The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-11
DEBATE ON
 RATE BILL Devoted to Question of
 Rebat.
 -- SENATOR Ns.<dBER ON FLOOR lmprison, at Penalty Was Pro s vided For. Spirit Was Manifested to Increase Time Allowed Speakers Under Fifteen Minute Rule--Enort to Re-
 duce Limit.

Washington. May 10.-The third stage of todays proceedings by the Senate on the rate bill was devoted to the question of rebates paid to shippers.
 The question arose in connection with an amendment offered by Senator McCumber providing that any shipper receiving a rebate from a carrier shall be fined to the extent of three times the amount receivd.
 Tn North Dakota Senator said the amendment was intended to prevent shippers from continuing their practice of demanding discriminations, saying that the great trusts were the princl- pal offenders against this requirement.. He declared that these trusts have the railroads in their power, and added: "WA have been very careful so far in this legislation not to interfere with them, notwithstanding they are prac- tically responsible for all .he rebates. '
 He quoted the presidents message, saying that the Standard oil Company received $750,000 year as rebates and declared that the only way to check the practice was to make the party solict- ting the favor responsible.
 He amended his provision so as also to impose the penalty of imprisonment. .The hysteria of this entire thing has been clearly demonstrated by to- days proceedings" declared Senator Gallinger in beginning a speech in re- ply to Mir McCumber.
 Tn Justification of his position he cited the action of the Senate in pro viding an Imprisonment clause. Ho then spoke of Mir McCumber's amend ment and declared that many Of the amendments being made are crude and therefore dangerous. He predicted that when the bill gets through the A. -.fff IAa He thought the bill should be confined to regulation of railroad rates.
 Senator Aldrich suggested that un- der the provision the farmers of North Dakota might suffer. He thought the amendment very drastic legislation. Senator spooner called attention to the bill which was passed by the which he said the Senate committee on | judiciary will probably report fayora- biy, He thought 1t in better form to proceed in this matter in his separate | bill The amendment was agreed to without division.
 sideratiof, of the second section of the railroad rate bill and just before ad- tournment listened to the reading of sections three and four, without con sidering any amendments offered 10 them. The purpose of this meetins s was to bring the conSluefalioh oA tHe hill to the point of taking up the Al- ltson compromise amendments wnicn will be done tomorrow.
 number of very important changes were made in the second section inciud- ing aprovision restoring the imprison- ment penalty of the act of 1887 and an amendment suggested by Senator Mo- Cumber imposing a penalty of fine and innrisonment against shippers who se- cured rebates from transportation com panies.
 The latter amendment was incorpor- ated for the avowed purpose of hit ting the trusts. Another amendment adopted was offered by Senator War
 ren. It gives the government business a. preference over all other traffic in time of war. A long series of changes wehe also made at the instance of the Interstate Commerce Commission. Many of these were verbal. and all were in- features of the law.
 There was cotniuous debate through out today and there was no little com palint that Senators manifested a dis position to increase the time allowed them under the fifteen minute rule by speaking on amendments to amend ments. and also by speaking In the time of other Senators.
 Senator Tillman stated privately. when the Senate adjourned. that if these practices continue. he would make an effort tomorrow to have the speeches limited to five miutes dura- ton.