Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-16
AVOID TEsT OF STRENGTH
Both Factions in Senate COMMITTEES
Doubtful Over Railroad Bill

BY Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Feb. disagreement
to vote on a railroad rate bill tomorrow
i'm the senate committee on Interstate
commerce Is an issue that neither fac
tion on the question of judicial review
Of orders of the interstate commerce
commission seems inclined to force.
Neither knows the strength Of the
other, and unquestionably the Demo-
cratic members of the committee are
the balance of the power. Neither of
the Republican factions have issued
formal statements setting forth their
differences, but the Democrats in an
authorized statement from Senator
Bailey have made it clear than IAN ade-
quate bil'' must be reported or the mi
nority will have ~ measure OF its own.
In this statement, however, 1t is adj
mtted that the Democrats are divided
on the question of judicial review.
The members of the committee in
sisting on an amendment to the house
bill-Senators Elkins, Aldrich, Foraker,
Kean and Crane--do not believe the
amendment providing for any change in
the court of features of the bill can
be voted upon tomorrow. Senators Dol
liver and Clapp. the champions Of the
house bill in it's present form, are not
disposed to insist upon q vote. They
desire to have Senator Cullom paired
against amendment, but the conserva-
tive faction will not permit this If the
vote is postponed, as seems likely,
Senator Cullom may return to WASH
ington before a vote is taken. Different
reports are circulated concerning his
position, the conservatives admitting
the claim that he is against an amend
ment that would suspend an order of
the commission pending a review by
the courts but insisting that he is not
opposed to a more moderate amend
ment.
The positions will be outlined clearly
tomorrow even though a vote is not OBJ
tanned.
Late tonight it was stated that so far
no agreement has been reached on any
amendment, despite the fact that num-
erous conferences have been held dur
ing the day between the president,
members of the cabinet and senator's
to prepare a compromise draft.
Senator Aldrich, Senator Allison and
Secretary Taft conferred with the
president today concerning the alleged
necessity of an amendment providing
for judicial review. The secretary of
war has joined forces with conservative
senators in declaring that such an
amendment is required to make the bill
constitutional. Attorney General
Moody does not agree to this. 1t is
said that the president announced to-
day that he would like to see the
amendment proposed and submit it to
the attorney general before he indorses
any proposition to amend the house
bill.
Senator Bailey, who is the minority
floor leader in the absence of Senator
German, today explained the attitude
of Democratic senators. He said that
if bill is presented by the Republicans
which, in the opinion of the Democrats,
is inadequate to meet the demands of
the situation, the Democrats both in
the senate and in the committee will
not support it. In the event of a di-
vision of the Republicans, the Demo-
Gratis will support the bill presented by
the faction Offering that which comes
nearest to meeting the demands of the
He said that if no adequate
bill comes from any adequate Repub-
lican source then the Democrats will
present a bill of their own. From the
same authority it was learned that in
any bill presented all the Democrats
will unite in supporting provision that
express companies shall be placed
under the interstate commerce commits
sion Most of the Democrats will in
sist that Pullman cars also shall be in
cluded