The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-24

if that was the situation it should be made part of the motion. The result was as stated before.
 Speculation as to Precedence.
 In spite of the fact that the Senate was not in session today nearly all of the senators were drawn to the capitol by the contest in the interstate commerce commission. As soon as the result was known speculation began as to the prop able procedure on the floor. It was pre- dicted that there would be delays ana all sorts of obstructive tactics used. This was contradlcted. however, by Senators Aldrich and Crane and other leading sena- tors not members of the interstate com merce committed They said they would favor seeking an agreement whereby the bill could be placed on the calendar as the unfinished business ahead of the state hood bill They said they thought the prominence given the railroad rate ques- ton. and the interest in the people or the whole United States have taken in it. entitled the question to early con- sideration. It was agreed, however, on all sides, that the discussion must be pro- longed and that undoubtedly 1t will be as bitter as any that has ever taken place in the Senate. All factions conced- ing the Hepburn bill will pass the Sen ate, the only contest will be over an effort to incorporate Into the bill some provi- sion for court review of orders of the ln- terstate commerce commission.
 In discussing the action of the com mttee Senator Deliver tonight said;
 Deliver Is Satisfied.
 "The action of the Senate committee Is entirely satisfactory to me. The one thing about 1t which Is important is the Pa. f1 ufbfp House of Representatives passed with only seven dissenting votes, on the cal endar of the Senate where nothing can happen to it which does not happen in broad daylight after full public discus sion."
 The senators who favor this legislation care nothing who reports It. Their in- terest is to get 1t passed and acted upon in an open and straightforward way.
 Senators Aldrich and Crane authorized the statement that four of the five re- publicans wno cast their votes againAt the bill would have voted for it if 1t had contained the addition of a provision for review by the courts of the findings of the commission. They are Messrs. Elkins. Aldrich, Kean and Crane
 Senator Foraker is opposed to the prin- ciple involved and would have voted against it even with the court provision duutQs put Wllil llicl duulllOi HIS WC1Ao have been the only negative vote.
 Senator Tillman, who was designated by the committee to report the Hepburn bill, said after the committee adjourned;
 TilIman Comments on Action.
 Tt was an unexepcted and in one sense an undesirable honor and responsibility that was thrust upon me. As far as am able I will endeavor to secure the passage of the bill through the Senate with such amendments as will make 1t more acceptable to the business interests of the country and remedy the evils which have produced such widespread agitation. The policy is essentially democratic. The proposed bill had the unanimous support of the democrats of the House. and hope that with few slight amendments it will get the same support in the Sen ate"
 Senator Tillman said one of the essen tial amendments he would endeavor to procure, looked to "the absolute divorce of public carriers, as such, from the pro ducton of coal as miners, which condt- ton of monoply has created such strong feeling of dissatisfaction and anger in the bituminous and anthracite coal regions ' The senator drafted an amendment cov- ering this point He said that something ought to be done to compel the trunk 1 lines to make connection with spurs and feeding lines and give them fair treat ment in the distribution of cars and offer equal facilities with other shippers. l Senator Tillman stated that In making the report on the bill he would not pre- pare formal analysis for presentation to | the Senate, but that the report would simply transmit the action to the Senate, 1 together with the synopsis of the testl- mony taken before the committee. Sena- l tor Ell1ins characterized it as "a sole csm" to have a democrat report from a republican commmittee to a republican Senate a bill which had been reported by republican committee in the House and passed by a republican house. He be- lieved that the bill should have been In charge of Senator Deliver, who had 1n- sisted that it be reported as 1t came rom the House, and especially as 1t was hnal- l ly reported in that shape.