The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-27
L"NRHDMENFS 10 RATE BILL
NJ RROHIBITS RAILROADS FROM
ISSUING PASSES.


Another Prohibits Them, Under Heavy
Hlne, From Contributing to Campaign
observation-disclosures TO He Voted on
Five or Six Days Before Vote on Bill.
WASHINGTON, March 26.-1ndications that
the debate in the Senate on the Hepburn
rate bill was tagging prompted Mr.. Tilhran,
in charge Of that measure, to give notice
to-day that he would tomorrow ask that a
day be fixed for a final vote on its passage
and that Eve or six days prior thereto be
devoted to the consideration OF amend
ments under the ten minute rule.
This announcement followed a set speech
delivered by Mr.. 0verman Of North Caro-
lima, who favored a court review provision;
and the discussion which then arose over
amendments proposed by Senator Foraker
to provide penalties for giving passes and
by Senator Culberson TO prohibit campaign
contributions by railroads. Neither OF
these amendments received action because,
according to the custom that has grown
upI 1t was supposed they would be dis
posed Of on the day Of the final vote on the
bill and many Senators In that belief were
absent. Mr.. Tillman hoped that the Senate
tomorrow would be prepared to consider
and dispose of some Of the pending amend
ments.
Mr.. Foraker proposed an amendment
prohibiting under penalty OF fine up to
1000 any railroad from issuing passes to
any one except its own employees, and pro-
viding that the private cara OF the officers
Of one road should not be hauled free on
other roads, but should pay the same as
others for like service. He asked MIR.
Tillman, in charge of the bill, II he would
accept the amendment.
Mr.. Tilman, recalling the peculiar con-
ditions under which the bill was reported,
doubted his power to accept amendments
on behalf Of the committee. He favored
the amendment, however.
Messrs. Culberson and Fulton having
suggested that free tickets and free trans
portation be added to the prohibition, Mr..
Tillman remarked that Mr.. La Toilette also
had In process Of incubation an anti-pass
provision far more drastic than those
already proposed. He suggested that
Messrs. Foraker, Culberson, Fulton and
La Toilette get together, agree upon a
separate bill prohibiting passes and have
it passed by unanimous consent Tn
suggestion, however, was not accepted and
the amendment went over.
The same fate met an amendment pro-
posed by Mr.. Culberson prohibiting rail-
roads under $40, 900 fine from contributing
to campaign funds, in addition to fines
double their contributions and lmprlson-
ment for offending officials.
A long discussion of the method OF pro-
cedure with regard to amendments followed,
more than a dozen Senators contributing
Mr.. Tillman, out Of regard to the absent
Senators, thought no amendments should
be voted on to-day, they supposing, on the
not be reached until the day fixed for voting
on the bill.
1t developed. however, that the rules
permitted amendments to be acted on at
any time. He therefore gave notice that
tomorrow he would suggest, il the Senate
the numerous amendments be taken up,
discussed and disposed Of. He did not
like the usual method OF disposing OF the
amendments on the day the bill was voted
~on-"shooting them like birds" He there
fore proposed that two or three days before
the final vote on the bill be devoted to the
consideration Of amendments under the
ten minute rule.
Mr.. Hale of Maine thought the time
should be enlarged to five or six days, and
spoke Of the amendments, some OF them
being of even greater Importance than the
bill itself. He suggested that MIR. 1lllman
prepare an order fixing the time at five or
six days and prescribing the manner OF
considering the pending amendments.
This was accepted by Mr.. Tillman, who
gave notice that tomorrow, when there
was q full attendance Of Senators, he would
p 1t, and would also ask the Senate
TO fix a date for taking a final vote on the
Hepburn bill.
The days debate was closed by Mr..
Teller Of Colorado with some remarks
against the Historical attacks Of certain
magazines upon the Senate for failure
to pass the Esch-Townsend bill last session
and the supposed delay in passing the Hep
burn bill.