The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-02-27


Washington, Feb. 23.-By n vote of
8 to : the senate committee on inter-
state m today agreed to re-
port the Hepburn railroad rate bill
without amendment, but the resolu-
ton adopted reserves TO the members
of the committee freedom of action
concerning amendments offered in the
senate. By a vote of ; TO 3, republic
ans prevailing, Senator Tillman, IA
democrat, was given the honor Of
reporting the bill. This establishes Il
precedent. - that a republican Senate
committee has given TO Il democrat
control OF an important measure pass
ed by a republican house and endorsed
by q republican president. Senators
Culiom and Carmack were absent and
their votes were recorded only on the
main proposition. The resolution f.l-
, lows:
Resolved That the Interstate con
merce commission report %favorablys
house bill i2,HS1 us it passed tie
house Of representatives, it being
cerstood that members of the commit
tee have a right to vote as they choose
on amendments or to offer amend
nents in the sell: e on consideration
of the bill"
Senator DOlliver offered the first
part of the resolution and Senator
Aldrich made ii motion TO amend by
adding the restrictions concerning
amendments. The Aldrich motion pre-
vailed, the affirmative votes being
Elkins, A,drich, Kean, Crane, Tillman,
Foster and Newsands. The negative
voters were Dolliver, Clapp and Nc
Laurin. After the meeting, however,
Senator McLaHrin said that he had in
tended to vote for the change and a
change was made in the committee
record, leaving only Dolliver and Clapp
for the resolution offered by Senator
Dolliver. The Ote for the resolution
as amended was as follows:
Administration, Dolliver, Clapp
Tillman, McLaurin, Carmack, Foster,
and Newlands.
Sdl iluIICH. httu,
Foraker, and Crane.
Senator .Aldrich then moved that
the bill be reported by Chairman Ell
kins, but Senators DOlliver and Till
man protested that some friend of the
measure should make the report and
Senator Aldrich amended his motion
providing that the report should be
made by Senator TilIman. He stated
that the democratic members furnish
ed the majority of the votes for the
bill and that it was proper to have
the minority father it." This was
taken by Senators Dolliver and Clapp
as an Effort tn humiliate then, Int
they remained silent.
Chairman Elkins suggested that tie
report should he made By Senate"
DOlliver. who has ben one of the
men who helped draft the Hepburn
bill, and a leader in the fight to prevent
the adoption Of amendments. Only
Senator Clapp supported this sugges-
ton, which had been made informally.
A vote was then had on the ques- !
ton of who should report tie bill,
the result being rs follows:
For Senator DOll:Ter-Elkins, Clapp, !
aker, Kean, Crane, and McLaurin.
For Senator Doliver-Elkins, Clapp, |
and Newlands.
Not voting-Dolliyer, Tillman and
Foster.
Before the session today the result
was in doubt. The division Of the re-
publican senators on the question Of
judicial review Of orders Of the inter-
state III commission left the |
democratic members in absolute CON-
troi. 1t was apparent that If they
divided the court review amendment
would De adopted. The minority men, |
bers, after vainly trying to get to- [
gether last night. held n second con-
ference early this morning. The ex-
preston at this conference was to re-
port the bill without recommendation
of an character, but the agreement
was not binding. With snat under
standing the democrats went into the
meeting. The minority did not make
its decision known, and the Hepburn
bill was taken up and the "conserva-
tive republican faction" sought to
amend the first section. At that ,
t%uncture Senator Dolliver, leading the
a telegram from Senator Cullom,
aSaAhk thdh uc pC Icsbiueu aSdluSt dll
that were not recon-
by the committee unanimous
y, n to cast his vote for the Hep
burn bill, as it came from the house.
Senator Dolliver then moved to re-
the Hepburn bill favorably as it
vas Iassed by the house, and said that
N that he would demand that Senator
cullom's vote be recorded. This pre-