Arizona republican., 1906-02-26
Am IntimatiOn

that Senator Tillman presents his re- port on the railroad rate bill today un- til that measure shall have been fin ally disposed of by the senate, that bill will actually if not technically occupy the foremost place on the senate cal endar. From the beginning of the ses- sion the rate regulation question has received eager attention whenever sub Ject was approached, even though Tn an informal way, as has been the case on several occasions and the formal reporting of the measure will neces- sarily intensity interest in it.
 There is no prospect of immediately displacing the statehood bill but there have been many intimations that such "a course might be pursued if that bill continues to be unacted on when. a few weeks later the senators generally find themselves prepared to enter upon what all have believed from the be- ginning would be the real conflict of the session. All senators, whatever their individual views. unite in con sider-ng the railroad question as the most important before congress and the friends and opponents of the Hep burn Deliver bill alike unite in a de- sire 10 have it taken up as promptly as possible. There will be a luII how ever, after the formal report is made. because all who expect to participate in the discussion of the bill, feel the necessity of sufficient time to prepare for the conflict. With this prepara- tion once made it now looks as if no other subject less seriously considered would be allowed to stand in its way
 Even during this period of prepara- tion the rate question will not be per mitted to remain in complete obscurity There will be references to it from time to time and if the future may be judg- ed from the past, every mention of it on the floor of the senate will provoke discussion. It is not at all improbable that the presentation of the report to- morrow will develop a debate and it Is quite well understood that several members of the committee on interstate commerce by which the bill has been portunity to explain their votes in the committee. This line of proceeding will not be permitted to go beyond 9 o'clock however, for at that hour the statehood bill will have the right of way and cannot be displaced except with the consent of it's friends.
 On Wednesday Senator Foraker will take the floor with a prepared speech on railroad question His will be the first formal speech on the subject sup sequent to the reporting of the bill. So far as announcement has been made, the Ohio senator stands alone in op- posing all railroad legislation along the lines of the Hepburn-Dolliver bill He has heretofore announced his position and it is understood that his speech Is intended to be a legal exposition of the reasons for his attitude Many inter ruptions of his address will undOubted- ly occur and it is very doubtful wheth- CT he will be able to conclude in one day
 There is already much speculation as to the prospects of the rate bill. The most generally accepted view is that it will be amended by the senate in some particular. Most of the demo- cratic members of the interstate com merce committee as well as other democratic senators have expressed the opinion that there should be changes in the bill and it is not probable that they will alter their minds simply be cause the consideration of the mea- sure has been transferred from the committee room to the senate floor. The same may be said of the republi- can members of the committee who stood against reporting the bill. It is already apparent that the crucial amendment vii be on addition of the appeal clause and over that there will unquesrionably be a determined con flict The friends of such modified ton claim thirty three republican sen ators favorable to the addition of this provision and some of the democrats have in the past stated that they would regard such a clause with favor
 Senators Beveridge and Nelson. who have the statehood bill in charge, will not admit the possibility of its dis placement even in the remote future and they will do their utmost to press it's consideration. Beveridge is tenn porarily absent but Senator Nelson will insist on Monday that nothing shall stand in the way of Senator Dicks proceeding with his speech in support of join- statehood. The first half of the speech was delivered more than week ago and MT. Dick sought in vain all last week to secure an opportunity for it's conclusion. Mr. Dick will be followed by Senators Long and Hop kins in support of the bill and prob ably by some of the democrat mem bers of the committee on territories in opposition.
 Senator Foraker will press his amendment for a separate vote for Arizona on admission. and will try to secure an agreement to vote at an ear ly day, but the friends of the bill as it stands will not concede that point un- til after further discussion and prob ably not at any time unless there is an agreement to vote on the bill at the same time. With the Foraker amend ment adopted the bill could be dispos- ed of at any time and many senators