The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-02-16
HOUSE PASSES
HEPBURN BILL.
Only Seven Votes Cast IN 0ppoSi-
sition, ALI By Republicans.
DEMOCRATS STOOD PAT.
Applause Greeted Announcement of
Vote Summary Of Provisions Of
Measure--PenSion Bill Also Passed.

The house Thursday passed the.
Hepburn railroad rate bill. Three
hundred and forty-six members voted
for the bill; seven, all republicans,
yotSd against it. Applause greeted
the announcement Of the result by
the speaker Those who voted against
the bill were Littlefeld of Maine; Nc
Call and Weeks of Massachusetts;
Perkins, Southwick and Vreeland Of
New York and Sibley Of Pennsylva-
MIA.
Mr.. Sullivan of Massachusetts voted
present" and was not paired. There
were % members paired, but these
pairs were generally political ones.
None Of them was made on the bill,
and did not consequently indicate
opposition.
The following is a summary of the
provisions of the BILL
The bill, according to Mr.. Hepburn's
statement, in closing the debate on
the measure, was introduced, and did,
so far as it could be made, he said,
comply specifically with the recon-
mendations Of President Roosevelt on
the question. 1t gives the interstate
commerce commission, when rate
has been complained of as "unrea-
sonable" by shipper, to investigate
the rate, state whether or not it is
unreasonable, and, if found to be I'M
reasonable, to name rate which is
to be just and reasonable and fairly
remunerative, which Is to be the maxi
mum rate to be charged. This rate
so fixed is to go into effect thirty days
after it is announced by the commits
sion, subject during that time to be
set aside or suspended by the COM
mission or by the courts. After it has
gone into effect, it is to remain the
rate for three years. During this time
the opinion has been expressed by
those who have participated in the de-
bate that the rate may also be re-
viewed by the courts, and if found
to be in conflict either with the terms
of the act or with the constitution
by being confscatory, can be set aside
by the courts.
Another important feature is the
definition Of the words railroad" and
transportation in a manner to in
clude all auxiliary instrumentalities
of the common carrier, and to bring
them within the control Of the COM
mission. This power to name a rea-
sonable rate, and the inclusion of the
auxiliaries within the jurisdiction OF
the commission are said to be the
new features
All other provisions are modifica-
tons of existing law. They include
publicity of railroad methods, which
is to be aided by prescribing a sys-
tenn of bookkeeping and charging the.
commission to seven members and
increasing salaries of members to $780,
900 year.
The pension appropriation bill, car
rying $139,000,000 for pensions and
$1,245,000 for pension administration,
was taken up, debated and passed
without Amendments The feature Of
the bill, aside from the appropriation
made is a provision making statute
law of the famous order of the pres
ident declaring age evidence of dis
ability.
Mr.. Garrett Of Tennessee advocated
higher pensions for Mexican war vet.
Grams. 1t would be most graceful
act to increase these pensions to $2U
q month. This would entail an added
annual cost Of but S415,OOO.
A number of bills were passed at
the close of the day, including one
providing a penalty of $4,000 and ten
years Imprisonment for the premature
revelation Of government information
which might have a bearing on the
market price of commodities, the same
penalty being provided against gov
eminent employees who speculate in
commodities regarding which the gov
eminent furnishes statistics.