.
Senator Daniel opposed the Overman
motion, contending that 1t was competent
for the Senate to act on questions In con-
nection with the rate bill.
'If 1t should take the committee as long
to report on this question as 1t took to
report on the original proposition, the peo-
pie might lose heart In the subject said
Senator Bailey. in opposing the motion
to refer the amendment to the Interstate
commerce commission. He supported the
Elkins amendment as entirely competent.
He was willing to extend the time for the
provision to become operative until Janu-
ary 1907. but said he was in accord with a
suggestion made by Mr.. Lafollette prohib-
itng the acquisition Of coal lands in the
meantime In making this suggestion Mr..
Lafollette said that one of the south
western roads had recently expended s15.
100000 in the acquisition of coal lands in
New Mexico
Senator Overman then withdrew his mo-
ton to refer the matter back to the COM
mittee.
No Extra Time.
Senator Dryden offered an amendment
extending for five years the time In which
the provision shall go into effect. saying
that the utmost conservatism was neces-
sary in considering such important ques-
tions.
Senator AIdrich followed with criti-
cism Of the Elkins provision and was
soon engaged in a coloquy with Senator
Bailey, during which the latter said that
the carriers were opposing the amend
ment '"That Is not true. unless I am
carrier" responded the Rhode Island SEN
ator, but Mr.. Bailey responded that he
did not mean to be so understood. Nor"
he said "am / one of those who are al
ways imputing motives to the senator
from Rhode Island He is as good as his
party He has way when he cannot
get victory of making a defeat appear
as a victory. but in that respect he has
an illustrious example In the head of his
party The senator Is not a carrier but
the carriers best friend
At this juncture there was much con-
fusion among the senators as to the
question before the Senate. and 1t rose
to such a height that after remarking