Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-16
STILL SQUABBLE
OVER RATE BILL
AMENDMENTS KEEP B0BBING
UP SERENELY
Senator Hopkins Accuses Colleagues
Of Striving to Inject SectlonaIlsm
Into Work Of Interstate com-
meree Commission
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press
WASHINGTON, May 15.-The senate
began its consideration of the railroad
rate bill today by taking up Senator
Lodges amendment, providing for the
increase Of the interstate commerce
commission to nine members and re-
quiring that one be appointed from
each of the judicial circuits Of the
country.
Senator Hopkins opposed the amend
ment on the ground that it would de-
prive the commission of its national
character.
"The senator from Massachusetts and
seek to inject sectionalism into the
work of the commission" he said. He
also opposed the enlargement of the
commission
Mr.. Hopkins also found fault with the
proposed increase of salary for the
members of the commission.
Thinks Salaries Large Enough
I'VE are running mad in our efforts
to increase salaries of officials" he de-
clared.
The amendment received the hearty
Endorsement Of Senator Martin, who
especially commended the proposition
to increase salaries, increase the size of
the commission and distribute the
members throughout the country.
Does the senator know any good
reason why we should legislate out of
occupations good men such as the pres
ent members Of the commission are?"
asked Senator. .Beveridge, and the Vir-
ginia senator said that If the amend
nent should prevail the president would
not be prohibited from reappointing the
members of the present commission.
Strike Out Entire Section
The adoption of the amendment to the
rate bill offered by Mr.. Foraker, re-
ducing the number of commissioners to
five, which followed the tabling of the
Lodge-Hale amendment increasing the
number to nine, brought the terms of
section back to those of the present
law, and in view of this fact Senator
Clark of Arkansas moved to strike out
the entire section. The motion pre-
vailed without debate.
The reading of the bill by sections
was then completed, but the completion
of amendments was continued.
Ifunk ondSnerS, Beware!
Among these amendments was one
suggested by Senator Carmack holding
common carriers responsible for dam
age to property in process Of trans
portation from one state to another
when caused by negligence, regardless
Of all contracts of exemption. The
amendment was adopted.
Senator Hopkins sought in the in
terest of the Union Oil company to Sc
sure a modification of the senate
amendment making common carriers
of oil pipe lines The Union company
has line across the isthmus of PAN
ANA, and Senator Morgan had the bill
so amended as to apply to that line or
other lines on the isthmus.
Mr.. Hopkins moved to reconsider the
motion by which the amendment was
adopted.
Has an Oily Smell
Speaking to the motion Senator Nor
gan said the concession by the pres
! ident for a pipe line in the canal zone
had an oily not to say fishy smell.
and was a peculiarly pronounced case
Of graft.
He declared other lines had been
denied the same privileges granted to
the Union company and it was "a
sheer, cold usurpation of power"
In tne course or his remarks the
Alabama senator announced his de-
termination not to desist in his efforts
TO force Attorney Cromwell to talk
further about canal affairs.
After somewhat general discussion
the motion was rejected.
The senate then agreed to a motion
made by Senator Culberson to recon-
slider the action by which the anti
pass amendment was adopted.
A number of senators presented sub
stitutes but none of them had been
acted upon when the senate adjourned
AnIlST SAnwS EAIrI IM MAALNI