The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-17
SITUATION ON The RATE BILL.
CONFERENCE or DEMOCRATIC
SENATOR'S TO BE HELD.

The Necessary signatures We're Obtained
Ye~sterday-The President Accepts
Democratic Amendments for q Limited
curt Review and Firty-three Votes
Are Claimed for Such n Provision.
WARRINGTON, April 16.-The rate bill
situation took on a new phase to-day, when
there was a successful renewal Of the Ell ort
to secure a conference of the entire Demo-
cratic membership in the Senate for the pur-
pose OF determining what the course OF the
Democrats should be with respect to the
pending measure. When the suggestion OF
a Democratic conference was first made a
week or so ago 1t was not encoura ged and
was presumed to have been abandoned.
To-day, however, the advocates OF the idea
managed to secure the number OF signatures
necessary to have the conference called.
The principal development of the day
was the announcement that President
Roosevelt had accepted in part the amend
ment OF Senator Bailey, the Democratic
leader, providing that a rate fixed by the
Interstate Commerce Commission should
not be suspended by any inferior court
pending the determination OF an appeal
from tho commission's action. The Presi-
dent, 1t was stated, was in favor Of the no
suspension clause OF Mr.. Bailey's amend
ment, but opposed to the provision contained
In 1t for q broad court review. II was stated
also hat II it we're found impossible to
secure the adoption Of Mr.. Bailey's amend
ment In the modified form mentioned the
President would prefer the amendment OF
Senator Mallory Of Florida along the same
lines, and, failing that, the amendment for
%expediting judicia. hearings In rate cases
offered by Senator Simmons Of North Caro-
lima. Both Mallory and Simmons are Demo-
Gratis.
ton among the Democrats claim that they
have made q canvass of the Senate with
the result Of asoertaining that "a Repub:
lcans and 20 Democrats are in favor OF
limiting the reviewing. power OF the courts
over rate fixing. orders. These figures
differ materially from these OF the liberal
review Republicans, who still maintain
that they lave 80 or 40 Republicans and
about 10 Democrats on their side. A ma.
jority Of h Senate is as. 1t is admitted
by the radical Democrats that Senators
Morgan and Pettus OF Alabama and Sena-
tors MoEnery and Foster Of Louisiana are
for a liberal court review. They decline
to conoede any more Of their number.
The conservative Republicans laugh at
the claim that twenty:four of their party
vision. They say that fifteen is nearer the
number.
1t is evident that the attempt Is being
renewed to form a coalition OF the Republic
can and the Democrats who favor limiting
the authority Of the courts over the orders
of the Interstate Commerce Commission
The conference of the Democrats Is mainly
for the purpose OF trying to agree upon a
limited review amendment.
Republican Senators said to-day that
should the Democrats decide to act as a
party the effect would be to bring into the
ank of the Republican conservatives
several Of their party colleagues who are
now understood to be in favor Of a limited
review. Senators Nelson of Minnesota and
Long OF Kansas, both limited review Re-
publicans, had conferences to-day with
Democratic Senators, and said afterward
that several Democratic converts to the
Long amendment to curtail the authority
Of the courts over rates had been made.