Free press., 1906-05-26

senate at 4:53 p. m, passed the rail-
road rate bill by the practically un-
animous vote of II to 3. The three
negative votes were cast by Senator'S
Foraker, Republican, of Ohio, and
Morgan and Pettus, Democrats, Ala
bama. There was a somewhat larger
attendance of senators than usual,
but the attendance in the galleries
was by no means abnormal, and there
was no manifestation Of any kind
when the result was announced.
There was, however, an almost gen.
eral sigh of relief among senators.
The bill has received more atten-
ton from the senate and from the
country at large than any measure
that has been before congress since
the repeal of the purchasing clause
of the Sherman act, in 1893. 1t was
reported to the senate on February
26, and was made the unfinished busi-
ness on March u. From March II to
May the bill was under general dis
cussion without limitation on the du-
ration of speeches, ffty-eight of which
were delivered Many of these were
prepared with great care, and two of
them consumed more than a days
time in delivery. Senator La Toilette,
the junior senator from Wisconsin,
spoke for three days, and Senator
Daniel, Virginia, for two days. Sen
ators Bailey, Foraker, Lodge, Rainey,
Dolliver and others each spoke for
one entire day.
For twelve days the bill has been
under consideration under a rule linn
iting speeches to fifteen minutes
each. The debate has at all times
been earnest and animated but for
the most part devoid of personality as
between senators, the past few days,
however, having called out some
caustic criticisms Of the president and
Of some newspaper correspondents by
Senator Bailey.
In addition to passing the bill, the
proceedings consisted in concluding
the consideration of the amendments
as such, and the delivery of number
of speeches on the bill. The only
amendment adopted was the one Of
fered by Senator Teller, eliminating
the words ''in it's judgment" from
the power given to the interstate
commerce commission to fix rates.
Saturday, May 1e.
Washington. - Some of the state
hood boomers from Oklahoma and
Indian Territory have been talking
in a respondent way for the past few
days, though it has been difficult to
TO;
cast feelings. With a resigned air
they say they have bidden goodby to
statehood legislation at this session
of congress, and believe that the bill
will be buried in the conference COM
mittee as it was last year.
A Democratic member of the con-
gressional committee on territories
said that it had come to him that
Speaker Cannon had asked some
anxious members who had been max
ing inquiries of him about statehood
legislation what difference it would
make if the statehood bill were left
over until next fall. This indicated
to him the program of the speaker.
An authoritative denial that the
speaker had ever made such a re-
mark was given. The speaker has
never at any time indicated that it
is his purpose or desire to postpone
the bill until the next session of con-
gress, but, in contradiction of that
report, also is an explicit promise,
said to have been given by the speak
er to members of the Missouri and
Kansas delegations in the house prior
to the time the bill was sent to con-
ference that it would not be buried
in conference committee but that
there would be statehood legislation.
Some of the Missouri and Kansas
members were baking on sending
the bill to conference fearing it would
be killed there, and on the promise of
Speaker Cannon they voted for the
motion to SO commit the bill when it
came from the senate. Senator War
ner, of Missouri, is also said to have
had an understanding to the same eff
feet.
STRIKE SEEMS To BE ENDED