The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-09
SENATE IN KNOT
OYER COAL ISSUE.
Clapp Only Cool Head in Long
Debate Over Rate Bill
Amendment.
BY w. w, Jernane,

III BY w. w. Jermane.
Washington, May o. hing could
tematic plan that pervades the senate
in its present consideration Of the rate
bill, and the freedom which this brings
from al suspicion of fiobbing ors COM
bination, than yesterdays rough and
tumble parliamentary scramble over the
coal-road amendment to the bill. i.
The senate tied itself up in a double
knot, stopped for a moment to contem-
plate itself in that attitude, then voted
on the question of whether,it really
was thus tied up, and this being de-
cided aftirmatively, then. took vote
on the question of whether it would be-
possible to untangle Itself, r
Finally the whole coal-roaa question,
at the suggestion of Senator Hale, was
sent over until today, in the hope that
few hours of careful thought and
other hours of sleep, would bring the
senate to a place where 1T could dis
pose Of the question in an: orderly and
intelligent fashion.
Scene of Disorder.
Nobody knew where he was or what
to do. Motions, amendments, substi-
tutes and all the other parliamentary
forms Of. procedure were tossed back
and forth across the ! chamber, and
the result was confusion worse con-
founded and convincing proof Of the
fact that the UnitedI I, States senate,
proudly called by its admirers "the
greatest deliberative : body in the
world,', coul Id be as undignifed and as
men, once it lost sight of some prear-
ranged program of action and cut loose
from its accustomed leadership.
1t. all came about over the PROPOSE
ton to put into the rate bill something
that would prevent the railways of the
country from dealing III coal in competi.
ton with private producers. Such an
amendment is to be made, and it may
come some day., but, it, was. apparent
yesterday that the senate had not con.
sidered the question of phraseology sui
wisdom.
Clapp Pleads for Amendment.
During the unusual parliamentary
mix-up which followed the effort tc
close up the matter yesterday, it looked
for a time as if the amendment, althc
clearly favored by a large majority Of
the senate, would be defeated and the
bill passed without it, 80 49,.
This situation brought Senator Clapr
of Minnesota to his feet for an i'm
passioned speech of fifteen minutes
which was almost the only fash of san
ity and clear-headedness of the entire
day. 1> !. 49,.
Mr.. Clapp said that one of the great
est Of modern railway managers, prob
ably referring to James J. Hill, ha<
said that the business Of railroadin}
ought to be divorced from the business
l, L,
senate. committee last year had al
shown this to be The fopinion of lead
ing men;7of, the, country generally TIL
people were expecting an amehdmen
providing for this diVoyeel toobe incor
poEEated in the P Pe39d bf End wo %l
question waspnow before the, senate
and the responsibility for action was
therefore, on that body: The countr,
was watching it to see what would b.
done.
Nobody questioned the fact that
gross abuses have resulted from tn
combination of carrying with produc
ton, said Mr.. Clapp. Those abuse
ought to be wiped out, and for one h
did not propose to permit parliamentary,
tangles and differences of opinion be
tween senators as to phraseology t.
deter him from pressing forward in tn
direction Of satisfactory action.
> The Only "Cool Head.''
It was very apparent from the sen
ator's manner that he was in earnes
| and that he, at least, had not lost hi
, head as the result Of the parliamentar.
chaos.
Usually, the senate, before it prc
ceeds to the consideration of as sc
rious question as that involved in tn
rate bill, gets together and decides on
course Of action. The majority on tn
other, know precisely what they ar
3 to do. * 4 .-'.. -
$ Such policy enables the senate t
: preserve that dignity for which it
e celebrated. But when it is compelled
Y owing to break up of alignment 0
s both sides of the chamber, to take hol
8 Of an important question without
s chance to confer and to arrange prt
: gram, confusion results, as was tn
: case yesterday. ~..
s It is now said that the agreemer
j. regarding the court review section {
8 the bill has been positively made. Al
: ditional conferences, in which all fa
tions on the republican side of tn
chamber were represented, have bee
held within the past twentyfour hour
and the result is said to be that a yer
satisfactory basis of agreement hs
been reached.
'sFairly Remunerative' Goes.
The words "fairly remunerative
section Of the bill are to be stricke
out. The words Gin it's judgment'
: the same section are to be retaine
Jurisdiction is to be given circuit cour
d to hear all appeals from the commi
sion's orders. No preliminary injun
ton is to be granted without a hea
ing. The application for such an i
junction must be made before thr
Judges. A direct appeal from the d
cision Of the court is to lie to the s
preme court.
Under the amendments as agreed
at the republican conference, the int
g. state commerce commission will ha'
"a authority to fix "just and reasonable
u rates in. the place Of crates complain
I'd Of and found to be unjust. There is
10 be an appeal to the circuit courts, viii
n are given jurisdiction over the comm
e sion's acts, but safeguards are 8
d.. around the right Of appeal. For j
id stance, no injunction can issue unle
IS. three circuit judges shall consent, al
r then only after due notice and appes
le ing. E~=
e. Makes Review Safeguard.
in The appeal from the circuit court
ey to be straight to the supreme court, t
expeditiOn act of several wears ago