New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-25
NO. RATE BILL DELAY.
SO OPPOSITION SAYS.
Plan TO Put Hepburn Measure
Ahead-Senqt0r TilIman's Vie1cs.


delay the perfecting OF the measure and the
vote In the Senate. Th~y viii the right TO
offer amendments. which was reserved in COM
mittee yesterday. but will not carry discussion
Of those amendments to an unreasonable length.
They will NEE. IN conference Monday morning
20 map out course OF action contemplating TAX
ing up the bill at early date It will be made
the unfinished business OF the Senate IL that
course is practicable. so that as soon as Sena-
tors have prepared their arguments on the varf-
Gus amendments which they have in mind. what
ever business may then be pending viii be laid
aside and the actual consideration OF the bill
begun.
1t is deemed altogether improbable that the
Democrats will be able 10 reach an agreenene
among themselves 10 shut of all efforts at
amendment in the Senate II is true that soma
Democratic politicians IN the Senate take the
ground that it would be good party politics
rush this bin through IN the form IN which it
came from the House But this argument does
not appeal to several other Democrats. who
contend that the legislation Is OF such i'm
portance as to place II beyond the pale OF mere
partisan effort.
Moreover. several Democrats have amend.
ments which they very anxious 70 have in4
corporated in the bill Prominent among them
is Senator Tillnan. who is in charge OF ths
measure from now on Senator Tflman IL
deeply interested IN an amendment to prohibit
the coal roads from owning controlling coal
mines. His interest IN this proposition was
manifested in the resolution which he recently
put through the Senate calling for investigation
of the coal carrying railroads by the Interstats
Commerce Commission
SENTIMENT FOR AMENDMENT.
1t was said this afternoon the authority OF
such Republicans Senator AIdrich of Rhode
Island and Senator EIkins. OF West Virginia
hat ha
Senator TiInan's amendment It is realized
by these Senators that the sentiment In both
Senate and House is overwhelmingly in favor OF
the prohibition contemplated Both Senator
AIdrich and Senator EI<ins have expressed them-
selves in favor OF 1t. It viii probably be two
or three weeks before the real contest over the
rate bill comes on in the Senate II seems as
sured now that there will necessarily be a long
debate over the measure. although not in tha
nature OF flibustering-
House and Senate leaders were convinced this
afternoon that the proposed early adjournment
of Congress is rendered unlikely by the situation
in the Senate. Speaker Cannon had hoped that
Congress would get away by May Is. but 10
seems to be doubtful whether the rate bill can
he put through in time 10 afford opportunity foi
consideration OF other contested measures and
adjournment so early.
"Of course said Senator Tnlrnan to-day. in
| commenting on the bill. "the first thing TO do
is to discover and INCORPORATE in the bin the
amendments necessary to perfect il. There was
no opportunity in the House of Representative
10 amend the bin. and there are two very es-
sentiaI amendments needed 10 make the law
at all adequate. One is the strongest possible
prohibition of the ownership and control by
public carriers of the articles to be shipped
over their lines to the exclusion of private
owners In other words the railroads have a
tendency to deal in some of the commodities
that it supposed they would handle only in
the capacity of shippers This applies princi-
pally 10 the coal business. They should also bs
required to make connections with spur lines
or eontributory lines and supply them with cars.
and not block them.
CAN TRUST COMMISSION"
"The question OF adding TO the provision now
in the bill for judicial review OF the findings
of the Interstate Commerce Commission" con-
tinued MI TiIIman. should be approached
very cautiously. IN the first place a decision
Of the commission has the same standing as an
act Of Congress No court would undertake to-
nullify an act Of Congress pending an appeal
unless IL should take high handed course 7
can see no reason why decision OF the COM
mission should be set aside pending an apDaaI
in the courts Any proposition to set aside such
a decision pending action by the courts will re-
.ceive the strongest opposition can give II. for
one No one seeks ard certainly I do not IN
deny the railroads the right 10 appeal TO ths
courts If q rate is established that threatens
the confiscation Of their property of course
they viii have right 10 go into the courts for
protection.
But. for one. am not inclined to accord ?,
the members OF the Interstate Commerce Com
mission any less patriotism or good Judgment
than is accorded 10 the Judges on the bench.
They. in both instances. are appointed by the
President and confirmed by the Senate. and T
think be trusted as well as the other
do not fear that this commission is going %
establish rates that viii be cOnhscatory. and r
think we viii be able to trust the commission
Your relation toward this legislation VIII
probably lead to frequent conferences with tho
President" suggested
The Senator med;tated a moment and ra-
Piled:
The Presidents views are well understood
He has expressed himself very fully in his mes
sage and In interviews. The newspapers have
not spared any opportunity TO announce whar
they suppose have been his views on this sub
ject. Therefore. there is no further need Tor
anybody TO get his views. and he has been verVr
free TO communicate his views to Congress-
whenever he has seen fit TO do So"
do YOU take the view that this railroad 1aefz
lation Is a Democratic measure. now that II has
been reported by majority OF Democrats o.,
the committee and by Democratic Senator'S
1T is a non-partisan measure" replied SEN
ator Tillman. 1T is neither Republican nor
Democratic. but it can no longer be called a
Republican measure"
PRESIDENT NOT CAST DOWN
The selection of Senator Tiilman as rate bin
manager in the Senate did not create the con-
sternation at the White House that some of thu