Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-25
HEPBURN RATE BILL
No Disposition to FactiousIy
-, Delay Action.
TllLMAN'S PET AMENDMENT
There Will Be No Serious Resistance
to 1t.
MAY POSTPONE ADJOURNMENT
Bill Must Be Perfected in Open SEN
ate, Which is a Tedious
Process.
TILLMAN'S PET AMENDMENT
MAY POSTPONE ADJOURNMENT

II was authoritatvely stated yesterday
by the Senate republicans who favor
amendment of the Hepburn bill that there
Is no disposition on their part to factiously
hamper or delay action on that measure in
the Senate. The fact that they do not
favor the bill In its present shape does not
mean that they propose to throw any OBJ
stacles in the way of its speedy cOnsidera-
tion. Their amendments will be offered,
discussed and suffer whatever fate a ma
Jority of the Senate DEGREES for them.
Monday morning conference of repub-
ilcan leaders will be held to prepare the
way for consideration of the bill In the Sem
ate. Present disposition among some OF
the leaders is to cause the bill TO be made
the unfinished business of the Senate, so
that It can be taken up just as soon as
senators are ready to proceed with debate
and have prepared the amendments they
propose TO offer.
Tillman's Pet Amendment.
1t was further stated yesterday by
prominent republican senators that proba-
bly, there will be no serious resistance to
Senator Tilman's proposed pet amend
ment-a clause prohibiting railroads from
owning or controlling coal properties. In
point of fact. many republican senator's
think the amendment is well taken, and
that it is in line with public policy to pro-
Ljhit jhe monopoly or even control of the
coal taud oiD products by the railways
which transport the products Of the mines
and wells.
For one thing if the Senate does not
ADOPT such an amendment 1t IS practically
certain the House win put it on when the
bill goes back with the right of amend
menJ unrestricted. So conservative re-
publican in the House as Gen. Grosvenor
OF ONO fayors the coal amendment. and he
Is supported by a strong following on both
sides Of the House.
In the Senate senator Aldch who is re-
garded as something OF a conservative, has
expressed tie opinion that the coal amend
ment would be adopted, and added that 1t
ought TO he. 1t is thought that four
nfths of The Senate at least. agree with
him. The decision Of the United states Su-
preme Court last Monday in the Chesa-
peake and Ohio case, while not going
directly 10 the question of ownership OF
coal properties by railroads, unmistaklbly
indicated the temper of the court with re-
spec, 10 the Utilization of that ownership
TO discriminate IN freight rates against in
UiVidual owners Of coal lands. 1t is
thought there will be no question as to the
validity of the proposed Tillmau amend
me1t
There is said to he no probability OF the
democrats combining 10 prevent amend
meut Of the bill. Too many democrats
have amendments I'm hand. Four Of the
democrats i'm the Senate committee who
voted out the unameuded Hepburn bill have
their pockets bulging out with amendments
ana found tudt way the least emb ARA sSlng
method to have them considered.
The confidential print. for use of the COM
mittee. OF the amendments pending IN com
mittee. showed there Were forty-eighj. Tney
were offered by democrats and republicans
iudiscriminatcly. and nearly every member
OF the committee had some idea which he
desired 20 incorporate I'm the bill.
May Delay Adjournment
one feature of the situation over the rate
b!il is that it may delay adjournment OF
Congress. Speaker Cannon expressed the
opinion a week ago that Congress might
get away by May II. That was based
upon the prospect of the committee agree
ing on a judicial review amendment and
bringing the bill into the Senate practically
in a perfected condition IN which event
democrats and republicans alike would
have been interested in fighting off amend
ments
That is al changed now The BIZ must
be perfected I'm open Senate and without
h.ibustering which is expressly disclaimed,
IL Will be a tedious process at best one
guess now as 10 the date of adjournment
Will be as good as another.
At the Capitol yesterday there was some
discussion of the probable effect upon Sen
ator TillmsGs future OF his enforced cap
taiuship of the Hepburn hill- The opinion
was freely expressed that this is an excel
lent opportunity for him to make a new
record and that he will avail himself Of IL.
Ills friends. and hc has sincere friends on
both sides of the chamber. chafe over his
reputation as "a 'pitChfoTkcT' and 'fire-
brand They say they know the man has
IL lu him 90 rise TO higher estate. and they
are looking for him 90 demonstrate it now.