Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-05-05
UeetsrloN DRAWN BY SENATOR ALLISON
4 is Expected to Command United Support
of Majority Party
CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD TO-DAY
Senate AdjOurns Until Monday to Give
Ample Time for Discussion.
SUITS TO Be AGAINST COMMISSION
n Idea L. Adopted Amendments Pre-
sented by the Democratic SEN
ators VIII BE Rendered
Useless.


WASHINGTON. May Ain accordance
with the agreement OF last Monday. the
senate today entered upon the considera-
ton Of amendments to the railroad rate bill
under the ffteen-minute rule, but made
little progress. The greater part of the
day was devoted to Mr.. Lodges provision
bringing pipe lines with the terms of the
bin and IL was ultimately unanimously
agreed TO, after amending 1t as to ex-
clude gas and water lines from its opera
ton, thus practically combining it TO Oil
lines There were two roll calls, but neither
was of importance as, on one accepting the
amendment there was no division what
ever. while the action taken on the other,
on the question of conhning the provision
60 oil lines, was practically nullihed by the
subsequent elimination of gas and water
pipes from the amendment. The provis-
ion was 50 amended to make II apph-
cable TO the oil pipe line in the Panama
canal zone,
proposition by Mr. Foraker TO exclude
refrigerator cars from the requirements of
the bill and another by Mr.. McCumber
making the requirements concerning those
cars more stringent than in the original
bill were impartially voted down
During
speeches on the amendments, and also more
or less discussion of points Of order Upon
the whole the days proceedings were quite
perfunctory. being rendered so by the gen
eral knowledge OF the fact that the repub-
lican senators were on the eve of an agree
ment that would determine the character
of the bill There was evident general
disposition TO await that agreement and an
adjournment over tomorrow was taken for
~Ihe purpose of permitting it to be perfected.
Text of the Compromise.
What amounts practically to an agreement
on the existing differences concerning court
features OF the railroad rate bill has been
reached by senate conferences extending
over the last week, and Senator Allison will
offer an amendment comforting jurisdiction
upon the circuit court 70 hear and determ-
ine suits brought against the Interstate
commission. The amendment will not sug-
Eest TO the court whether the judicial re-
view shall be confined to constitutional
questions or whether II shall be inquiry
into the justness or reasonableness of the
rates fixed by the commission.
Senator Long made the principal legal
argument for the house BILL and Senators
Aldrich and Crane. the leaders in the
movement seeking an amendment provid-
themselves today as favoring the amend
ment and both factions are agreed that
the compromise is satisfactory to President
Roosevelt Undoubtedly this means that
obstacles to the speedy passage of the
measure have been removed.
Whether the conservatives or the radical:
have won a victory is a question that Il
not disturbing either faction. The agree
inent in a measure is regarded as political
II is believed that now practically the en-
tire republican strength OF the senate will
be cast for the bill, whereas under the long
continued estrangement II was conceded
that Il would require minority endorsement
70 pass the bill and the democratic party
would be in position to take full credi
for IT,
Despite the attitude OF republican son
ators not to discuss the subject OF victor!
or defeat friends of the house bill wheI
charged with surrender to the conserva
tive forces in defense are pointing to Sen
Rtor Longs speech on the bill. In tina
speech the Kansas senator said:
II do not object to an amendment author
izing suit to be brought against the com
mission and conferring jurisdiction on tn
United States courts sitting in equity L
hear and determine any such suit"
In Harmony with Longs idea.
It was stated today that Senator Lon
spoke for the friends OF the bill and the
pointed out the agreement now reached
in exact accord with the suggestion mad
by him. In the same speech Senator Lon
quoted Senators Lodge. Foraker and Knol
declaring that an amendment should pre-
vide for a review by the courts mot onl
as to whether the rate is conhscatory. bJ
also as to whether It Is just and reasor
able"
Friends Of the bill. in speeches in II
senate, have contended throughout thi
the house bill conferred jurisdiction upo
the courts. but they opposed strenuousl
any amendment which suggested to n
court that a should review the actio
Of the Interstate Commerce commissio
as to the reasonableness or justness
the rate fixed. Opponents OF the bi
without amendment asserted that q
courts should be given the right OF r
viewing all questions involved Bot
factions now say that an amendment col
ferring jurisdiction upon the courts wi
be satisfactory. The thin wavering lii
dividing the two forces has been elin
mated
Two Amendments Necessary.
The agreement does not take into 90
sideration the several pending amen
rnents providing for nonsupprsssion of 4
orders OF the Interstate Commerce col
mission, Thus far a provision OF tn
character has not been offered by Al
republican senator. II is known that 90
eral OF the majority senators believe wi
Senator Bailey, that such an Amendme
would be unconstitutional, but the agrs
ment on the court review feature, It
said, precludes beyond the remotest pc
sibiIity the adoption OF a nonsuspensi
provision. Under the agreement reachS
in order to confer jurisdiction there mu
be two amendments to the bill. The hT
Is ta ssCtyn as of the Elkins bill.
viii he 80, ended b. the house bill +
Dill provides that the rate hxed by I
commission shall remain In force "unle
set aside or suspended by a court OF col
petent jurisdiction" and the agreeme
proposes 10 add these words IN q 81
brought against the commission" It h
the enect merely to recognize tha AfR