Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-02-15
RATE MEASURE
PASSES HOUSE
President Expresses Satisfac-
ton with Action of the
Same.
S CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS
Expects Bill 10 Pass Senate with
Little Change-Although Great Eff
fort Will Probably be Made 10
Amend II.

Washington, Feb. 9.--Just enough
morning business was allowed in the
house preceding the vote on the Hep
burn railroad rate bill yesterday to
permit delayed members to reach
| their seats before the roll call ordered
the night before began. Three hun
dred and forty-six members voted for
the bill. Seven, all republicans, voted
against 1t. Applause greeted the an
nouncement of the result by the speak
er and the house, which had given its
undivided attention to the question of
government rate making for seven
days, turned its attention TO other
matters.
The seven representatives who OPP
posed the rate bill were all republi-
cans. They were Littlefeld OF Maine,
Mccall and Weeks of Massachusetts,
Perkins, Southwick and Vreeland OF
New York, and Sibley of Pennsyl-
vania.
President Roosevelt and Colonel
Hepburn had conference yesterday.
in which the president explained his
great satisfaction at the house action
in passing the rate bill. The presi-
dent believes that there Is no longer
a question that the rate bill will be
enacted, and he thinks, moreover, that
the house bill will be put through the
senate without substantial amend
ment. 1t is well known that every
possible effort will be made in the
senate to amend the bill, out Presl-
dent Roosevelt does not think that
material notifications will be made.
The bill, according to Mr.. Hepburn's
statement, in closing the debate on
the measure, was intended and did,
so far as it could be made, he said,
comply specially with the recon-
mendations of President Roosevelt
on the rate question. 1t gives the
interstate commerce commission
authority, when a rate has been com
planned of as unreasonable" by a
shipper to invI- ,igate that rate,
state whether or not 1t is unreason-
able, and If found to be unreasonable
to name rate which is to be just
and reasonable and fairly remunera
tive, which Is to be the maximum
rate to be charged.
This rate, so fixed, Is to go into eff
feet thirty days after it is announced
by the commission, subject during that
time, to be set aside or suspended by
the commission, or the courts. After
it has gone into effect it is to remain
the rate for three years. During
this time the opinion has been ex
pressed by those who have participant
ed in the debate that the rate may
also be reviewed by the courts and
il found to be in conflict either with
the terms of the act or with the con
stitution, by being confscatory, can
be set aside by the courts.
Another important feature is the
defining of the word railroad" and
transportation" in a manner to in
clude all auxiliary instrumentalities
Of the common carrier and to bring
them within the control of the com
mission. This power to name a Fea
sonable rate and the inclusion of the
auxliaries within the jurisdiction OF
the commission are said to be the
new features. All other provisions
are notifications OF existing law
They include publicity of railroad
methods, which is to be aided by
prescribing system of bookkeeping
and enlarging the commission to sever
members and increasing salaries OF
members to $4,000 a year.