Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-05-25
WINS IN SENATE
VOTE FOR RAILROAD RATE BILL
ALMOST UNANIMOUS.
ENDING OF LONG CONTEST
Only Three Senators Vote Against the
Hepburn Bill as Amended-ons Re-
publican and Two Democrats.

Hepburn Bill as Amended-ons Re-
publican and Two Democrats.
washington.-After seventy days OF
almost continuous deiiberation. the
Senate nj 4:53 p. m. Friday passed the
railroad rate bill by the practically
unanimous vote of II TO ).
The three negative votes were cast
by Senators Foraker. Republican. OF
Ohio; Morgan and Pettus. Democrats.
OF Alabama
There was n somewhat larger at
tendance OF Senators than usual. bu,
the attendance In the galleries Was by
no means abnormal. and there was no
manifestation OF any kind when the
result was announced. There Was.
however. an almost general sigh OF re-
lief among the Senators.
In addition TO passing the bill. the
proceedings consisted OF concluding
the consideration of amendments as
such and tn. delivery of u number OF
speeches ON the bill. The only amend
ment adopted was the one offered
Thursday by Senator Teller eliminate
Ing III. words ''ip its judgment" from
til. power given to the Interstate
Commerce. Commission TO TX rates.
The bill has received mora attention
from the Scnnt. and from the country
ut large than nny measure that has
bcon before Congress- since tho repeat
of the purchasing clause of the shcr'
mnn net In 1893.
!, was reported TO the scnz;c rcb.u.
AIRY e6th and was made the unfinished
business March .i:th. From March i:th
To May 9Th the bill was under general
discussion without Limitation on the
duration OF speeches. fifty.cisht OF
which wcro delivered. Many OF these
were prepared with great care. and two
OF them consumed more than n days
time In delivery. Senator In Toilette.
the junior senator from Wisconsin.
spoke for three days. aud Senator
Daniel OF Virginia for two days. Sen.
a'ors Bailey. Foraker. Lodge. Raincy,
poiliver and others each spoke for an
entire day. 80
For twelve days the bill has been
Under consideration under rule limit.
Ing speeches 10. dftccn minutes each.
+, The debate Mt NIL times has been ear.
nest and animated. but for the most
part devoid Of personality ms between
-s9nators. the past few days. however.
having called out sonic caustlc crl.
ucisms OF the President and of somc
hcwspapfr correspondents by Senator
Bailey. 1'-'
The principal. purpose of the ratio
bin -paSscds Friday is to permit the In.
'crsiate Gondncrcc Commission TO fix
rates. The provision which confcrs |
this authority is found In the fourth |
? section of. tho bill. which amends sec. |
ton IL Of the Interstate commerce law |
80 as 10, Investigate complaints Of un, |
: Just or Unreasonable charges on the
part OF the common CARRIERS In tho |
transportation OF persons or property. |
orr ofsreguntfons or OF practices NJ. |
fccting such charges. II also author. |
izcs IN inquiry rs to whether the rates |
.or practices are. prcjudiciai or other.
wise in violation OF the act. and In case |
pny of these conditions are found to |
exist, the commission Is empowered to |
determine and prescribe what will bc /
the Just and reasonable maximum rate /
and what regulation or practice Is
Just. reasonable and fair.
Further. authority Is. given the com.
mission to enforce its orders. and they |
are ito go into effect. within thirty
days and continue in force for two
years unless suspended. modified or
set aside by the commission or by a
court OF competent Jurisdiction.
Other powers conferred by this sec.
tion are to apportion joint fares. es.
tablfsh through routes and maximum |
joint rates and prescribe their division,
and to determine the compensation to |
be paid to shippers doing service for
carriers
Z. Section 16 OF the present law is so
changed as to provide for an award OF
pecuniary damages to complainants
found entitled, and in case payment is
not promptly made in accordance with
this award the beneficiary is author.
lied to file suit in n United States cir.
cult court to compel compliance. The
finding OF the commission is to be re-
ceived as prima facie evidence OF the
facts in such suits. and the petitioner
is absolved from all liability for acts.
Another provision renders legal the
service of the orders OF the commits.
sion through the mails and provides
that these orders shall take effect
thirty days after service unless sus.
pended or modified by the commission
or suspended or set aside by the
courts.
A penalty Of $1,000 for each oifense
In disobedience Of the order is i'm.
posed, and the penalty is to accumu.
late at the rate Of $4,000 day in case
of continuous violation.