The Elbert County tribune., 1906-05-24
WINS In SENATE.
VOTE FOR RAILROAD RATE BILL
ALMOST UNANIMOUS.
ENDING OF LONG CONTEST
Only Three Senators Vote Against the
Hepburn Bill as Amended-one Re-
puhlican and Two Democrats.

Hepburn Bill as Amended-One Re-
publican and Two Democrats.
Washington.-After seventy days OF
almost continuous deliberation, the
Senate at A. SO p. m. Friday passed the
railroad rate bill by the practically
unanimous vote of IL TO 3.
The three negative votes were cast
by Senators Foraker. Republican. OF
Ohio: Morgan and Pettus, Democrats,
of Alabama.
There was a somewhat larger at
tendance of Senators than usual, but
the attendance in the galleries was by
no means abnormal, and there was no
manifestation of any kind when the
result was announced. There was,
however, an almost general sigh OF re-
lief among the Senators.
In addition to passing the bill, the
proceedings consisted of concluding
the consideration of amendments as
such and the delivery of number or
speeches on the bill. The only amend
ment adopted was the one offered
| Thursday by Senator Teller eliminat-
| ing the words ''ip its judgment" from
| the power given to the Interstate
| Commerce Commission to fix rates.
The bill has received more attention
from the Senate and from the country
at large than any measure that has
been before Congress since the repeal
| of the purchasing clause of the Sher-
man act in 1898.
1t was reported to the Senate Febru-
| ary Goth and was made the unfinished
| business March 18th. From March 18th
| to May 4th the bill was under general
discussion without limitation on the
duration OF speeches, fifty-eight of
which were delivered. Many of these
were prepared with great care. and two
| of them consumed more than day.
| time in delivery. Senator La Toilette,
the junior senator from Wisconsin,
spoke for three days, and Senator
Daniel of Virginia for two days. Sen
ators Bailey. Foraker, Lodge, Rainey,
| Dolliver and others each spoke for an
| entire day.
For twelve days the bill has been
under consideration under a rule limit.
ing speeches to fifteen minutes each
| The debate at all times has been ear.
nest and animated, but for the most
| part devoid of personality as between
| senators, the past few days, however
| having called out some caustic cri
| ticisms of the President and of some
newspaper correspondents by Senator
Bailey.
The principal purpose of the rate
bill passed Friday is to permit the In
| terstate Commerce Commission to fix
rates. The provision which confers
this authority is found in the fourth
! section of the bill, which amends sec
tion 15 of the interstate commerce law
SO as to investigate complaints of un
| just or unreasonable charges on the
| part of the common carriers in the
-trtt ~
| or of regulations or of practices af
fecting such charges. 1t also author
ICES an inquiry as to whether the rates
or practices are prejudicial or other
wise in violation of the act, and in case
any of these conditions are found tc
exist, the commission is empowered tc
| determine and prescribe what will be
the just and reasonable maximum rate
| and what regulation or practice Is
| just, reasonable and fair.
| Further, authority is given the com
mission to enforce its orders. and they
are to go into effect within thirty
days and continue in force for two
| years unless suspended, modified OIL
set aside by the commission or by a
court of competent jurisdiction.
Other powers conferred by this sec
tion are to apportion joint fares, es
| taDllSn through routes and maximum
| joint rates and prescribe their division
and to determine the compensation tc
be paid to shippers doing service fol
| carriers.
| Section 16 of the present law is sc
changed as to provide for an award oi
| pecuniary damages to complainants
found entitled. and in case payment is
not promptly made in accordance with
this award the beneficiary is author
lied to file suit in a United States cir
cult court to compel compliance. The
| finding of the commission is to be re
ceived as prima facie evidence of the
facts in such suits, and the petitioner
is absolyed from all liability for acts.
| Another provision renders legal the
| service of the orders of the commits
sion through the mails and provides
| that these orders shall take effec,
thirty days after service unless sus
pended or modified by the commission
or suspended or set aside by the
| courts.
A penalty of $1,000 for each offense
in disobedience of the order is i'm
posed, and the penalty is to accumu
late at the rate of $4,000 a day in case
of continuous violation.