Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-02-07
VOTE ON RATE BILL TODAY
House Agrees to Take Final Action on
Measure at 4i30 O'CLOCK.
SEVENTEEN spEgcHEs DURING DM
All of Them Are In Favor of
Pending bill ard Railroads
Arc Generally Crit
icised.

WASHINGTON, Feb. G.-Having fixed the
END OF the general debate on the rate bill
at 4:SO O'Clock tomorrow, tue recognition
OF the cnar was passed around at a lively
rate In the house today. Seventeen speeches
were made, all of them for the measure.
The railroads came In for an unusual
amount OF criticism. MIR. Gillespie trex.)
expressed his dissatisfaction with the reply
to ms resolution hintlng at a combination
between tho Pennsylvania and other rail-
roads. He will ADDRESS request to the
president to have the interstate Commerce
commission make a thorough investigation
along lines ne will indicate TO clear up
this subject MIR. Gaines of West Virginia
placed in the record evidences of combina-
lions OF roads to control the coal output
of his state and a traffic agreement be-
tween many southern roads and steamship
lines Indicating division of the territory
to control business. He said 1t was be-
cause competition had ceased already that
the pending bill was demanded. ,...
The day ended with general laugh at
Mr.. Sulzer IN. ~ who made his appearance
as humorist He toasted the opponents of
the bill, viewed with suspicion the unani-
nous report and pointed out as the African
in the woodpile the word suspended"
which he said would apply to every rate
fixed until the poor shipper was financially
suspended in trying to enforce it. How
ever, he will vote for the bill.
The list of speakers included Burnett
Ala.), Lewis (Ga), Gudger On. CD Dick
son md, Gillespie (Tex.), Stanley (Ky.),
Murdoch Okan.), Conner Qa), Hubbard
QaJ Haugen Qa) Gaines CIV. Va, Small
IN. c.. Smiley IN, c., Madden dll), wal
don IN. ", Gambler Miss and Sulzer
IN. ".
Gillespie ON NerRers.
Diversion was caused by decidedly ami
mated remarks regarding railway mergers
by Mr.. Gillespie CTex- }, author of the reso-
luton answered by Mr.. Roosevelt yester-
day, concerning an alleged merger of rail-
ways with the Pennsylvania system as the
important factor.
MIR. Gillespie declared that that answer
was an insult; that with the great ma
chinery at hand a complete investigation
OF actual conditions should have been
made. He said such an investigation would
show traffic agreements of an important
and questionable character.
The investigation provided for in the
Gillespie resolution consists OF eight
queries to be made by the Interstate Com
merce commissions:
'Ffrst-Whether the roads carrying coal
have any ownership or interest In the
mines.
'Second-Whether the officers OF these
roads are interested personally in the
mines.
''Third-Whether there is any contract
between the mines and the roads amount
ing to restraint'o OF trade or creating a
monopoly in bituminous coal.
"FourthIf such above facts are found
to exist, then the commission is required
to represent the details of the relationship
and set forth tbs agreements on terms Of
monopoly or ownership interests.
"Fifth-The commissioni s to report as to
the system of coal car distribution.
'Sixth-1t is to suggest a remedy.
''Seventh--To report facts and conclu-
sions It may deem pertinent.
"Eighth--To make the investigation at
Its earliest opportunity"