The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-26

From the time that Senator Tillman presents his report on the railroad bill tomorrow until that measure shall have been finally disposed of by the Senate, that bill will actually if not technically occupy the foremost place on the Senate calendar.
 From the beginning of the session tho rate regulation question has received eager attention whenever the subject has been approached, even though in an informal way as has been the case on several oc- casions, and the formal reporting of the measure will necessarily intensity the interest in it. There is no prospect of Immediately displacing the statehood bill, but there have been many intimations that such a course might be pursued If that bill continues to be unaeted upon when a few weeks later senators generally find themselves prepared to enter what all have believed from the begning would be the real conflict of the session.
 All the senators whatever their individ- ual views, unite in considering the rail road question as the most important be- fore Congress and friends and opponents of the Hepburn Deliver bill alike unite in the desire to have it taken up as promptly as possible. There will be Hull, however, after the formal report is made because all who expect to participate In the debate feel the necessity for sufficient lime to prepare for the conflict. With this proposition once made, it looks as though no other subject less seriously considered will be allowed to stand in its way.
 Foraker to Deliver Prepared Speech. On Wednesday Senator Foraker will take the floor with a prepared speech on the railroad question. His will be the first formal speech on tho subject subse- quent to the reporting of the bill So far as announcement has been made, the Ohio senator stands alone in opposing all railroad legislation along the lines of the Hepburn Deliver bill. He has hereto fore announced his position.
 There is already much speculation SIS to the prospects of the rate bill. The most generally accepted view is that 1t will be amended by the Senate in some particular Most of the democratic members of the interstate commerce commission, as well US other democratic senators, have eX- pressed the opinion that there should be changes in the bill The same may be said of the republican members of the committee who voted against reporting the bill and other republican senator's IL IS already apparent that the crucial amendment will be the addition of a court appeal clause and over it there will unquestonahly be a determined conflict Friends of such a modification claim s republican senators favorable to the ad- diton of this provision, and some of the democrats have in the past stated that they would regard such a clause with favor
 Will Press Statehood Bill.
 Senators Beveridge and Nelson who have ,ne statehood bln in charge, will not admit the possibility of displacement, even in the remote future, and they will do their utmost to press it's consideration.
 Mr. Beveridge Is temporarily absent, but Senator Nelson will insist Monday that nothing shall stand in the way of Senator's Dicks proceeding with his speech in support of joint statehood.
 The first half of the speech was de- liNered more than d week ago, and MT Dick sought in vain all last week to se cure an opportunity for it's conclusion MT. Dick will be followed by MT. Long and Alr. Hopkins in support of the bill, and probably by some of the democratic members of the committee on territories in opposition. Senator Foraker will press his amendment for separate vote for Arizona on admission. and will try to secure an agreement to vote at an early day but the friends of the bill as 1t stands will not concede that point until after further discussion, and probably not at any time unless there is agree ment to vote on the bill at the same time.
 Senator Clapp as chairman of the com mlttec on Indian affairs will try dur ing the week to secure action on the bill for the settlement of the affairs of the five civilized tribes but there is op- position to some of the provisions of that bill, and 1t is not improbable that there will be considerable debate on it. The Notifications appropriation bill will be reported during the week and prob- ably taken mp by the Senate.
 The delayed consideration of the army appropriation bill will be resumed as the chief topic of legislation in the House Of Representatives this week. Chairman Hull predicts that 1t will pass Thurs day.
 Compromise on Army Revision.
 compromise on the provision abolish ing the grade of lieutenant general in the army has been practically agreed up on whereby General Corbin and General Macarthur will be allowed to reach that rank before their retirement. It is un- derstood Mir Grosvenor will offer the compromise amendment, and that MT Hull will agree to it on the part of the military committee
 Monday will be devoted to the con- sideration of legislation for the District of Columbia. If there Is time after this order MT, Davidson will call up the