The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-05
AGREEMENT
 ON RATE BILL Allison Will Introduce
 Amendment. SATISFACTORY ToREPUBLIcANs Friends of House Bill and Opponents
 Now as One. Question of Victory or Defeat for the Administration is Kept in the Back Ground by Senators.
SATISFACTORY ToREPUBLIcANS

Washington. May 4.--what amounts practically to an agreement on the ex- isting differences concerning court fea- reached by Senate conferences extend ing over the last week, and Senator Allison will offer an amendment con- ferring jurisdiction upon the Circuit Courts to hear and determine suits brought against the Interstate. Com merce Commission.
 The amendment will not suggest to the court whether their judicial review shall be confined to constitutional ques- tions or whether 1t shall be an inquiry into the justness or reasonabieness of the rates fixed by the commission
 Senator Long, who made the princi- pal legal argument for the House bill, and Senators Aldrich and Crane, the leaders in the movement seeking an amendment providing for broad court review. expressed themselves today as favoring the amendment. and both fac- tions are agreed that the compromise Is satisfactory to President Roosevelt. Undoubtedly this means that obstacles to the speedy passage of the measure have been removed.
 Whether the conservatives or the radicals have won victory ie ques- ton that is not disturbing either fac ton. The agreement. in a measure, is regarded as political It Is believed that now practically the entire Re- publican strength of the Senate will be cast for the bill, whereas under the long continued arrangement it was conceded that 1t would require minor ity endorsement to pass the bill. and the Democratic party would be in posi- ton to take full credit for it.
 Despite the attitude of Republican Senators not to discuss the subject of victory or defeat. friends of the House bill. when charged with surrender to the conservative forces in defense are pointing to Senator Longs speech on the bill In that speech the Kansas Senator said: T do not object to an Amendment authorizing suits to be brought against the Commission and conferring jurisdiction on the United States courts sitting in equity to hear and determine any such Iuit."
 Accords With Long's Suggestion.
 It was stated today that Senator Long spoke for friends of the bill and they pointed out that the agreement now reached is in exact accord with the suggestion made by him
 The agreement does not take into consideration the several pending amendments providing for non-suspen- sion of the orders of the interstate com merce commission. Thus far a pro- vision of such character has not been offered by any Republican senator. It is known that several of the majority senators believe with Senator Bailey that such an amendment would be con- stitutional, but the agreement on the court review feature. 1t is said. pre- ciudes beyond the remotest possibility the adoption of a non-suspension pro- vision.
 Under the agreement reached, in or der to confer Jurisdiction, there must be two amendments to the bill. The bill as 1t will be amended by the House bill. The bill provides that the rate fixed by the commission shall re- main in force unless set aside or suspended by a court of competent jurisdiction" and the agreement pro- poses to add these words: ''in a suit brought against the commission" It has the effect merely to recognize the right of the carrier to bring g. suit against the interstate commerce com mission.
 The other amendment will be to sec tion 16 The bill provides that suits may be brought In any district where the defendant carrier has its principal operating ofices' and 1t Is proposed to add these words, and Jurisdiction to hear and determine such suits Is here by conferred on such courts" Circuit Courts)