New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-06
RATE BILLS PROGRESS.
II Meets Some Opposition-4ttacked
by LitHefeid and Grosuenor.

from The Tribune Bureau
Washington Feb. 5.-Despite the certainty OF the
House under the momentum of unanimous report
from the Interstate and Foreign Comr cree Com
mittee. il became evident to-day that the few OPP
ponents of the measure prepared to resort to
guerilla tactics in effort to defeat IL or 10
knock 1t of shape. The plan. which gives little
promise OF success is to swamp the bill Win
amendments. and effort viii be made to organ
fze an opposition force out of those members OF
the House who object to certain features or the
bill, although prepared 10 indorse it's general out
lines The debate hRs disclosed the fact that IN
spite of the unanimous report from the committee
there a number of Republicans who nave IN
dividuai views the way the measure should be
Drawn, and the radicals who are outspokenly OPP
posed TO the legislation will seek TO gather this
element together. There is apparently intention
on the part of the managers OF the bill TO bring
In rule to shut off amendments. and an avalanche
of them is expected The Democrats and Repub-
hcans of the House committee have agreed TO re-
sist all changes and will ask the House TO stand
by the committee, believing that the bill should De
passed In its present FORM but there is attempt
TO disguise the fact that the opposition will make
a determined fight. Even those amendments which
do not materially affect the general purpose of the
bill WILL il Is understood be rejected. Representa-
tive Grosvenor, OF Ohio, introduced an amendment
of this character this afternoon. 1t provides that
no president. director agent empoye OF any
railroad shall be interested in the furnishing oil
material supplies to such company or in the
business OF transportation as a common carrier of
freight passengers the lines owned. leased.
controlled worked by such company. on com
plaiJt satisfactory proof Of any violation of this
provision. the Interstate Commerce Commission
shall order that the Office held in violation of
this be vacated, and shall order such corpora
tiOn TO declare the office position forfeited va
cant and to I'll the place provided for In the
bylaws of the corporation
II is the intention of the managers OF the bill
to close the general debate Wednesday, and
a vote will probably be taken on Thursday
Mr.. Littleheld. of Maine. opened the day with a
speech against the bill He believed the pictures
Of distress the rate question entirely too lurid
The railroads undoubtedly had made mistakes.
but conditions not intolerable. On the other
hand he said. the Interstate Commerce Commits
ion had made many blunders The proposed legis-
lation. he believed. went far and he should
vote against il. He had been willing 10 as far
as the President had recommended in 1904 and 1903
Not a member of the House, he maintained, could
say what is a reasonable rate. There is not sin
gle case in any record or any rule on which
reasonable could be defined This was one OF
the great and tremendous difficulties the bill pre-
scented. and indicated the and arbitrary power
that to be vested in political tribunal In
the zeal with which both political parties were
T and me- faGg theS ad gone if
First the bill, in his opinion confers on the com
Tnissica the power originate rates; second. 1t
provides court of review, a Presidential recon-
mendaton twice made necessary a conserva-
tive and wise restriction; third. and most tmpor
OF all, 1t puts into the hands Of the commits
sion the power to say whether or not it shall
eliminate the preferential rate that exists from one
end Of the land to the other and is intermingied
with al business
exists in all courts. Under the Dill a cuflous
and incongruous condition proposed. When
the commission determined whether rate was
reasonable 1t was acting IN 1udic1al capeclty
when it prescribed rate for the future II would
be legisating, and when II administered this find
ing IL acted in an executive capacity MS Nds
a combination of the three functions OF govern
ment-executive. legislative and judicai--in one
body.
Frankly announcing that would be sur
prised If he should say something two more
of the question, Mr.. Grosvenor, of Ohio took
the floor He first criticised the assertion t that
there any popular demand for the Legislation
What there had been manut actured out or
whole cloth in Congress There never had been
such fake issue launched. The question or re-
bates constituted the only legitimate complaint
being made. and vet. he continued. the gentle
shippers OF this country"
What they had reported. he said. not one OF
meant a different thing. and the whole thing was
TO be left 10 the construction OF the courts. And
yet IT born at the dawning of a political mil
iennium in this House. All the angels sang to-
gether on the day this bill reported and
Sang the Same tune" daughter
Another fault Mr.. Grosvenor found with the bill
was that il did not include the regulation OF sleep
ing and dining You have been very care
flII 10 describe private for freight, but have
ne He had been Informed that II was in
tended TO regulate sleeping cars. and why not
would Kill all competition and the result would
be exactly the the effects Of the old pool
ing bill With uniform rates, he said. the centre
OF the country would not suffer. but ii would be
the exrrerniries border States Having expressed
i,inaeIf on the bill. Mr.. Grosvenor was laughed at
when ne closed by saying: And shall aid in get
hTTpOan TAY pJJT