The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-08
TILLMAN,DOLLIVER COALITION
Efforts TO GET ENOUGH VOTES
no ADOPT LONG AMENDMENT.
Tlllman Counts On rs 10 rs Democrats TO
Vote TO Insert q Restricted Judicial
Review Provision in Rate Bill. which
Is Virtually an Admission OF Defeat.

WASHINGTON. April mo doubt remains
that an active effort is being made to bring
about a coalition of the Democrats, led by
Senator Tillman, and the Republicans, led
hy Senator'S Dolliver and Long. for the
PURPOSE Of securing this adoption in the
Senate NJ Senator Longs amendment to
cirail the right OF the Federal courts to
review rate fixing orders OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission. A majority Of the
Democrats apparently favor the Long pro-
vision while the Republicans behind it
constitute only a small minority Of that
party in the Senate.
Senator Tillman made it plain to-day
that as there vera more Democrats than
Republicans for the limited review amend
ment the Democrats would insist on includ-
ing in the rate bill certain things that they
desired to see enacted into law. Mr.. Till
man set up the claim that twenty-five
Democrats could be depended on to vote
for restricted judicial review and a provision
forhiiding tho suspension by injunction
NI4'l III II We Va " A"NO AOi " NIiV y
state Commerce Commission while an appeal
from the COMMISSIONS action was pending
In the courts. It was possible, he said,
that twenty-eight Democrats could be
counted on. Granting even that he can
secure the higher number OF Democratic
votes, Mr., Tillman's statement is a virtual
admission of defeat, for the limited review
proposal at least. Seventeen Republican
votes you'd be required to aid the twenty
eight Democrats in putting the Long amend
ment into the Hepburn bill, and there is
every reason to believe that only sixteen
Republicans are certain to act with the
opposition party in this proposition.
It will take forty-ive votes, counting
pairs, to adopt the Long amendment.
There are fifty-ive Republican Senators
In good standing. OF these thirty-nine
or forty are opposed to limited court re-
view and it is claimed by the leaders of this
Republican majority that more. han ten,
perhaps as many as twenty, Democrats
are of the same view. While this estimate
Of Democratic detection is regarded as too
optimistic, a conservative reckoning in
cludes at least the five or six Democratic
votes necessary to give the Republican
mana cement the upper hand. But the
Republican leaders in the Senate are not
satisfied with having only a bare majority
at their command In opposition to re-
stricting the authority Of the courts. They
are working to secure a good margin of
votes, and from what they say it is apparent
that they are exceedingly hopeful of realiz-
ing the end they wish to attain.
Az soon as the amendment for a liberal
court review. which Senators Spooner and
Knox are engaged in drafting, has been
presented to the Senate it will be evident
that the conservative Senators are satisfied
that they have won the fight against the
Long amendment. These conservatives.
however, confident as they are Of having
the upper hand, have no desire to taxi
advantage Of their dominating position.
but are showing a spirit Of Cancellation in
seeking to eject an understanding by
which q liberal court review amendment
will be adopted by & good round majority.
They are willing, it is said, to go to the ex-
treme Of agreeing that the amendment
which they have in mind shall consist of
changes in the phraseology of the Long
amendment 80 that this proposition shall
form the framework for the new provision.
But the majority of the Republicans will
not agree to any amendment that does not
provide for liberal court review and they
think it is time that the rest Of the Senate
swoke to a realization of the futility of
endeavoring to pass a rate bill that provides
Tor restricting the rights of the judiciary.