Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-03


ago, when he stated that he would vote for
the bill with the broad court review amend
ment that had been agreed upon on the
republican side, that he had never voted
for any bill with so great feeling of mis-
giving. Now it is whispered about that
the South Carolina senator would like to
have his name branded on that child
as he often referred to 1t in his remarks.
In fact 1T Is apt to be known as the Hep
burn-Tillman bill. and if that name is given
to it the South Carolina senator is not at
all likely to disavow the child as he has
often threatened to do.
Making the Bill Constitutional.
On the republican side credit is taken for
making the bill constitutional, as many of
the ablest lawyers of the Senate declared
that 1t would not stand a test before the
Supreme Court of the United States had
not the broad court review amendment that
was SO strongly opposed by the President
up to the time he agreed to 1t been adopted.
The fact Is well recognized that the bill
contains many provisions that will do any
party good If 1t can lay claim to them, but
the division of creoit between the two parties
is so well defined that 1t will be hard to ex-
plain 1t all on the stump. There are some
two-edged swords in the bill, and later on
there may be an effort to shift RESPONSE
bility In some cases as well as efforts to
claim 1t In others.
In the matter of passes for instance the
conferees struck out the paragraph relating
to them which contained many exceptions,
including the great body of 100000 rail-
road employees, and adopted a straight anti
pass amendment without any exceptions
whatever. There Is sure to be some spar
ring in the Senate and House to fix the re-
sponsibility for that provision, and sugges-
tfons are now heard that there is apt to be
resentment in that large class of voters
that many take some tangible shape in the
accin mol oil Etr} hon
resentment will be directed is not clear, ex-
cept that Senator Culberson has been re-
garded as the leading exponent Of the
clean-cut anti-pass amendment But as 1t
is in accordance with what is said to be a
strong sentiment in Texas, it is not likely to
cause the Texas senator any personal in
convenience.
Pipeline Provision.
The pipeline provision was confined to
oil by the action of the conferees, and all
reference to other commodities was stricken
from the bill. In that shape it will affect
chiefly the Standard OIL Company, which
is the owner of the great pipe lines of the
country, except that the independent oil
refining industry also has quite extern
sive system Of pipe lines extending from
the oil region Of Pennsylvania to the sea-
board. Just how that provision of the bill
will work out is yet to be seen.
The elimination of the Jim Crow" cars
provision is extremely welcome to the col
ored people, who have been stirred up over
it, as they claimed they gained nothing
by it, while 1t gave federal sanction to the
"Jim Crow cars Of the south engaged in
interstate business, and would promote the
extension Of the system in the north. This
amendment was urged by Senator Tillman,
who finally let 1t go with an agreement
that the clause requiring five days notice
to the commission of any injunction, inter-
iocutory order or decree suspending or re-
CT nir1cr a ont ont Of 10
the commission on hearing. These two
Senate amendments were the last that were
fought over by the conferees.
In practically ell essential details the
conferees on the railroad rate bill agreed
to the measure as it was passed by the
Senate. The report was signed at about
Pm, and almost Immediately presented
to both houses. 1t shows that the Senate
receded from six amendments, two of which
merely change the numbers of sections,
while twenty-eight of its amendments We're
retained verbatim and the remaining seveIl-
teen amendments were redrafted and re-
tained under different phraseology.
Senator Tillman, chairman of the Senate
conferees, gave notice that he will urge
prompt action on the report in the Senate.
AS soon disposed of there 1t is safe to
say 1t will be acted upon by the House
with the utmost dispatch.
Disposition Of the Amendments.
The disposition of the amendments in the
lows:
The first amendment to the bill is that
making pipe lines common carriers. 1t was
stricken out and included in the amendment
making express companies common car
riers sleeping car companies having been
eliminated SO that the amendment now
reads:
.'The term common carriers as used in
this act shall include express companies
and all persons or corporations engaged in
| the transportation of oil by pipe lines. or
partly by pipe lines and partly by railroad,
or partly by pipe lines and partly by
water"
The next amendment is that prohibiting
passes 1t was entirely redrafted, made
much more stringent, all excepted classes
being eliminated and to either issue or
receive free transportation being made a
misdemeanor. The amendment Is as fol-
lows:
..No carrier subject to the provisions of
| this act shall. after January /, 1907, direct
| ly or indirectly, issue or give any interstate
| free ticket, free pass or free transporta-
| ton for passage. Any carrier violating
| this provision shall be deemed guilty of q
misdemeanor. and shall, upon conviction
| thereof. be punished by fine of not ex-
ceeding 81 600; and any person who used
soiicits or accepts for himself or for an
other. any such interstate free ticket, free
| pass or free transportation. shall be deemed
guilty of misdemeanor, and upon con-
viction thereof. be subject to a like PEN
atty
| The EIkins commodity amendment was
retained practically in the form originally
i agreed upon and the provisions later In
serted eliminating timber and the manufac-
tured products thereof, from Its appiica-
tion was stricken out. As agreed the
amendment provides that after May 1.
| 1908, 1t shaH be unlawful for any common
carrier to transport any article or com-
/ fsV III. or produced under its authority. or