The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-19
RAILROAD RATE ...... ].
B|Ll PASSED.

the galleries when Mr.. Lafolette address,
ed the chair. 1t was expected that ne
would take a leading part In framing
rate legislation. lie had achieved a. ma
tionnl reputation BY reason OF great
fight he had made and won against the
railroads OF his own State, and his speech
delivered In the Senate some weeks ago
evidenced familiarity with the entire
subject Of railway management such as
was shown by no other senator: II
But when 1t came. to voting for amend
ments to the bill. the attitude Of Mr..
La1rollette's colleagues towards their
Wisconsin brother was plainly manifest.
Every proposition emanating from him
for the Improvement and strengthening
Of the bill was voted down with such
persstency by the senators on the Re-
publican side that It was evident that he
was being disciplined. Every time an
amendment would be proposed BY Mr..
iLaFollette, Senator Hale, Of N[ane,t would
rise and solemnly move to lay it on the
table, and It went to: the table with un.
broken regularity until to-day. when%an
amendment proposed BY the Wisconsin
senator to ALLOW officers Of railway
unions to ride on passes was adopted.
Mr.. LaFollette declared with utmost
emphasis that the bill about to be en-
acted carried out the wishes Of the Presi-
dent as expressed In his message.
',rhe bill Is not as good as 1t ought
to have been, and not as good as t could
have been made, but 1t is a great I'M
provement on the old law, and shall
vote for It" 1t was with this sentence
that Mr. Bailey begun his speech, fol-
lowing Mr.. LaFollette.
Will Be Benefit.
The general opinion OF Democratic sena-
tors is that the bill is not what It should
be, but that It will prove Of benefit to the
shipper. There are many grave doubts
as to Its constitutionality, and these
doubts are BY no means confined to tho
Democratic SIDE
Il believe the bill is constitutional"
snid Senator Martin tonight. IT believe
the bill will prove Of benefit to the coun
try / do not believe the measure Is
what it could have been made In the
way of benentting the shipper and do
not believe It is what Is demanded by
the country. But 1t Is a considerable
step In the right direction. 7 do not like
the broad court review provision OF tho
bill and voted for the Bailey amendment.
limiting the power of the courts IN the
matter OF granting in1unctions suspend
ing orders OF the commission l5ut | 40
not think the court review section Is
unconstitutional.
Tho best feature Of the bill, In my
opinion, is the provion, prohibiting rail-
road companies from owning coal ian ~ ).
Certainly II not the most benellclal, TINS
provision Is Of very great importance TO
the people Of Virginia. h3 nj, iarli,
IT regret that the Senate dld. not aaop'
the amendment increasing the commits
sion ia nine members, one to be chosen
from each Of the judicial Of the cir
cults Of the country. The duties ara re'
sronsibiltles OF the commission are I'M.
measurably Increased by tho BILL aud
mn Increase In tho size of the BODY is
almost necessity. hope the l1ouse
will restore the provision OF the Hepburn
bin making the commission to consist
OF seven members at least.
Great Debate. aji,
Tho rate bill has received more atten'
tion from the Senate and from the coun'
try at large that any measure that mas
be en- before Congress since the repea
OF the purchasing clause OF the sherman
act In 1893. It was reported tho sen
ate on February 26th, and was made the
unfinished business on March l2th. From
March 12th to May 4th the Dill was
under discussion, without Limitation or
| the duration OF speeches., lh|y-elshI "
| which were delivered.
MANY OF these were prepared with great
| care, and two Of them consumed more
| than n days time In delivering, Senator
| LaFollette, tho junior senator from WIS
consin spoke for three days, and Senator
Daniel, of Virginia. for two days, sena,
tors Bailey, Foraker Lodge, RaNner and
others each spoke for one entire day
For twelve days the bill has been under
consideration under rule limiting speeches
| to fifteen minutes each.
| Tho debate has been nt times earnest
| and animated, but for the most part de-
void of personality us between senators
| the past few days having called out somt
| caustic criticisms Of the President ant
OF some newspaper correspondents ny
Senator Bailey,