Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1906-03-02

vote against any amendments tnau were
not adopted unanimously by the COM
mittee. Up spoke the Big Five almost
in chorus, allowing that they did not
know whether the absent Senator's vote
could be so cast.
name some specific motion on which
you would like to cast Cullom's vote"
said Chairman Elkins, land we'll see
what can be done"
Eyes, that's it," assented Mr.. Aldrich;
"bring forward something definite and
let's see about this proxy business"
To this Messrs. Foraker, Kean, and
Crane nodded appreciation.
Every well, then" said the determined
Mr.. Dolliver, his eyes rolling in fine
frenzy, II move that the Hepburn bill
be reported favorably without amend
ment. That is a specific motion. and |
shall ask to have Senator Cullom's vote
cast in the affirmative"
1t was at this point-this psychic
moment-that the Big Five gasped. The
gasp was followed by naughty scowl
at the impertinent 1owan, Then there
was a suflling of feet. and before Mr..
Deliver could say Jack Robinson" the
committee had taken recess until two
o'clock. The ostensible object of the
recess was to give the four Democratic
members present-Messrs. Tillman, Nc
Laulin, Foster and Newlands-time to
"think it over"
What they are alleged to have wanted
to think over" was whether any or all
of them should vote to amend the bill by
putting in it a specific provision for court
review. The quartet was in conference
for while, and then went their several
ways to lunch. Mr.. DOlliver went to
| lunch, too SO did Mr.. Clapp, who has
] eb,,,11or TO, gl,yt,1lor with
| Messrs. Cullom and Deliver for the
virgin Hepburn bill. 1t is not thought
any of the Big Five went to lunch.
| They were not hungry, anyhow.
After they had had their lunch, 1t was
| learned that the Democratic members
had decided to vote solidly for a report
/ favorable to the uneXpurgated Hepburn
production. This settled it, With the
votes of Messrs Dolliver and Clapp it was
certain that the bill would be reported
without amendment
MIR. Elkins was the first publicly to
throw up the sponge. Mr.. Elkins has
habit of knowing when he is whipped.
All he had wanted to do, anyhow, was to
get vote on an amendment he desired
to offer, and which provided that common
carriers shall, upon application, put in all
necessary switches to meet wants of
shippers, make prompt connections and
| operating arrangements with connecting
branch or lateral lines, reasonable and
Just division of through rates and make
reasonable and Just allowances to con-
Meeting, lateral or branch lines for origi-
mating freight.
Mr.. Elkins also wanted court review
amendment, because he is afraid without
that the Hepburn bill will be unconstitu-
tional, and he and all the other advocates
of the Presidents railroad policy would
then have their hard work to do all over
again. But when he realized that he was
whipped he said so, thus:
They have votes enough to report the
Hepburn bill out without amendment"
The developments that followed rapidly
after the committee reassembled at 2
o'clock showed what a true prophet the
West Virginia Senator is, for as soon as
the meeting was again called to order,
Nr. Dolliver presented the following
resolution, which was adopted. after the
conditional clause had been added on
motion of Mr.. Aldrich:
Resolved, That the Interstate Com
merce Committee report favorably House
bill 1887 as it passed the House of Repre-
sentatives, it being understood that
members of the committee have the right
to vote as they choose on amendments or
TO offer amendments in the Senate on
consideration of the ill"
The vote by which this resolution was
adopted was to 5, as follows:
Yeas-Messrs. Cullom, Deliver, and
Clapp (Republicans), and Messrs. Till
man. McLaurin. Carmack, Foster, and
and Newlands Democrats).
Nays-Messrs. Elkins, Aldrich, Fora
ker, Kean, and Crane Republicans).
Then came the really interesting part
of the proceedings, some of the details of
which are considerably obscured in a
mass OF contradictory statements. The
important fact regarding them is that
Mr.. TillmaD was selected as the mouth
piece of the committee, and that it was
on the motion of Mr.. Aldrich that the
fiery South Carolina Democrat was given
the honor--"an honor which Mr.. Tillman
richly deserves" explained the saturnine
Mr. Aldrich, because this whole move
ment is a democratic movement, and
Tillman is about the best democrat
know"
Out of the tumble of contradictions
there comes one Northumberland fact.
That is that Mr. Aldrich's first suggestion
was that Mr.. Elkins, as chairman of the
committee, be instructed to make the
report
''But ought not friend of the bill
report it," inquired Messrs. Doliver and
illman in chorus
Certainly. certainly" grunted Mr..
Aldrich land move you Mr.. Chairman,
that the Hon, Benjamin Riley Tillman
of South Carolina be instructed to report