Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-05-01
SENATE WILL VOTE FRIDAY
Agreement to End General Debate on Rate
Bill that Day.
AMENDMENTS WILL BE TAKEN UP
Each VIII BE Discussed Under
Fifteen Minute Rule Until
Debate f. Exc
hausted.

WASHINGTON, April 30.-The senate
will begin voting on the amendments to
the railroad rate bill on Friday, May 4.
An agreement to that effect was reached
today, but It proved impossible to so ex-
tend the understanding as to have IL in
clude the fixing of a date for taking
final vote on the bill as whole. Mr..
Tillman first proposed final vote on May
., and Mr. Morgan was the only senator
to make objection. His opposition was
sufficient, however, to frustrate the de-
sign and the next most feasible course,
the disposition of amendments, was de-
cided upon The general impression
among senators Is that the final vote
will be reached within a week from the
time of the beginning OF the considera-
| ton Of amendments. Most of the time
Of the senate today was devoted to lis
tening to speech by Mr. Clarke OF
Arkansas, he characterized the pending
rate bill as ineffective in correcting ex-
isting conditions
The house bill appropriating S17O,O0 for
! the emergency needs Of the Navy depart
ment at Mare Island and for the postal
service at San Francisco, made necessary
by the recent earthquake, was passed by
the senate when it convened today. Mr.
| Daniel gave notice that tomorrow he
would address the senate on the rate bill.
| A house bill authorizing the Central
| Canal 4 Irrigation company to divert
waters from the Sacramento river, Call
fornia, was passed
The railroad rate bill was called up by
Mr.. Tillman and Mr.. Clarke (Ark) made
a speech on the measure.
| The speech of Mr.. Clarke was directed
TO the several legislative questions I'm con-
troversy He stated at the outset that in
his opinion the pending bill was not in
accordance with the demands of the public
and IL passed the public would get very
bad impression of the capacity of congress
to correct existing evils with the carrier
service.
The Arkansas senator took up the sub
| iect that had been debated by Messrs.
| Bailey and Spooner to whether congress
had the power to limit the granting of pre-
liminary injunctions and he said that un-
less some better authority was brought
forward than that presented by the Wis
consin senator the assault upon Mr.. Ball
ey's contention could not be upheld. Mr..
Clarke said he would not make whole
sale attack upon the issue of injunctions,
for he believed the injunction TO be a
wholesome power. but he was convinced
that congress could say in certain cases
preliminary injunctiOns cannot be granted.
Mr. Clarke contended that congress had
power 10 issue preliminary injunctions in
certain cases and any rate bill should. go
out relieved of the possibility of judicial
interference with the findings of the COM
mission. He also bef Cd that the only
judicial question involved IN the matter OF
rate axing was the question of just COM
pensation and that the courts could exer-
else jurisdiction on no other point. He
thought there should be not only valua-
tion of the roads, but that the compensa-
tion should be fixed at say 6 per cent. In
the cases OF the more valuable roads he
would arrive at correct return by de-
termining the value of the property.
What would you do with roads that
make nothing?" inquired Mr.. Foraker.
Turn them over to somebody that could
make money out of them" responded Mr.
Clarke.
He admitted that there might be cases
in which It would be impossible to find a
feasible scheme of making the roads pay
the stockholders.
Agreement to End Debate.
Mr Tillman suggested May for the
date for taking the vote on the railroad rate
bill.
The request brought out suggestions from
objection to naming a date until Mr.
Morgan was heard. He said he would not
oppose an effort to fix day for beginning
the consideration OF the bill section by sec
ton. but that he would not agree to naming
time for the final vote. After further
discussion unanimous consent was secured
to have the general debate cease on Thurs
day. May 3, and to have the bill taken VI
by sections with the beginning of the ses'
, sfuuas Friday, with the understanding thai
frofa that time forward amendments shal
, be considered under the rule limiting the
speeches TO fifteen minutes in duration, th'
/ vote on each amendment TO be taken wher
the debate is exhausted.
THANK the Lord for that!' exclaimed
Mr.. Frye. with a sigh Of. relief evidently
voicing the sentiment OF the entire senate
After an executive session the senate
adfOurned