The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-27
BILL IN THE SENATE
PULLMAN REPORTS THE RATE REG.
 ULATI0N MEASURE.
Senator AIdrfch Explains the Attitude of fhc Opposing Republicans of the Comnittee--rndian Bill
 Considered.

Washington. Feb. 26.-The Hepburn railroad rate bill was reported to the Senate today by Senator Tiliman in &C., cordance of the Senate Committee on Interstate Commerce last Friday. Large crowds assembled in the galleries an- tieipating. field day of debate. but were disappointed. There was little of interest in the proceedings regard ing the bill.
 A brief statement from Mir Tillman with the necessary arrangement for printing the report of the hearings be- fore the committee and q promise that q formal report would be made later was followed by q few remarks from MT. Aldrich showing the position of the five Republicans who opposed the bill as reported. MT. Aldrich indicated that there would be no unnecessary delay but that the bill would be dis cussed in accordance with its import ance.
 Mir. Clapp asked for immediate con sideration of the bill for the final dis position of the affairs of the five civ- ilized tribes and argued that unless the bill was passed before Sunday there would be embarrassing complica- tions for the reason that thestribal re- lations come to an end at that time by existing law.
 MT. Foraker objected on the ground that it would interfere with the State hood bill.
 Mir. Bailey said there were amend ments made to the bill in the commit tee which overrule opinions of the courts and the views of the Attorney General and that it would be impossible to pass 1t by March {. He though, that enough of 1t could be passed, how ever. to continue the tribal relations temporarily. As an objection to the bill that would have to be debated Mir. Bailey mentioned the provision in relating to the disposition of coal lands and he thought legislation would be adopted to prevent these lands from passing to the railroads which had been given grants for their rights of way across Indian Territory He esti- mated that the lands involved millions of dollars that could be saved to a school fund. with the proper legisla- tion.
 Mir spooner said that he had dis cussed the bill with the Secretary of the Interior and had gained the im- pression that the limitation on the. time for the sale of the coal lands had been placed in the bill flor some sinister motive"
 Objection to this statement was promptly made by Mir Clark (wyo. and MT. Teller (Col)
 After these statements had bcen made it was agreed that the bill should be considered daily during the morning hour until disposed of.
 Mir. Hepburn moved to amend the bill by striking out everything except sec tion twenty-eight which provides for continuance of tribal relations until March 4. 1907. No action was taken concerning the motion, and Mir. Long gave notice that he would argue against the retention of this section. The bill was then read for committee amend ments
 When the amendment prohibiting en- rollment of children of two white par ents. one or both of whom Is enrolled as member of the tribes, was reached. Mir. Bailey said he understood that the attorney general had ruled that the amendment was unnecessary to prevent such enrollments. The amendment was agreed to.
 The Vice. President laid before the Senate the message from the House an nouncing its passage of the Gillespie Tillman resolution requesting the In- terstate Commerce Commission to in vestigate the relations of the railroads with the production of bituminous and anthracite coal and oil.
 MT. Tillman moved to concur in the House amendment, which passed the resolution. It now goes to the Presl- dent.
 The unfinished business, the State hood bill, was laid before the Senate, and MT. Dick renewed his speech began a week ago in support of the measure MT. Dick defended the Mexican people of New Mexico against what he char acterized as the aspersions of the anti statehood element of Arizona, saying that these people were law abiding and worthy of becoming citizens of an American State.
 The Senate then passed the following bills: Legallzing the removal of the county seat of Washita county. Ok, from Cloud Chief to New Cordell; au- thorizing a public building at Green vile. Texas. at Q cost of $70.0O0.
 At p. m. the Senate went Into exec utive session and at 5;07 adjourned