New-York tribune., 1906-05-19
Even Democrats Say Credit for Legislation Must be
Given to President Roosevelt.
VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE II TO 8.
Senators Foraker Morgan and Pes Alone OppOsdOnn lis Judgment
Stricken Out Of Interstate Commerce Commission Clause
IRON The Tribune Bureau. ]


Washington. May 1s.-The Presidents victory
is achieved. The Railway Rate bill has passed
both Houses Of Congress- and it only remains
for the conferrees. If the House fails to concur
in the amendments to adjust their differences
and for the President to affix his signature. and
the legislation will become an accomplished
fact. By vote Of Il to 3. larger proportionate
majority than the Hepburn bill commanded in
the House. the Senate adopted the measure late
this afternoon after Mr.. Tilman. the Senator
in charge OF the bill. and Senator Teller, OF
Colorado, had declared in the closing hours OF
the debate that all credit for this far reaching
and benihcent legislation must be given TO
Theodore Roosevelt, whose earnest advocacy OF
the policy in message and from the platform
had created the impetus which served to carry
the bill through Congress.
Il don't want 20 lay down the responsibility
that has been imposed on me without saying
that believe the success Of the bill is due to
Theodore Roosevelt" said Mr.. Tfllman. and fur
ther along in his remarks he declared that
while the policy was advocated in three Demo-
cratic platforms. had it not been for the Presi-
dents earnest advocacy Of the bin it would
never have become law: the bill would not
have passed"
During the early hours OF the session the
words 'in its judgment" referred to in last
nights dispatches to The Tribune. were elm
mated by vote Of 50 to "a. as was fOrecasted
then. Senator DoIliver mildly acquiesced In the
win Of the Senate. having learned this morning
that the President did not regard the retention
Of the words as essential. When the third read
ing Of the bill completed Senator Rayner
took the floor and in semi-humorous speech
paid high tribute to the ability OF Senators
spooner. Knox, Bailey and others. repudiatine
the charge that there were any railroad Sen
ators- Mr.. Rayner predicted that before the
bill became a law the President would abandon
the Allison court review amendment and re
turn to his first love" the Long amendment.
which Mr.. Rayner considers essential 20 the real
value OF the legislation. Mr Rayner also said
that il the Speaker OF the House should appoint
sufficiently strong conferrees the Long amend
ment might yet be adopted.
When Mr.. Rayuer had finished various SEN
ators gave their views on the merits and de-
merits OF the bill the Senate had completed.
Senator Foraker declared his dnal opposition TO
the legislation. which he believes to be unconstI-
tutional, and Senator Morgan did the same.
When the bill was placed on passage the only
votes against It were those OF Messrs. Foraker.
Morgan and Pettus, the two latter holding that
the legislation constitutes grave violation Of
state rights.
The only Senator's who were not present and
whose absence was not explained by colleagues
or others were Messrs. Depew and German, who
are i'll, and Senator Burton. who had taken no
part in the Senate proceedings this session
Senator Platt who was present earlier in the
day, was unable 10 remain for the dnal vote
It is generally expected that the Senate con-
ferees the bill viii be Messrs. Elkins. CuI-
lom and Tillman. The House has not vet de-
cided who its conferees will be. except that Rep
resentative Hepburn will be chairman. The
measure has been so extensively amended that
It looks like crazy guilt. but It is expected that
most Of the changes will be recognized as I'M
provements by the House and will meet with no
objection.